ABSTRACT
In many parts of the world an important obstacle to orderly procedures is the lack of functioning democratic institutions. With regard to cultural identities, efforts are under way in North-South relations and in development co-operation to take them into account and preserve them as far as possible. Standing international and interdisciplinary working groups could be set up in which leading experts constantly monitor developments causing concern because of their potentially dangerous trends and consequences. These working groups should elaborate options for action, giving estimates of chances, risks, and costs for each action. There is hope that the international scientific community will finally be able to organize an advisory mechanism of this kind. If this hope materializies, humankind will have a chance to prevent some of the worst catastrophes and conflicts which otherwise, unfortunately, are likely to occur.
