ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the question of whether the world will continue to move towards a liberal, multilateral world trade system or whether it will fall apart into rival trade blocs. It starts with a short comparison of different scenarios for the development of the world economy. It then tries to illustrate the importance of developments inside the major trade blocs for the relationship between these blocs, taking as an example (a) the impact of German unification, (b) the impact of a possible break-up of China, and (c) the impact of domestic polarization within the United States.
