ABSTRACT
This book is called The World at the Crossroads because the authors wish to present the choice which confronts humanity: will humankind take the fork leading to disaster or the fork leading to survival? Humankind is already a long way down the wrong fork of the crossroads. Most of this introduction is devoted to a description of this fork, and of the forces leading down it. In fact, disaster is not a threat in the offing, but is already being experienced by a great number of those now alive. It is indefensible for humankind to allow itself to head down the wrong fork, yet survival for all, as such, is only meaningful if it carries with it the connotation of an existence that provides opportunities for all of the inhabitants of the earth to live in dignity in an environment which allows for self-fulfilment and creativity. Such a world must not only be equitable and liveable, but must also be sustainable over an indefinite period in the future. The main goal of this study is to delineate, to the best of our capacity, not merely the requirements for getting on to the right fork (towards survival), but also the requirements for a survival that leads to a sustainable, equitable and liveable world. In this introduction, therefore, we set the scene, and the following chapters present the viewpoints of the contributors on the possibilities for, and the obstacles against, changing course and getting on to this fork. The concluding chapter gives a summary of the conclusions, together with concrete recommendations which may contribute to a pragmatic yet normative political programme.
