ABSTRACT
it is now just about becoming worthwhile even for the people born and living in the countries concerned to read the "whither" and "inside" books, the data-studded résumés of current history and future prospects in foreign lands written by American experts (or by foreigners for American readers, which comes to about the same thing). Only a few years ago such surveys could be easily overlooked. They were literary trapeze acts, too risky for reputable authors to undertake: while the manuscript was being printed venerable régimes toppled, seemingly insoluble problems vanished, and robust personages in the prime of life suddenly passed away. Only devil-may-care journalists attempted such tours deforce, working as fast as they could, hoping their intuition, experience, and luck would save them from disgrace. They wrote fast but lightheartedly; there was a good chance their books would be forgotten within a few months anyway; and nobody, except perhaps grandchildren and some compiler of a PhD thesis, would one day care to check the accuracy of their diagnoses and prophecies.
