At the same time, the distribution of wealth in the world seems to be more unequal nowadays than 20 years ago; the myth of the "new economy" has dissipated and corporate scandals in the affluent world show that cronyism and bad governance are a more complex phenomenon than is usually assumed and ascribed geographically; financial and currency crises have been recurrent in emerging markets and have produced economic and social havoc in not a few countries; trade liberalisation has primarily favoured rich countries, which preach what they do not practice; social fragmentation and exclusion have been rising both in rich and in poor countries; there is a sense of disorder and a rising tide of discontent and frustration in many parts of the world; non-conventional threats, the use of mass destruction in particular, are looming menacingly.
In acelasi timp distributia bunastarii in lume pare sa fie mult mai inegala in prezent decat in urma cu 20 de ani; mitul unei "noi economii" s-a destramat iar scandalurile din marile corporatii in tarile bogate au aratat ca nepotismul si proasta guvernare se constituie intr-un fenomen mai complex decat cel pus pe seama limitelor geografice care i se asociaza in mod curent; crize financiare si monetare se repeta pe pietele emergente producand haos social si economic in nu putine tari; liberalizarea comertului a favorizat in primul rand tarile bogate, care teoretizeaza ceea ce nu pun in aplicare; fragmentarea sociala si excluderea au crescut atat in tarile bogate cat si in cele sarace. Exista un sentiment al dezordinii si o crestere a nemultumirii si frustrarii in multe regiuni de pe glob. Amenintari neconventionale, utilizarea distrugerii in masa in particular, au atins cote alarmante.