Introduction
Global Transformations and World Futures is a component of Encyclopedia of Development and Economic Sciences in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias.
The Theme on Global Transformations and World Futures, in two volumes, deals with the diversity of points of view on this complex subject. The chapters in these volumes are organized into three groups. The first starts with chapters introducing the Global transformations in Knowledge: Social and Cultural issues. Issues such as the nature of global science, the challenge of building real communities in a virtual world, and the transition from an information economy to a communicative economy are explored. The second presents the Global Economy. The final group discusses the World Futures. These two volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.
Editor(s) Biography
Dr. Sohail Inayatullah is Professor, Center for Futures Studies, Tamkang University, Taiwan; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia. In 1999, he held the UNESCO Chair, the University of Trier, Germany, and the Tamkang Chair, Tamkang University,Taiwan. He is also a fellow of the World Futures Studies Federation and a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He is the co-editor of the Journal of Futures Studies (www.ed.tku.edu.tw/develop/JFS) and associate editor of New Renaissance (www.ru.org). He is on the editorial board of Development, Futures and Foresight. Among his authored/edited books are:
Macrohistory and Macrohistorians; Situating Sarkar; Understanding Sarkar; Transcending Boundaries; and Transforming Communication. His CD-ROMs include: Futures Studies: Methods, Issues and Civilizational Visions and The Views of Futurists – Volume 4 of The Knowledge Base of Futures Studies.
Forthcoming are: Youth Futures (Greenwood, 2002); Islam, Postmodernism and Other Futures (Pluto, 2002) and The Rights of Robots (Praeger, 2003). He is the author of over 250 journal articles, book chapters, and magazine pieces. Website – www.metafuture.org
