What will the world look like in 2025?
August 15th, 2011
03:59 PM ET

What will the world look like in 2025?

Princeton professor Anne-Marie Slaughter (who was most recently on GPS last month) lays out a vision of a brighter world in 2025, but warns that it may take cataclysm to get there. Below are some highlights of her piece, which is well worth reading in full on ForeignPolicy.com.

In 2025, Slaughter envisions:

1. A much more multilateral world.

"By 2025 the U.N. Security Council will have expanded from the present 15 members to between 25 and 30 and will include, either as de jure or de facto permanent members, Brazil, India, Japan, South Africa, either Egypt or Nigeria and either Indonesia or Turkey."

She also envisions more and stronger regional organizations from the African Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations to a new Middle East free trade region. "Each will follow its own version of economic and political integration, inspired by the European Union, and many will include representation from smaller sub-regional organizations."

2. Sustainability becoming key to national strength.

"As for individual countries, the states that will be the strongest in 2025 will be those that have figured out how to do more with less.They will be those governments that have successfully embraced radical sustainability - maintaining vibrant economies through largely renewable energy and creative reuse of just about everything."

3. Non-state actors of all kinds organizing globally around key issues.

"The American social revolution that Alexis de Tocqueville observed in the early 19th century, of citizens joining groups of every conceivable kind, is about to go global, forever changing the relationship between citizens and their governments, and governments with each other."

But the path to this world is not an easy one, Anne-Marie Slaughter warns:

"These predictions may appear rosy. In fact, the enormous changes on the horizon will require major crises, even cataclysm, before they can materialize. It took World War I to generate the political will and circumstances necessary to create the League of Nations....Just imagine what it will take to break the decades-old logjam of Security Council reform. And creating and changing multilateral organizations is child's play next to the profound changes in public and private behavior required to move away from the more-is-better economic model to one which accepts that our resources are finite on a planetary scale."

Climate change, a global pandemic or a nuclear terrorist attack could force such systemic changes, Slaughter writes:

"As Robert Wright argues in Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny, catastrophe is terrible for individual human beings but beneficial for humanity as a whole. As the full consequences of genuinely global interconnectedness continue to make themselves felt, the world of both states and the societies they represent will have no choice but to adapt."

What do you think of this vision of the world's future? Do you agree or disagree? Be sure to check out the article here and let us know your thoughts below.


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soundoff (250 Responses)
  1. j. von hettlingen

    A-M Slaughter said, "catastrophe is terrible for individual human beings but beneficial for humanity as a whole."
    Quite true, after World War II, the economy picked up tremendously and thrived for decades, before the current crisis unfolded. Sure, social networking will contribute to mass mobilisation, for the better or the worse. I think our biggest enemies will not be the terrorists but natural disasters. Also we will see more conflicts over natural resorces and especial over water!

    August 15, 2011 at 4:44 pm | Reply
    • Paulie

      unfortunately it will look nothing like the jetsons and a lot more like a clockwork orange

      August 16, 2011 at 12:01 pm | Reply
      • Deanna

        Only if we let it.

        August 16, 2011 at 3:29 pm |
      • Dave

        right right, my brother! Can ye spare some cutter?

        August 17, 2011 at 8:11 am |
      • sundownr

        Unfortunately you may be right but I would prefer a Soylent Green world because it is closer home.

        August 17, 2011 at 9:34 am |
      • U-Turn

        I am thinking more like "12 Monkeys"

        August 17, 2011 at 11:50 am |
    • Paulie

      ever see soylent green, rollerball or idiocracy?

      August 16, 2011 at 12:01 pm | Reply
      • Kristi

        Well said Paulie. Time to prepare for the coming Idiocracy as do doubt that is where we are headed.

        August 16, 2011 at 1:16 pm |
      • Coronzon

        Welcome to Costco, I love you.

        August 16, 2011 at 4:24 pm |
      • trip

        Because Brawndo's got electrolytes.

        August 16, 2011 at 4:50 pm |
      • john smith

        Ok ya know what? I can talk to plants.

        August 16, 2011 at 5:10 pm |
      • Not Sure

        I like money

        August 16, 2011 at 10:43 pm |
      • mickey1313

        I think that is the path america is takeing right now, those 3 movies.

        August 17, 2011 at 12:50 am |
      • Sean

        Brought to you by Carls Jr.

        August 17, 2011 at 9:31 am |
      • andrew

        perhaps" blade runner"?

        August 17, 2011 at 10:07 am |
      • Andrew

        Where's the hope for humanity? A Brave New World is around the corner, however, WE CAN STILL IMPACT OUR FUTURE. Stop complaining on CNN why the world sucks. Go outside and MAKE A DIFFERENCE. MAKE YOUR LIFE.

        August 17, 2011 at 12:29 pm |
    • LindaB

      There will still be a world in 2025? Not the way things are going now.... :(

      August 16, 2011 at 6:40 pm | Reply
    • Jailo Alzate

      Natural Resources especially water will be the Oil of tomorrow. The countries that will be better equipped to confront the chalanges of the future will be those with a better educated population.

      August 17, 2011 at 12:16 pm | Reply
    • Lynn

      A great theory was written in Albert Brook's new book 2030. Fascinating. Similar to your thoughts.

      August 17, 2011 at 10:56 pm | Reply
  2. Terry Brookman

    Somalia

    August 15, 2011 at 6:00 pm | Reply
    • hilo, HI

      lol -but true

      August 16, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Reply
  3. Fernando Zuniga

    As professor Slaughter mentions, we are way too many, consuming way too much. Technology is providing the answers pretty fast, however it will be a close race between massive disasters and amazing solutions. So the next 20 years should be exciting, yet frightening...

    I believe that from now on we will not consciously create change, or make plans based on different future scenarios, from now on change itself will dictate our direction as a human race.

    We planned based on experience for many years, then we planned based on the future, and now, now there is no more time to plan, there is just time to adapt to the everyday changing present. Some will, some won't, hopefully we won't get almost extinct in the process.

    August 15, 2011 at 8:03 pm | Reply
    • Kristi

      Yes, technology has done an amazing job. I just love the way we are able to stop earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

      August 16, 2011 at 1:19 pm | Reply
      • Kaew

        Yea, we should also find a way to stop asteroids from hitting earth, solar flares, and stars exploding. Heck, let's even stop Andromeda right on its track, we the denizen of Milky Way galaxy don't want there kinds around here!

        August 16, 2011 at 1:49 pm |
      • Polopoint

        Well, Kristi – even if technology is not or cannot stop these, it certainly is helping in all with early warning and forecasting and help with rescue and recovery – or do you prefer the good ole days when tornadoes, tsunamis and hurricanes came up on places without warning and inhabitants were caught off guard and thousands would die?

        August 16, 2011 at 2:04 pm |
      • Xaixas

        Polopoint does have a point. There is probably no way to solve the natural disaster problem, but we have prevented many deaths with the services that are out right now.

        August 16, 2011 at 4:27 pm |
      • Jake

        But should we be preventing these, or should we let nature take it's course? Let's face it, As a species, we are not all the great, we kill each other on an incredible scale. Do we as humans really think we should be allowed(and we of course will try to) to stay the dominant species on this planet? We dump Hazardous wastes into our oceans. We pump toxic fumes into the air, only cause its cheaper to do so, and we can make more money. The problem is that we don't care about each others well being. And as long as that is the norm, we will never change. We will only get better at killing each other. I don't think Humans will survive another 150 years at the rate we are going. Maybe a new better evolved human will come into exsitance, and we will all go the way of the t-rex.

        Now to all thoses that say they care about other people.. Prove it. Donate your hard earned money even if you don't have it to people that have less then you do. Care about someone other then yourself, we are all human beings, we are all flesh and blood, we all live, we all die. what is so different about us that we have to hate each other to the point of killing each other???

        I love watching these celebs who donate a few million, to the cause of the week so you will go see their next film so they can make back the money they just gave away as a tax break. Mean while people in somialla are leaving there child on the side of the road to die in hopes they might save the rest of their kids. Where are all the really rich people the ones with hunderds of billions of dollars, I mean really do you need that much money? 4 of you could send enough money and supplies over there to stop this in it's tracks, instead you all sit back and drink bottled water and eat lobster dinners. We are a brutal species, and if there is or was a god, he/she/it would have left in shame after creating us. Maybe he/she/it is off in some other part of the universe trying to get it right this time.

        How about we get rid of all the golf courses out there, and build some affordable homes for people, or farms to feed the millions and millions of starving people.

        Now I have to go to McDonalds and get breakfast. ttyl

        Xaixas

        Polopoint does have a point. There is probably no way to solve the natural disaster problem, but we have prevented many deaths with the services that are out right now.

        August 18, 2011 at 5:13 am |
      • Fernando Zuniga

        We will have tech solutions for clean energy and food shortage to solve every single global warming and supply issue by 2025, If we get there, and, If some interests can get resolved and agreed upon to use them ASAP. An of course we will have technology to anihilate ourselves over some idiological discern too.

        August 18, 2011 at 2:33 pm |
      • cat

        and create them. HAARP.

        February 27, 2013 at 4:44 pm |
    • ZB

      good expleanation/ the great race

      August 16, 2011 at 11:11 pm | Reply
      • Tom

        Only if they start getting serious about controling the world popuation, and eliminating nuclear weapons can their be a 2025. Lets not foget the NWO.

        August 17, 2011 at 11:58 am |
  4. george thorn

    Always amazed at how competent the college geniuses think they are and how invariably wrong they usually are, Reich chief among them.

    August 16, 2011 at 8:57 am | Reply
    • Aubrie

      And you have a crystal ball and can see into the future? How is it that YOU know they will be wrong? Ever conceive of the fact that some of them, maybe just a few, may just be right? So what do you predict oh wise one????

      August 16, 2011 at 12:09 pm | Reply
    • KGColorado

      I agree with Aubrie, George Thorn. I don't believe you have put nearly as much thought into what will happen in the future as Slaughter has. Nor do I believe you have thought as in depth as she has, taking such a variety of things into account.
      And I do think catastrophes will be the leading factor towards change and evolution, especially in regards to technology. We will all be faced with hardship, and face Darwinism: those who succeed in adapting survive; those who choose to continue their ways will die out.

      August 16, 2011 at 12:44 pm | Reply
  5. Don

    Hopefully all of the racist people like ones in the KKK, tea party will have died and peace and diversity will rain supreme in this country. Hate is what is killing the world.

    August 16, 2011 at 10:48 am | Reply
    • Scott

      I have to say, that's an awfully hateful statement...

      August 16, 2011 at 11:00 am | Reply
      • MAKE IT IN THE USA

        Hate should be met with hate. Conservatives love to play innocent in the hate game and never ahve the cojones to admit their truest nature unless it is their mob mentality. lets review shall we? Has there ever been any other Presidents who have received so much hate? "ARAB! TERRORIST! NANNY STATE! DEATH PANEL! ATHEIST! COMMUNIST! SOCIALIST! "

        Are you mofo's for real?

        August 16, 2011 at 11:14 am |
      • lady-t

        Yes it is;But his so rigth on

        August 16, 2011 at 11:37 am |
      • Polopoint

        It's also pretty naive.

        August 16, 2011 at 2:05 pm |
      • Joepub

        Yes, let's review shumuckazoid:

        Has there ever been any other Presidents who have received so much hate? Apparently you lived in a cave during the Bush administration and haven't even bothered to utilize Google to see the hatred of previous presidents. Had you bothered to look at our history, you would have found that your statement is actually an empty headed knee-jerk blind assertion. By the way, stop perpetuating hate.

        August 16, 2011 at 2:13 pm |
      • petercha

        Good point, Scott. Liberals are BIG hypocrites when they preach against hate but then turn around and say things like hoping some group of people will have died or "hate should be met with hate". You cannot overcome hatred with more hatred; you can only overcome hatred with love.

        August 16, 2011 at 2:57 pm |
      • mickey1313

        makeit.. I agree, if Obama was not black, there would not be nearly the hate that there is, the americans cant deal with a smart black man, he must be a muslem spy.

        August 17, 2011 at 12:55 am |
      • mickey1313

        Joepub, nice try with the distortion of facts, but bush DID everything he was acused of. The only thing that kept his whole administration out of prison for treason, was the fact that he signed an exicutive order outlawing his prosicution, only a guilty man does that. And as for all you evil twstid repubs that are claiming "libral hate", 1) if chalanging the thiests has proven anything, you can no reason witht he insane, 2) when a liberal doesnt like something, they protest it. When a republican doesnt like something they kill it, example abortion docters murdered to "save lives" even though a fetus isnt alive.

        August 17, 2011 at 12:59 am |
      • WordBearer

        mickey1313: That is BS. I don't see all the racism that is said to exsist agains Obama. Honestly, I have no issues with a Smart Black man running the country. I do have issues with a smart black man that lived in a muslim country and raised as a muslim for 10 years of his childhood running my country. I could careless if he was a spy. Lol.
        You people really have no idea what is going on in this country. The Tea party isn't racist. There may be some in there but their (the few) views are not the sum of the party collective. Where as, and this might be a shocker also to you small minded types, the Tea party isn't all republican. I'm not saying that I'm for the Tea Party. Honestly it is out of place in this time period. The Boston Tea Party was designed to over throw a government body ie England. I don't really think or a the very least I sincerely hope that is not the goal of this Tea party. This government can work when provided the necessary amount of thinking people in the right places.

        I will say this. I don't think Obama is as smart as most people believe him to be. I see Obama for what he is: A Lawyer. And honestly, what do we all know about lawyers? Right or wrong, it's going to be their way.
        You should all feel inlightened now. Don't worry, today's lesson is free.

        August 17, 2011 at 12:49 pm |
    • Greg

      Good call Scott, hypocrisy at it's finest.

      August 16, 2011 at 11:09 am | Reply
    • You

      There is more hate created by the major religions than by the KKK or tea party. Yes, these organizations need to be abolished but there can be no world peace with religion still in place.

      August 16, 2011 at 11:13 am | Reply
      • cwor

        Wait a minute. You are going to "create peace" by abolishing all religions and people who disagree with you politically? How exactly are you going to do that? Death camps and secret police to hunt down and get rid of those pesky Christians and conservatives? Yeah, sounds real peaceful!

        August 16, 2011 at 11:29 am |
      • nikki

        Well without religion what will people have faith in? I believe in God and there is NOONE who could ever convince me say otherwise.

        August 16, 2011 at 12:28 pm |
      • Polopoint

        Well, of course – if you believe in a make-believe character – how is anyone to 'convince' you otherwise and out of your unprovable fantasy?

        August 16, 2011 at 2:07 pm |
      • Mike

        if there is a GOD, my Mother wouldn't be sick with Cancer slowly killing her.

        The fact is, the Earth itself is changing. We are heading right back for another predomanent earth age. Something of times to come, and it's up to the people to all bind as one and have the courage to stand up and just get ALONG. So what if he's from an Arab nation! So what if he's from America! So what if he's from Canada. The fact is that we are our own worst enemy. If we can't learn to solve are differences and tough situations in life then man kind will not exist. The meaning of LOVE and the connection aren't reaching out to each other...

        August 16, 2011 at 5:15 pm |
      • answers

        Mike, Your mother's cancer is not from God.......if you want to know the corect answer let me know. I have it.

        August 17, 2011 at 11:58 am |
    • Paulie

      KKK? Oh you mean DEMOCRATS they started the KKK. Slaves ran north to freedom and republicans not south.

      August 16, 2011 at 11:59 am | Reply
      • Polopoint

        I think you are overly infatuated with the labels Democrat and Republican. You should concentrate more on what they were, which was 'conservative' and 'reactionary' – it didn't matter what party they belonged to.

        August 16, 2011 at 2:09 pm |
      • Mystic American

        You can say the KKK was started by Democrats, but also they were all Christians. Therefore, by your tortured logic, all Christians are KKK?

        August 17, 2011 at 9:54 am |
    • OtakuAnthony

      Don't want to burst your bubble, but hate will always exist 5 years from now and 500 years from now. People will always dislike something or some group. It existed in the past and it will exist in the future.

      August 16, 2011 at 2:01 pm | Reply
    • Judge Dreadd

      Don, maybe you'll die!!!!!!!

      August 16, 2011 at 5:03 pm | Reply
    • Judge Dreadd

      Don, maybe you will die!!!! You are no different than them.

      August 16, 2011 at 5:05 pm | Reply
    • USAvoice

      And.... here's your sign Don!

      August 16, 2011 at 5:13 pm | Reply
    • 4EverBlue

      Yeah, but keep in mind.. most of the ultra-right, uber-religious, racist, fascist people out there are also believe that Jesus or Allah is going to be their personal savior, so what ends up happening to the world/civilization is really a moot point. Its them and Jesus... that's all that matters. That would explain why conservative Christians and Muslims are as shortsighted and hateful as so many of them are.. God/Allah has all the answers, and will provide all of the solutions.. they just have to have faith in that – no need to try and make the world a better place!!

      August 16, 2011 at 6:33 pm | Reply
    • Tomas

      Stay dry and ...reign supreme...

      August 16, 2011 at 9:02 pm | Reply
  6. Gene

    It will look like Home Depot. Ugly & cheap. There will be no skilled crafstmen. Houses will be a dime a dozen because we keep building crap homes which take a week to build. We will all be fat and unhealthy because 99% of the food we eat is crap. Gas will be 15 bucks a gallon and we will still make what we do today.. You know kind of like how we still make today what we disd over ten years ago but everything has doubled. It will take more work to go on vacation because we all believe that "getting away" means going to a beach that has 5 people per square foot. Sad. We are all being brainwashed into video games, crowded beaches, Mcdonalds. College will be more of a joke then it is today. Its just a money runned business that doesnt help you unless you are one of the obvious like an astronomer or doctor or lawyer or accountant etc..

    August 16, 2011 at 11:15 am | Reply
  7. TBone

    HUMMMM....let's see....by 2025 the The United States will be completely invaded by Mexicans and will be renamed The United Mexicans of America.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:16 am | Reply
    • Chucky

      LOL...good one! I'm actually scared for my life if that really happens... :(

      August 16, 2011 at 11:37 am | Reply
      • chez

        your scared for your life of mexicans invading? lmao how old are you twelve? or just have the same IQ as a 12 year old

        August 23, 2011 at 6:49 am |
    • Polopoint

      Or maybe it'll just be reverting back to its original name, Mexico?

      August 16, 2011 at 2:27 pm | Reply
    • USAvoice

      to TBone.... Correction:

      it's Los Estados Unidos de América, the EUA. And flag with Xmas colors: red, white and green.

      August 16, 2011 at 5:19 pm | Reply
  8. gonzog

    China will be our boss. Except they won't actually be writing paychecks–but sending food aid to starving Americans who've had their livelihoods sold out from under them. The primary residence for most americans will be make of sticks and plastic bags. And the most valuable posession anyone can have is a coat that doesn't have rips and sheds water.
    The primary means of transportation will be on foot, but cars that no longer run will be converted to family residences.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:21 am | Reply
    • cwor

      Holy cow! Is that the liberal plan? Then we better defeat Obama in 2012!

      August 16, 2011 at 11:32 am | Reply
      • mb2010a

        No, that's the Republican / tea party plan. It's called destroying the middle class...

        August 16, 2011 at 4:27 pm |
    • Chucky

      LOL...good one too! I'd would actually go crazy if that were to happen!!!!!

      August 16, 2011 at 11:39 am | Reply
  9. Wo Hen Nan Kang

    Ni hao, I come from distant future. After great Zombie-Robo War of 2016, President Bachmann left nation badly unprepared for best China overlords. They give us great justice after the cowboy America money collapse of 2020.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:23 am | Reply
    • Chinatown

      Me likey! Me go hahaha!

      August 16, 2011 at 12:32 pm | Reply
    • USAvoice

      'vous êtes un fuque assez astucieux'

      August 16, 2011 at 5:29 pm | Reply
  10. Jim

    By 2025 I will have fulfilled my destiny and become the Master of Time, Space and Dimension. You will worship me as a god, and yet I shall hate you. Life for the vast majority of humanity will be nasty, brutish and short.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:23 am | Reply
    • mb2010a

      Rick Perry, is that you???

      August 16, 2011 at 4:28 pm | Reply
  11. jc

    More fear mongering.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:39 am | Reply
  12. cwor

    Humans consistently and always do what is in their own best interest. People generally do not do what is best for the collective good. This has been true for thousands of years and will remain true in the next 20. We will destroy the planet in pursuit of our own interests. Unfortunately, it will take a catastrophe for most people to realize that our personal interests are threatened before we act. C'est la vie.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:41 am | Reply
    • Paul Perkins

      Have you read any Adam Smith lately?

      August 17, 2011 at 12:10 pm | Reply
  13. Cultural

    In other words:
    America will be left in the dust.
    A brain dead giant with nukes run into the ground by the far right.
    Get ready to flee and learn a foreign language, like Chinese.
    Because this banana republic will slowly turn into a third world country filled with religious fundamentalists like Bachmann.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:42 am | Reply
  14. Ralph in Orange Park, FL

    Hungrier, more desperate and more violent.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:51 am | Reply
  15. Mr. Burns

    my balls will be wrinkled

    August 16, 2011 at 12:00 pm | Reply
  16. Smithers

    That is ok Sir shall I fluff them for you? I wouldn't have it any other way.

    August 16, 2011 at 12:06 pm | Reply
  17. LK

    Wow. REALLY? All of this in 13 short years...What I hope comes out of "whatever" is a more optomistic breed of take charge humanitarian people.

    August 16, 2011 at 12:07 pm | Reply
  18. Bill

    Will imbeciles still be afraid of marijuana or will plants be embraced as a needed part of our ecosystem?

    August 16, 2011 at 12:09 pm | Reply
    • hilo, HI

      -what ecosystem?

      August 16, 2011 at 2:09 pm | Reply
    • KeithTexas

      No but pot heads will still be trying to convince the rest of us that marijuana is the answer to life’s problems.

      August 16, 2011 at 10:46 pm | Reply
      • Webrydr

        It IS!

        August 17, 2011 at 12:19 pm |
  19. Aubrie

    We've all been warned about the NWO, but no one seems to take it seriously.... We're all just sheeple following the long since defunct American Dream. It's all falling into place.... My fear is that through apathy, we will get exactly that....

    August 16, 2011 at 12:15 pm | Reply
  20. Mugsy187

    Just think by 2025 the kids that the idiots from the New Jersey Shore will be almost grown up and ruining the world!

    August 16, 2011 at 12:19 pm | Reply
    • Polopoint

      Yikes!

      August 16, 2011 at 2:29 pm | Reply
  21. jpe37

    bladerunner

    August 16, 2011 at 12:21 pm | Reply
  22. Nuclear Meltdown

    I'd like to see the overpopulation issue addressed on a global front. Limit the number of kids a couple can have to 1. Two become one.

    August 16, 2011 at 12:37 pm | Reply
  23. Chinatown

    I don't think the future will be that rosy. Politicians are always 10 steps behind what needs to happen NOW......we'll all be scrambling around for answers and bickering about climate change, taxes, outrageous unemployment, the death of the American dream, more wars in the Middle East until some psychopath sets off a nuclear bomb in the USA and chaos will take over......then all all other countries will contend with each other for economic world supremacy, and more war since there won't be big bro USA to intervene.......

    August 16, 2011 at 12:37 pm | Reply
  24. Annie sousa

    The forests will be gone, the vast marjority of large wild animals will be gone, there will be wars over water, over remaining oil deposits, millions in the 3rd world will be starving and those in the west will still be making good, whilst the rest of the world starves. Hopefully, SOMEONE in power will have the guts to start human population control!!!!

    August 16, 2011 at 12:49 pm | Reply
    • Xen1313

      I would hate to say it, natural distasters are #1 for population control. Just go ask the Dinosuars, if you can find one that is. Their alittle scarce these days. (to paraphraze the late George Carlin) Wars being #2. So, while we can keep building major population centers along coastal areas and third floor spent rod pools in earthquake zones. The only other way to control the population explosion, is for one country to invade another country or civil uprising. Then, by killing off the healthly breeding stock(soilders) and limited civilian deaths, there would be long term genetic ill-effects in later generations, further controlling the population over the long term. China's population control laws are flawed, and some would argue a human rights violation.

      August 17, 2011 at 3:44 am | Reply
  25. Bukoo

    If man is to survive on earth he must first rid himself of earths biggest CANCER which is RACISM. This idea that people should be under the bondage of one race over another will surely destroy all of mankind if allowed to go unchecked. It is my sincere hope that a higher power will make itself known and rectify this ugly practice which has been perpetuated by those who wish to divide and conquer. This practice has been going on for quite some time now. It's the practice of supremacy. I will never forget how America revealed itself during the Katrina disaster. A horrible response to a horrible and disastrous situation. If we are to survive we need to change our thinking with regard to ALL of humanity. I'm starting with the "MAN IN THE MIRROR".

    August 16, 2011 at 12:55 pm | Reply
    • RYan

      Earth's biggest cancer isn't racist. It's GREED!!!!!

      August 16, 2011 at 1:13 pm | Reply
    • RYan

      And your man in the mirror quote is ridiculous. I guess we should admire men who like to sleep with little boys, and dangle their baby off a ledge. I guess that's equality, justice at it's best.

      August 16, 2011 at 1:16 pm | Reply
    • Rasputin

      Bukoo,
      Based on your statement about Katrina, I have to assume you are only talking White on Black Racism? How about what is happening in Zimbabwe, where the Blacks are openly slaughtering the Whites and turning a country that was once the Bread Basket of Africa into a starving nation for the benefit of the Blacks running the Government. So the real issue is Greed, because what the government there is doing is only helping those in the government, everyone else, black or white is suffering. Laziness is the lowest common denominator which leads to Greed, which is color blind, so Racism is not the root of the evil you speak of.

      August 16, 2011 at 1:28 pm | Reply
      • Aubrie

        You hit the nail squarely on the head!! bingo!

        August 16, 2011 at 2:15 pm |
    • Jake

      Greed is indeed the cancer of the world.
      No greed = Very few problems left in the world.
      Drop the greed, you'll get a much better world. :)

      August 17, 2011 at 5:12 pm | Reply
  26. Player

    I wonder what the Rolling Stones will sound like then.

    August 16, 2011 at 1:04 pm | Reply
    • Jake

      Mick Jagger will still get no satisfaction loll

      August 17, 2011 at 5:13 pm | Reply
    • Jake

      Mick Jagger will still get no satisfaction ;)

      August 17, 2011 at 5:14 pm | Reply
    • Jake

      Ewww.. i got double posted :(

      Sorry guys

      August 18, 2011 at 12:22 pm | Reply
  27. STLBroker

    One world government, then one world religion (that does not require a belief in God) and then possibly the Anti-Christ. The only good news is that Jesus comes on the scene shortly thereafter. Amen!!!

    August 16, 2011 at 1:10 pm | Reply
    • MacK

      It's a paradox. Jesus returns only when the world no longer needs him. You think that Muslims, Jews and Christians will ever agree to a uniform faith, even in the next fourteen years? Two people can't even agree on what they want on their pizza. Pizza isn't even kosher. How are 9 billion people going to agree to conform?

      August 16, 2011 at 1:25 pm | Reply
  28. pld123

    It depends a lot on the next election. This country is going to have to determine what it wants to be. Mix of Capatism and Socialism or pure Capitalizm. That seems to be the choices os far. The two choice so far are like night and day. The divisions are very deep. Who ever wins will likely drive things for a long time. Better think hard before casting that vote.

    August 16, 2011 at 1:13 pm | Reply
    • Rasputin

      Neither choice is good because all we have to vote for is politicians, and no matter what their ideology, the only thing they look to serve is the Government. On the Left its the Big Brother Socialist on the right its the Military Industrial Complex, both are working together to keep themselves in power. All the political infighting is just political stage, to make their supporters believe they are their for them.

      August 16, 2011 at 1:36 pm | Reply
  29. CRH

    2025 is only 14 years short years away. The changes she is outlining will take much longer than that to occur if they do. Maybe by 2050.

    August 16, 2011 at 1:17 pm | Reply
  30. MacK

    Anyone else foresee U.N. imposed population control?

    August 16, 2011 at 1:20 pm | Reply
    • Jeff

      No I don't think that'll happen. It leads to demographic imbalances. Plus the Western world isn't making enough babies already. I definitely think its a good idea to educate people against having more than 3 kids.

      August 16, 2011 at 2:18 pm | Reply
      • Burt47

        Perhaps we could start by doing away with outmoded tax deductions which encourage people to have large families.

        August 17, 2011 at 1:13 pm |
    • Aubrie

      The U.N. is going to impose much more that that before it's all over I'm afraid.

      August 16, 2011 at 2:19 pm | Reply
    • Polopoint

      No.
      The UN couldn't impose a shadow against a wall on a sunny day.

      August 16, 2011 at 2:31 pm | Reply
  31. Cult of Personality

    2025 is one year before my retirement year of 2026, and rest assured, I will probably PARTY MY ASS OFF !!!! By 2025, I expect to have AT LEAST a cool million stashed away between my 401(K) and taxable investment certificate of deposit accounts. Of course, by that time, one-million may not be enough, but with a paid off mortgage, paid off car loan, and monthly paid off credit card balances, I think I'll do just fine...

    August 16, 2011 at 2:03 pm | Reply
    • PaulMcJagger

      That's it, think only of yourself. I know... you earned it, blah, blah, blah...

      August 16, 2011 at 2:40 pm | Reply
    • leecherius

      I hope your right...the finacial debaucle of 2008 wiped out 40% of the value of the average 401K. It can happen again , and worse.

      August 17, 2011 at 6:06 pm | Reply
  32. Jeff

    I will be starting on my Phd next week in engineering related to water supply issues. Hopefully I'll have some job security with that out in the Western US or around the world. I've been hearing that the secure jobs of the 21st Century will be in necessity industries (Agriculture, Energy, utilities, etc).

    August 16, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Reply
    • KeithTexas

      I am hoping water is the next big thing. I am ready,

      August 16, 2011 at 10:42 pm | Reply
  33. hilo, HI

    I'm guessing the 85 remaining Indonesian dolphins featured on today's homepage won't be here.

    August 16, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Reply
  34. Unknown

    No one can predict what the world would be like in 2025. Before 9/11, China was seen as the main foreign policy item for the future, but after 9/11, events in the Arab world and S.Asia became the main concern. This shows that sometimes a single major event can alter the geopolitical landscape overnight.

    August 16, 2011 at 2:17 pm | Reply
  35. Julie

    I agree with the guy who thinks the world will be like Clockwork Orange – I predict social networking will become a major force in terrorism and spontanious mob violence – perfect for that ol' C.O. type society.
    But I also hope Apple will have fixed Safari so it can read the JAVA applets at Uncle Chucks Sokoban Solutions page.

    August 16, 2011 at 2:19 pm | Reply
  36. Mark Miller

    If you people had gone into the website: http://frankdimora.typepad.com , then you guys would wake up and realize that the world may not be around much during 2025. Sept. 2011 is supposed to kick off the Tribulation as it has been written in the Bible, Shortly afterward, the 7-Year Great Tribulation will ensue, and probably there won't be much of a world in 2025. Read the Bible! Go to Frank DiMora's website! Last Chronicles of Planet Earth! Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!

    August 16, 2011 at 2:26 pm | Reply
    • Cult of Personality

      Religious, Eh? I worship Jesus Christ almost as much as I worship Reverend Sun Myung Moon (the Moonies), Reverend Jim Jones (the People's Temple), Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), David Koresh and Warren Jeffs !!!! NOT !!!!

      August 16, 2011 at 2:33 pm | Reply
      • Jer

        Just so you know, "Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" you don't have to believe it for it to be true......You will remember those words when you are faced with that reality......it will be to late then if what you have said is what you still believe at that time

        August 16, 2011 at 6:53 pm |
      • KeithTexas

        Jer – you are going to be so disappointed when you get to heaven because everyone that you hate and believe are sinners will be there with you.

        Maybe they will give you a special room so you can feel "holier than thou" in Heaven.

        August 16, 2011 at 10:38 pm |
    • Polopoint

      Oh, I'm sure there'll since be some semblance of a world in 2025 – and you'll still be reading your bible.

      August 16, 2011 at 2:34 pm | Reply
    • KeithTexas

      Would you please give me your address? When you get raptured I want your stuff

      August 16, 2011 at 10:40 pm | Reply
    • answers

      can I please have the VERSION of your Bible so I can stay away from it. Man not sure what you are reading.

      August 17, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Reply
  37. GOP hate America

    hopefully an end to all religions and the stupid people that claim to be enlighten by them.

    August 16, 2011 at 2:45 pm | Reply
  38. Marty

    I just want a freakin hover board!

    August 16, 2011 at 2:53 pm | Reply
  39. heyheyhey

    Simple, the US will be dropping more bombs. Banks will continue enslaving people. We'll probably get another NFL lockout. More starving, more poverty, more debt. And we'll continue blaming china even though we'll continue to borrow from them.

    in other words, 2025=2011

    August 16, 2011 at 2:57 pm | Reply
    • Snowman

      That's such a stupid thing to say. Just look at the technological innovations in the last 10 years and it's rising exponentially? They are hardly going to be equal...

      August 17, 2011 at 12:55 am | Reply
      • Jake

        When you look at it, it's not that stupid. Sure the world has provided quite a few advances in various gadgets and useful trinkets and some medical advances, but behind the scenes, people will still be slaves to greed (banks and corporations). the poor will still be poor, the rich will be richer and those who starve will no doubt starve even more. Get rid of Greed and the greedy people who fuel it -­> The world will get much better then.

        August 17, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
  40. bad4u

    Who slipped her a copy of the social engineering plans?

    August 16, 2011 at 3:23 pm | Reply
  41. bad4u

    Imagine if you will a large black space totally void of light, you are blind, and wearing sunglasses and a gas-mask.

    August 16, 2011 at 3:25 pm | Reply
  42. engstealth

    The world will be a wonderous place... Viagra will be available over the counter.

    August 16, 2011 at 3:36 pm | Reply
  43. Pete

    A lot more like Venus.

    August 16, 2011 at 3:38 pm | Reply
  44. youallsuck

    you are all morons. nature will crap on us when it feels like it. the end

    August 16, 2011 at 3:41 pm | Reply
  45. Derick

    WORLD infected with terror rats exported of pakistan!

    August 16, 2011 at 4:13 pm | Reply
    • mb2010a

      We already have that...their called Pakistanis...

      August 16, 2011 at 4:36 pm | Reply
  46. RRMON

    Anders Behring Breivik of Norway projects 2083 before Europe becomes stabilized, I project 2050 including the US.

    August 16, 2011 at 4:18 pm | Reply
  47. King Richard III

    TO HELL WITH ALL YOU EXTREME, RIGHT-WING RADICAL, RELIGIOUS FANATICS OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!

    August 16, 2011 at 4:19 pm | Reply
    • Pablo Hernandez

      Tea Party got under your skin? You had better grow accustomed to it, because the silent majority has awakened and has had enough of being economic slaves to the banks, worker bees to support welfare cheats, and supporters of Congressional representatives who sell out America to corporations.

      August 17, 2011 at 12:17 pm | Reply
      • Burt47

        If only the Tea Party folks would rise up and demand that everyone pays his or her fair share of taxes. We could start with the churches which pay no taxes whatsoever. Add up all the tax exempt land in most cities and you will find that it exceeds fifty percent. Our nation's founders did many wonderful things, but establishing tax exemption for non-profit organizations was not one of them. Believe in Jesus, Mohammed, Confucius? Great! If they were here I am sure they would tell you that it is unfair to have everyone else pay indirectly to support your faiths.

        August 17, 2011 at 1:26 pm |
  48. Jason K

    I have my money on it not being here. Well, more likely that when the money goes, the major population centers of the western world, and industrial eastern world will go with it. And that will happen long before 2025. I'm thinking by 2016 it we be a VERY different Earth.

    August 16, 2011 at 4:20 pm | Reply
  49. erik

    We will still be like cavemen, only worrying about self and immediate surroundings.

    August 16, 2011 at 4:23 pm | Reply
  50. Deep North

    Heaping pile of ashes!

    August 16, 2011 at 4:30 pm | Reply
  51. Brian Q

    It's a shared future or no future at all.

    August 16, 2011 at 4:30 pm | Reply
  52. mb2010a

    I think the date should have been 2050 and not 2025. 2025 is only 14 years from now and changes like these experts envision usually take longer to happen. The population of the US in 2050 will be around 400 million and that alone will bring many changes from what we have today...

    August 16, 2011 at 4:34 pm | Reply
  53. mb2010a

    Actually, I'm still holding out for it all to end December 21, 2012...after that it won't really matter.

    August 16, 2011 at 4:38 pm | Reply
  54. HippieDude

    Anyone remember the cool tune from the 1960's, "In the Year 2525..." ?? It was a hit song from 1969 by American pop-rock duo Zager and Evans...Cool tune for a turbulent time in our nation's history, after the assassinations of both MLK & RFK in 1968, the Vietnam War, etc.

    August 16, 2011 at 4:58 pm | Reply
  55. mike

    Que Sera, Sera
    What will be, will be.

    August 16, 2011 at 5:03 pm | Reply
  56. SamCook

    Its been a long long time coming, but a change is gonna come.

    August 16, 2011 at 5:29 pm | Reply
  57. USAvoice

    Soooooooooooooooooooooo, what channel is it on?

    August 16, 2011 at 5:32 pm | Reply
  58. Chris650

    Possibly the negative changes that will come in 2050 are more restrictions on religious and basic human freedom and growing intolerance between religions, etnicities, and cultures.

    August 16, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Reply
  59. Greg S

    Will America Collapse,
    Will N Korea attack South Korea,
    Will China attack Taiwan,
    Will Israel get wiped out,
    Will Palestine get wiped out,
    Will there be global warming,
    Will there be global cooling,
    will there be War,
    will there be a pandemic,
    will there be Nuclear terrorist attack
    maybe all of the above.

    August 16, 2011 at 5:54 pm | Reply
    • pld123

      Will America Collapse, – Yes if the Tea Party stays in power.
      Will N Korea attack South Korea,- First chance that nut thinks he can get away with it.
      Will China attack Taiwan,- Oh, they would love to for a point, but I think they will try to wear them down.
      Will Israel get wiped out,- Nope – They will go down some but not out, the big one will occur over there.
      Will Palestine get wiped out,- I don't know, I'm suprised they are still standing.
      Will there be global warming,- Yea, already under way.
      Will there be global cooling,- Good question, suspect it will go both ways.
      will there be War,- You can count on it, always somewhere there is war.
      will there be a pandemic,- It's just a matter of time, you can bank on it.
      will there be Nuclear terrorist attack-50-50 if they get their hands on one, then Yes.
      maybe all of the above.

      Thanks Greg

      August 16, 2011 at 11:04 pm | Reply
      • ignat

        pld123, was your NOPE to the fourth question based on facts or your version of the 'Armageddon'. your nope sounds like it comes from the mouth of a dope. That state of Israel, a state of over-armed Pewee Hermans' cannot and will not continue to exist and will disappear just like its sister state, Apartheid South Africa before. If they'd been asked the same question a few decades back, their answer would probably been 'Nope' like yours now-–like a dope. Bring some educated proof for your nope answer. Like the other Crusaders in history, they'll keep coming and keep getting their but kicked back to where they came from. You may ascribe to the 'all mighty Hymie' concept or lie, but don't expect the rest of us to follow suit.

        August 17, 2011 at 9:19 am |
  60. Human Guess

    A vision of the future:
    Another billion people on this planet.
    More pollution created and more resources dwindling to maintain demand leading to massive Climate Change.
    Climate Change leading to mass migration of humanity. (food and water scarce)
    Strict and immediate immigration laws among all governments leading to worsening race relations.
    Martial Law Governments are established to quell mob riots over rising prices for resources and hate crimes.
    Nuclear power plants built to maintain demand for power and ease climate change.
    Iran builds nuclear power plants despite international objection.
    WW3 (I Don't know who starts what but it doesn't matter, what follows it is plague, death, destruction, and famine)
    That's what I've thought of so far.

    August 16, 2011 at 6:28 pm | Reply
    • sapsxy

      Human Guess : Agreed..now if only those 1 billion more people didnt show up..then we'll be ok for a while.

      August 16, 2011 at 6:33 pm | Reply
  61. CommanderBill

    The only thing you can guarantee about these predictions is that they are wrong. Society is way to complex to extrapolate present trends to future realities. The future is partially incremental, partially leaps of advancement and periods of stagnation, and partially unforeseen innovation and occasional revolution. No one yet has been able to predict the future. It is doubtful the CNN editors have either.

    August 16, 2011 at 6:33 pm | Reply
  62. Todd West

    Three words to remember – US Freedom Party

    August 16, 2011 at 7:09 pm | Reply
  63. GOPisGreedOverPeople

    The Poor will be winning the "real class warfare" against the rich. Many more poor than rich. It will be fun. And before you get your shorts in a bind, everyone posting here will be on the same side. The "Poor".

    August 16, 2011 at 8:01 pm | Reply
  64. Robert In New Orleans

    The world will look like Mad Max and everyone will have mohawks and wear ass less chaps.

    But seriously, it only gets worse over time.

    James Lovelock describes the future and it isn't pretty.

    August 16, 2011 at 8:03 pm | Reply
    • Cindy

      When, since the advent of the industrial revolution, has "it" gotten worse? In industrialized nations, look at all the advancements making your life better than it would have been at any other time in history: previously unimaginable health care, social stability, peace, relative prosperity (a SUV in every garage), food and water safety and availability, pleasure opportunities, work opportunities, social safety nets, etc. I could go on and on. We all make our own reality. I choose to notice that I'm blessed to live in these wonderful times in a safe country.

      August 16, 2011 at 8:10 pm | Reply
      • KeithTexas

        Cindy – America has been at war constantly since April 1917. Not one single year of peace.

        August 16, 2011 at 10:30 pm |
  65. Cindy

    People, in general, have always been smart. That's why we rule the planet. Adapting in a timely fashion has always been our biggest natural advantage. I see no reason why it cannot be again and again. The trick is that people also like to prcrastinate until the last possible moment before adaptation is unavoidable. Here lies the personal danger. Adaptation is far less painful to individuals if it is planned as opposed to forced.

    August 16, 2011 at 8:04 pm | Reply
    • ignat

      Cindy dear, what world are you living in-haven't you noticed? Americans have traded their SUVs in for shopping cart. You'd better get one while they last because old Uncle Sam ain't 'planning himself out of this one. Before America could start a war and bomb its way to a better economy while chicks like you could sit home and say, 'Go get them boys!' but now with China on the rise and South America boiling over, and the economy in sharp decline, you'd better hook a Salvadoran boyfriend--or better yet, learn Chinese.

      August 17, 2011 at 9:42 pm | Reply
  66. Robert

    I'd like to see the CDC manufacture a virus that renders 75% of the world's population sterile, at random. We need waaaay less around than we have today. I'm not saying I'd like a kill off of the people already here, I'm just saying let's not invite any more people to the party for a while.

    August 16, 2011 at 8:40 pm | Reply
    • Reality Check

      In 40 years, we'll have the problem of too many old people.

      September 1, 2011 at 3:48 pm | Reply
  67. Lejaune

    US will be fighting the Iranian insurgents after occupying Iran. This time, the pentagon learns the lessons of Iraq and sends 300,000 troops over before the ground war starts. Shiite lead Iraq turns against US because of the "Operation Persian Freedom". The federal debt is just over 25 trillion. Oil at $350 a barrel due to wide spread fire in Iranian oil fields, possibly set up by the retreating Revolutionary Guards.

    August 16, 2011 at 8:56 pm | Reply
  68. S.Strickland

    2 Timothy 3 – I think we know what the future holds.

    For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

    August 16, 2011 at 9:03 pm | Reply
    • KeithTexas

      No, those are just Timothy's kind of friends. The rest of us will do just fine.

      August 16, 2011 at 10:27 pm | Reply
  69. trex

    Tic Palin, Sarah Palin's 18th deformed child, was sworn in today as Dictator of the Commonwealth of the Usa. His first act was to increase taxes on those making less than 25 million a year and eliminate taxes on those making ANYTHING above 25 million a year. Tic also commented that the area formerly known as the country of Texasseses will continue to be off limits due to excessive e coli contamination from excessive tea baggery.

    August 16, 2011 at 9:21 pm | Reply
  70. Cody

    Out of all of these posts not 1 mentions nanotechnology which is where the evolution of technology is going to reach break neck speeds and the first one in this race is going to be miles ahead of the rest of the world and what are we doing about it? We spend about $30 billion a year on nanotechnology R&D woo! China spends 300.

    August 16, 2011 at 9:28 pm | Reply
  71. Badley-Bent

    Imagine paying for breathable air. When I was young no one would have guessed we'd pay for drinking water.

    August 16, 2011 at 9:39 pm | Reply
  72. blessedgeek

    In 2025, people of various religions will still be delusional that a messiah will come to clean up their mess.

    But the actual year of disaster is not 2012 or 2025 but January 19, 2038. That is when programmes written to work on Unix calendar would hit the last bit. This is not like the Y2K bug. The 2038-01-19:03:14:07 bug will cause missiles to fall off the sky if old missiles were deployed on that day.

    Somewhere tuck in the network of devices in that future, there would be 30 year technology still in use. Terrorists or hackers could scour the world to locate those systems or devices and exploit them for malicious intent.

    Two days before 2001/9/11 was the Unix calendar billennium. 2001/09/09:01:46:40 was represented as exactly
    1 000 000 000 decimal in 32 bit Unix time. 2038-01-19:03:14:07 is the exhaustion of the 32 bit binary count of number of seconds since January 1, 1970. Unless we all move to using 64 bit time. Akin to the exhaustion of the internet numerical addresses.

    At that time, Buddhist doomsday terrorist would have been active over the previous 10 years destroying all forms of religion and philosophy. A new Buddhist doomsday extremist cult would have arisen to usher in the next Buddha incarnation – basing on Buddhist theology that the next Buddha will not be incarnated unless the world has abandon religion and humanist philosophies. That the next Buddha will reintroduce humanism to a lost and brutal world.

    OTOH, with all the religious fundamentalism going on, it should not need any Buddhist doomsday cult to help the world reach the point of abandonment and brutality. Unfortunately, there would be no messiah, whether Buddhist or otherwise.

    August 16, 2011 at 9:41 pm | Reply
  73. MAERSK

    I personally feel that we shall have gone through a major war, China by then shall be the most powerful nation economically and they shall use that to get US military technology.

    I shall not be surprised to see that we shall be even closer to a WW3, with the middle east, Israel, the western world, Pakistan all being destroyed and flattened out of existence.

    August 16, 2011 at 9:46 pm | Reply
    • Badley-Bent

      We've already given them our manufacturing base, our silent submarine propeller technology and now our radar proof helicopter technology. I'm sure we already outsource much of our defense technology to them as it is. Maybe the time will come when they just empty our cities and make us all work in the fields?

      August 16, 2011 at 10:07 pm | Reply
      • ignat

        Hey Badley, have you ever considered that most of the stuff your talking about was invented by foreign brains imported from the very countries that are, hmm, stealing it? Remember the nuclear triggers developed in the US that ended up in Pakistan? Yep, you guessed it; they were developed by a Pakistani.

        August 17, 2011 at 4:10 pm |
    • Kishore

      What's up with the inordinate number of "shall"s in your post?

      August 16, 2011 at 10:59 pm | Reply
  74. BJ Bell

    We are currently seeing demands on food, energy and other natural resources that are not sustainable for the next twenty years at even the current population levels of approximately 7 billion.

    We will have increasing global unrest, wars and human misery.

    Within 500 years there will be wars fought with genetically created bacterias that will decimate the world population to less than 500 million.

    August 16, 2011 at 10:03 pm | Reply
  75. fl1911

    You can look at sub sahara africa for a hint

    August 16, 2011 at 10:41 pm | Reply
    • pld123

      Good point!

      August 16, 2011 at 10:56 pm | Reply
    • ignat

      Sub-Saharan Africa? No need to look that far; just look at France which is tossing Muslim into trucks for veiling. At least that's what Europe might look like if the current trends continue. Oh, don't worry, there's plenty of room for Jews and Gypsies on the back of those trucks just like the good ole days of Adolf before 2025 comes around.

      August 17, 2011 at 4:35 pm | Reply
  76. Faith

    2025 AD – a huge number of Christians from Islamic regions, a lot of Christian missionaries from the Third World ministering to the whites in the West, Chinese Christians preaching the Gospel in Jerusalem. If the world continues.

    August 16, 2011 at 10:51 pm | Reply
    • ignat

      Faith, what world are you living in, the only large number I see is the VERY large number of western Muslim reverts who have chucked the 'Pauline' doctrine of the 'God Junior' concept for the belief in the one God of Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad the final Messenger who are increasing exponentially and spreading Islam to their brethren in the West which includes myself. Prove to me that Jesus (peace be upon him) is God Junior, without taking me through any catacombs of your typical catechismisic conundrums. Where did he say, 'I am God, worship me'. If you can't answer that in clear English, then you sir are no more than an Roman style pagan.

      August 17, 2011 at 11:35 am | Reply
  77. pld123

    Depends on 2012 elections. If the Tea bunch wins it aint gonna be pretty. I suspect simular to late 1800's. If they don't win, well, maybe some hope that things might get better. For the young people my advice is don't buy into your retirement won't be there, you have to spend a ton on college and take a cheap job, etc. I'm 67 and heard all that crap when I was in my 20's, well I just started drawing my SSN, which I paid into for over 40 years and glad I did. I remember saying well just give me my money back and I'll worry about retirement. Well I glad they didn't. Don't let them get away with it, you hold the power if you use it. 401KI's well ok for a side line but don't depend on them. Fight for Pensions and SSN.

    August 16, 2011 at 10:52 pm | Reply
  78. mim

    It won't change that much but technology will. We may finally find out exactly who is in the UFO ships but housing will still be crunched, cars will still be on paved roads, and people will still get sick and get old. We live and laugh under the same sun and love under the same moon – as before and as after.

    August 16, 2011 at 10:53 pm | Reply
  79. Kishore

    Like we are getting past 2012! Pffft! Give me a break!

    August 16, 2011 at 10:58 pm | Reply
  80. Nostradamus

    By 2025, there won't be any life on planet earth. Sorry!

    August 16, 2011 at 11:01 pm | Reply
  81. Zsolt

    Regarding point nr.1, if such a global body as UN Security Council does not incorporate all the nations of the world, if we still have a multi tier system by 2025, then such an association will be useless. Even now we live in a global, totally interconnected world, where there are no more important or less important states, countries. As the Professor says we might need serious catastrophes, even wars to arrive to this recognition, but on the other hand we have all the opportunities to do it in a much faster and pleasant way, simply studying and understanding the laws of this closed, global system we exist now. Instead of wating for blows and cataclysms we could actively educate the whole world about where we exist, and how we are supposed to settle into this system in harmony.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:02 pm | Reply
    • David Prosser

      Definitely. Solutions can't be reached for global problems which affect us all if everyone is not taken into consideration.

      August 16, 2011 at 11:35 pm | Reply
    • Stellash

      YOU are absolutely right! Lets together work out The global nation, enough all humanity wasted time for wars or economic crises. Let think about feature and how we want our children will live.

      August 17, 2011 at 3:46 am | Reply
    • DebP

      There won't be much of a world left, unless we start to consider each other, from the whiners to the leaders and organizers, and look at the greater picture of humanity, rather than our short term individual gain.

      August 18, 2011 at 1:43 am | Reply
  82. Gord

    It won't be much different. our world is not much different from the the one 14 years ago.

    August 16, 2011 at 11:14 pm | Reply
  83. rose helen militello

    who was the person who said,"the next war will be fought with sticks and stones"?

    August 16, 2011 at 11:31 pm | Reply
    • Unknown

      Albert Einstein.

      August 17, 2011 at 1:36 am | Reply
  84. kenzh

    I don't know about the world but I do know that if the republicans have their way, the top 20 percent of Americans will own 100 percent of US wealth, and the rest of us will be working in chain gangs for them. Check out PBS tonite – "The top 20 percent of Americans now hold 84 percent of US wealth"

    August 16, 2011 at 11:57 pm | Reply
  85. outawork

    Like it did in 2025BC

    August 17, 2011 at 12:28 am | Reply
  86. edvhou812

    Probably not like much.

    August 17, 2011 at 1:17 am | Reply
  87. Thou shall not ask

    "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present." B. Olatunji

    August 17, 2011 at 1:29 am | Reply
  88. The_Mick

    For one thing, it's clear that telephone, videophone, TV, Internet, will all be one thing. You'll watch a TV show anytime after it's first introduction instead of, say, 8 pm Thursday night.

    August 17, 2011 at 1:48 am | Reply
  89. monte485

    I'm betting it will look like Star Trek. Technology is immense, a diverse mixing of life forms, and no Muslims.

    August 17, 2011 at 3:19 am | Reply
    • ignat

      For your info monkey485, Muslims are the fastest-growing population on earth with the most resources; there would be no modern technology without Muslims. What technology would there be without algebra, algorithms, chemistry, the zero, arithmetic named after the great Muslim mathematician 'Khwarizmi'; your so dumb, you probably don't even realize that the numbers you use are called Arabic numerals (not Jewish) which I know you are. Many of your so-called Greek scientists are in actuality, Muslim scientists whose names have been Latinized to give the false impression that they were Greek. Google it you jealous twerp. Technology is from Muslims and it will come home to Muslims.

      August 17, 2011 at 2:07 pm | Reply
  90. Stacy

    Very interesting article. But it seems like Ms. Slaughter has not factored in the vast technological advances that are predicted to occur by 2025. I would be interested in how her predictions might change if she factored in the many forecasts about technological advances by the year 2025.

    Ms. Slaughter says in the article: "...And creating and changing multilateral organizations is child's play next to the profound changes in public and private behavior required to move away from the more-is-better economic model to one which accepts that our resources are finite on a planetary scale."

    This conveys her theory that the finite resources we have on Earth will in part dictate the world's social and economic behaviors. However, if advances in technology by the year 2025 provide the world with infinite low-cost or free energy, for example, that would require a dramatically different set of theories, I'm thinking.

    Ray Kurzweil, an increasingly well-known genius inventor, engineer, and futurist has predicted many seemingly outlandish, but mathematically reasonable, predictions about vast technological advances by the year 2025.

    For example:

    March 17, 2011: " '...So how far away is solar from meeting 100% of the world's energy needs? Eight doublings, says Ray Kurzweil, which will take just 16 years.' And supply is not an issue either, he adds: 'After we double eight more times and we’re meeting all of the world’s energy needs through solar, we’ll be using 1 part in 10,000 of the sunlight that falls on the earth. And we could put efficient solar farms on a few percent of the unused deserts of the world and meet all of our energy needs.'

    Reducing this bold of a prediction to simple mathematics sounds absurd, but it has served Kurzweil in the past. Using this formula, he accurately predicted the fall of the Soviet Union, chessmaster Garry Kasparov's defeat to a robot, and the proliferation of the Internet—as well as over 100 other predictions."

    August 17, 2011 at 3:36 am | Reply
  91. erich2112x

    In 2051 we'll be pulling computer screens up in front of us without a monitor and sweeping all of out data around in mid-air, anywhere, anytime, as long as we have a solar charged logos. Obviously the time machine will never be invented or there would be a log of our arrival somewhere in our own history by now, or would there be?

    August 17, 2011 at 4:01 am | Reply
  92. RodSerling

    In 2025 the US will be taken over by Mexican and South American drug cartels. By that time, al Queda, Taliban, Hezbollah, Zetas, etc. will all be working hand in hand to take over the world.

    August 17, 2011 at 6:07 am | Reply
    • RodSerling

      And China will help of course.

      August 17, 2011 at 6:08 am | Reply
      • ignat

        Rod, your version of 'what might happen' has made the most sense yet; I could almost hear the ding ding ding tune in the background. I predicted on a radio talk show in the 80s that America's biggest future challenge will come from south-–a sort of 'The joke's on you America' scenario who would have wasted much of its wealth and resources on its by special interests groups driven 'War on Terror'. But, please give the great ummat or (Islamic nation) more credit. While some of these rag tag groups are terrorist in nature, others in the majority of cases are simply a natural reaction to the West’s encroachment on their sovereignty and resources. Once the Muslim nation gets its house in order however long it may take, these rag tag groups will disappear along with their unspoken ally, Uncle Sam, will unceremoniously ride off into the twilight of oblivion in the face of a single multi-ethnic nation made up of the Middle East, the former Soviet Republic states, the East (all the Stans),the South-Sea islands and archipelagos 'Indonesia etc.', Turkey and very likely parts of Western Europe. This is an approximate quote from someone in the (New American Century) think tank predating the self-inflicted 9/11 terrorist act, ‘This century is poised to become an Islamic century, but we will turn into the American century’. Thus, the war on terror-or is it for ideological dominance and resources.

        August 17, 2011 at 11:45 am |
  93. Samuel

    Here's an essay called "Looking Backward from the Year 2099: Ecozoic Reflections on the Future."

    http://simplicitycollective.com/looking-backward-from-the-year-2099-ecozoic-reflections-on-the-future

    August 17, 2011 at 6:53 am | Reply
  94. John

    It's made outta peeeooooppplllllleeeeaaahhh!

    August 17, 2011 at 6:59 am | Reply
  95. stupidcore

    The major, fundamental difference in the future will be interconnectedness, which will far exceed the current state of "globalization" which is based purely on economics and trade. Already, humans, regardless of geographic location, are demanding a similar quality of life (Arab spring, anyone)? In 2025, various nations that appear substantially different will look remarkably similar, from basic human rights to cultural and economic values. Is this a good thing? I haven't a clue.

    August 17, 2011 at 7:13 am | Reply
  96. Randy

    The world will probably not even be here the way things are going

    August 17, 2011 at 7:26 am | Reply
  97. DMS

    The internet will be omnipresent and fully integrated into our lives. You will wear contacts or glasses which will allow you to augment reality with information from the web. Environmental energy (solar, wind and geothermal) will be used whenever possible but nuclear will still be the most prevalent. Major advances in genetics and nanotechnology will allow the wealthy to live far longer lives.

    Climate change will necessitate a massive human migration. Areas like Texas will endure a massive and long-lasting drought which will necessitate that cities abandon sprawl for a more dense concentrated urban center, given the cost of maintaining utility infrastructure. This will also have serious implications on eating habits in the U.S. by driving the cost of beef production through the roof.

    Politics will continue to become increasingly divisive, and new third-party groups will gain acceptance. As the demographics of the population change to expect to see an increase radicalization of groups such as the Tea Party. Expect to see the rise of internal terrorist groups.

    August 17, 2011 at 8:11 am | Reply
  98. Common Sense

    The extinction of true modern humans and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

    August 17, 2011 at 8:48 am | Reply
  99. clc777

    I plan on being around in 2062 him to see Haley's comet again. 0 By the Way I was born in 1950.

    August 17, 2011 at 9:32 am | Reply
  100. gary

    What will USA look like? Ever see "Soylent Green"?

    August 17, 2011 at 10:03 am | Reply
    • andrew

      maybe blade runner ?

      August 17, 2011 at 10:09 am | Reply
  101. andrew

    time for humble pie.

    August 17, 2011 at 10:08 am | Reply
  102. Thomas

    Anyone ever play Fallout 3???? Something like that except minus the people and creatures....nothing exists

    August 17, 2011 at 10:21 am | Reply
  103. Zach

    it seems the UN is becoming less and less effective. No one fears them and I would say most don't even respect them, its a huge money drain and politically is completely useless. I'd be surprised if the almighty Security Council still exists in 15 years.

    August 17, 2011 at 10:43 am | Reply
  104. Stan

    How different is the world now compared to 1996? mmmmmm not too much. different cars, faster computers and internet, different clothes, a few different world leaders, minimal power shifts, HDTV. I suspect in 15 years the world will be shockingly similar to what it is today, only minimal changes.

    August 17, 2011 at 10:48 am | Reply
  105. 2bits

    A world minus the USA.

    August 17, 2011 at 11:00 am | Reply
    • ignat

      If the US were to live up to the principles it preaches, then the world would be a lot better for it, technology for deep-space exploration, medicine, etc. but it never can for two reasons, non-patriotic special interests groups and the secret societies that serve them which permeate all aspects of society, starting with innocent-looking fraternity and sorority clubs to your small-town rotaries and the federal order of police to the US presidency itself which only a high level member can attain. The cancer is terminal.

      August 17, 2011 at 11:58 am | Reply
  106. Craig Shearer-Tyson

    Ask Angela Merkel and the rest of Germany how well these regional "Unions" work out.

    The U.N. should be disbanded and kicked off of U.S. soil. The E.U. Should be dissolved, and any attempts at a centralized organization, anywhere in the world, should be fought, tooth and nail.

    August 17, 2011 at 11:01 am | Reply
  107. Papa N.

    I don't know what the world will look like in 2025 but hopefully we'll have a LTE iphone by then!

    August 17, 2011 at 11:27 am | Reply
  108. goodegyptian

    December 23, 2023 is when china takes control of most parts of the USA during world war three (war starts December 7, 2023)

    This is real. You will believe me sooner or later.

    August 17, 2011 at 11:30 am | Reply
  109. Bigdawg

    It sounds callous, but the earth needs something to about halve the population...supervolcano, asteriod hit...something. It's either that, or we'll overpopulate the planet and be killing each other for cups of water in 75 years. The earth will surely recover, just as it has over the eons. And, what is left of humankind will be more humane and more evolved mentally.

    August 17, 2011 at 11:46 am | Reply
  110. Sufiyan

    Muslims will be large in number, but only a few will know and practice Islam. The system of Anti-Christ will be setup for Anti-Christ to come or he will probably be around by then. Anti-Christ will misguide people and cause mass destruction. Jesus Christ will descend from the heavens as a follower of the last messenger of God. Jesus Christ will then kill Anti-Christ. There will be peace in the world for 40 more years. And then there will be time when not a single believer will exist in the world. The day of reckoning will start. Disbelievers will burn in hell forever. Believers in the Oneness of God will abide in Paradise forever.

    August 17, 2011 at 11:46 am | Reply
  111. Matt

    Where the hell are the flying cars? I want my flying car! Where is the future we were promised?

    August 17, 2011 at 11:53 am | Reply
  112. OY A LEE

    Hmmm in approximately the next ten years we should expect more of the same. Nothing drastic, just more of the same. People starving in approximately the same regions of the world they are now. People fighting in approximately the same regions of the world they are now. Bad politics and people complaining in approximately the same regions of the world they are now. I'd say 50 to 100 years and we'll see some pretty major world changes. Eventually we would see the complete division of education/non-education or wealth/poverty and expect one massive MAN MADE crisis (major strike by a religious fanatical country), also running out of oil at some point will be massively a huge change but in the next 10-15 years unlike the last 10 years we should expect more of the same blah blah blah.......I think we all see it coming. So i'd say these predictions in this article are fairly large over reactions similar to many of the comments below. Except for the idiocracy comments. We are currently in the idiocracy years, dead and center so more of that to come.

    August 17, 2011 at 11:58 am | Reply
  113. ignat

    Hey, where are all of the usual rootin tootin usa usa usa commentaries this time around. Is it that the reality has started to bite with a serious sobering effect? Embrace the horror of the inevitable and slow slide from false pride and grandeur into the abyss of uncertainty and chaos!

    August 17, 2011 at 1:31 pm | Reply
  114. ignat

    If you want to know what things are heading, at least on the US political scene, just look at the Israel-China military cooperation visit. When Obama made his famous statement that Israel's security is not a matter of debate, and the ties are unbreakable, and something he said about sacred; somewhere between those statements, Israeli foreign minister Barack kicked Obama in his fork so hard that his gonads are where his eyeballs used to be. And now he's begging him not to divulge military secrets. Boo hoo.

    August 17, 2011 at 4:56 pm | Reply
  115. NatAriz

    Duh... December 21, 2012??? What makes anyone think we will make it to 2025?

    August 17, 2011 at 9:38 pm | Reply
  116. tod siedell

    with professors like this why would you send your child to Princeton. It reminds me of that scene in "Animal House" where prof. is smoking dope in the bathrub with his students.

    August 18, 2011 at 12:27 pm | Reply
  117. Mark

    America will not be on the map. There will be several nations where America stood, much as the Soviet Union broke apart. The world's economy will have collapsed because that 25 trillion or so that America owed disappeared (no America, no one left to pay the debt), but it will be rebounding. China and India won't have their biggest customer, but they'll be better off than the west.

    August 18, 2011 at 1:12 pm | Reply
  118. Fugi

    After reading all the comments , its just affirms we can't get along, we fight in groups democrats, repulicans, black ,white, purple , religion, money, oil,
    finance. Maybe we deserve all this mess, time will tell.

    August 18, 2011 at 1:59 pm | Reply
  119. Eric

    America represents approx 5% of the world's population yet consumes 25% of it's resources. This will have to change if we are to avoid the apocalyptic view of the future

    August 23, 2011 at 8:19 pm | Reply
  120. Aaron L.

    I think that it will be a safer world if we're all connected with each other in some way. So many organizations are held unaccountable for their actions. This would be a step in the right direction. Then maybe we can allocate more resources to colonize our solar system and make money.

    August 26, 2011 at 10:56 am | Reply
  121. Scott J.

    We have no reason to believe these predictions. They are part of the Globalist Stategy that has been causing much of the financial and social turmoil that has manifested. Since this is a strategy that does not amend itself as it moves along, then it is in fact a failed theory that can only be accomplished by FORCING "it's" wishes and desires on a global population.

    The idea that somehow technology will save us all after some catastrophy, is really poor hopefulness as it is clear that technology has been limited to many "toy" arena type projects and that majority of "technological" things have a large failure rate. Summation: "technology" isn't all it is cracked up to be. In the "technotronic age" it can all be negated at the flip of a switch by emitting a frequency, or even ultra intense solar activity can knock it out.

    So the ideas of a mix-match global society transcending all the barriers, based on simply communications sounds sort of "iffy" when the assumption is that "people" will suddenly change their relationship towards "governments" and governments toward each other. It sounds more like a designated plan rather than some "natural" development.

    You guys have all heard this before. You need to look closer! So we will replace all of these important relationships with what?

    August 31, 2011 at 10:42 pm | Reply
  122. Rob

    I predict that by 2025 we'll have professors that can remember that the League of Nations was a failure that led to WWII.

    September 11, 2011 at 1:44 pm | Reply
  123. Julio99

    I may just off myself before then. I wish I'd been born 20 years earlier.

    September 11, 2011 at 2:54 pm | Reply
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    November 16, 2011 at 6:08 am | Reply
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    December 7, 2011 at 3:50 am | Reply
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