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This volume presents a comprehensive analysis of global future scenarios and their impact on a growing, shared culture. Ever since the end of the Cold War, a diverse range of future concepts has emerged in various areas of academia-and even in popular journalism. A number of these key concepts-´the end of history,´ ´the clash of civilizations,´ ´the coming anarchy,´ ´the world is flat,´ ´soft power,´ ´the post-American century´-suggest what could become characteristic of this new, interconnected world. Ulf Hannerz scrutinizes these ideas, considers their legacy, and suggests further dialogue between authors of the ´American scenario´ and commentators elsewhere.

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Prologue: Atlantis and 1984.- 1. The "One Big Thing" Quintet & Co.- 2. When pundits go global.- 3. Playing with maps.- 4. Side shows: Eurabia, MexAmerica.- 5. Reporting from the future.- 6. Contemporary habitats of meaning.- 7. Culture: between XL and S.- 8. Soft power.- 9. Scenarios from everywhere.

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Ulf Hannerz is Professor Emeritus of Social Anthropology at Stockholm University, Sweden, and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. A former Chair of the European Association of Social Anthropologists, he has taught at American, European, Asian, and Australian universities, and has carried out field studies in West Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States, as well as a multi-site study of the work of news media foreign correspondents.

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