Preparing for 21st Century

As the next century dawns, the world faces interactive problems, writes Yale historian Kennedy ( The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers ). These include the population explosion, technology's replacement of traditional jobs, worsening environmental degradation that jeopardizes economic growth, the dominance of multinational corporations freed from local roots and the widening gulf between rich and poor nations. This valuable book assesses the consequences of these forces on Europe, China, India, other developing nations, the former U.S.S.R., the U.S. and Japan. Kennedy identifies the nations well-positioned for the 21st century: Japan, Korea, Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia. The European Community as a whole is also well-prepared. He warns that adaptation demands greater emphasis on education and stronger political leadership, which is capable of transforming entrenched structures and ideas. Author tour. (Mar.)