2011 State of the Future Anticipates More Wealth, Crime, Corruption
A report being released by a globalized think tank sums that although the world of tomorrow will be richer, healthier and better educated, it will also be a more violent and corrupt unless action is taken to curb terror-related crime.
The Millennium Project's 2011 State of the Future reports the world's future will include improved access to water, food, health care and schooling. The report projects the number of physicians per 1,000 people will grow to over 20 percent by 2020. Infant mortality is also projected to drop from over 40 percent last year to under 30 percent in the next decade. Both malnutrition and problems accessing water is expected to shrink to less than 15 percent.
Global school enrollment will rise to 70 percent in the next decade and the number of women in government is expected to exceed 300 percent from under 20 percent in the previous decade, the report predicts.
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Despite the good news, the report shows levels of organized crime and corruption among the 15 largest countries are going up.
The 2011 State of the Future states that illicit trade such as the drug trade, human trafficking, and weapon smuggling has grown in the last decade. These illicit trades are estimated to cost $1.6 trillion a year, according to the report. The report also links these crimes to terrorism.
The number of people killed or injured in terrorist attacks has also grown, according to the report. If this trend continues unmitigated, the report projects that by 2020 the percentage of terrorism victims will reach nearly 60 percent.
Jerome Glenn, executive director of the Millennium Project, laments that these transnational crimes continue to grow unchecked. In his executive summary, Glenn notes, "A global strategy to address this global threat has not been adopted."
Additionally, the report shows that incidents of corruption are increasing in the world's 15 largest countries. Corruption is projected to increase to over 40 percent in the 15 largest countries by 2020 if nothing is done to address issue.
The Millennium Project lauded the reported drop in the number of major armed conflicts – 10 this year compared to 14 last year. It also praised the United States and Russia for decreasing the number of its stored nuclear weapons.
The project, however, expressed concern for the futures of Muslim- majority countries. The report blames growing unemployment among young adults ages 15 to 29 for the social unrest that swept many countries.
The report questions whether the Arab Spring revolution in Egypt will really lead to democracy and a renaissance of Arabic and Islamic culture.
While the report makes little reference to religious freedom, its finding mirrors concerns expressed by groups primarily concerned with the world's religious minorities.
The First Freedom Center expressed concern for the countries’ failure to lawfully punish militants who carry out criminal attacks on minority groups including religious groups such as the Baha'i's, Jews and Christians in a January report.
In fact, the report entitled "Minority Religious Communities at Risk" found impunity for wrongdoers is commonplace.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom found that the Egyptian government tolerated religious freedom violations before and after President Hosni Mubarak stepped down on February 11.
The commission designated Egypt a "country of particular concern" for the first time due in part to its sectarian violence.
The Millennium Project also expressed concern for the decreased voting in elections, growing refugee populations worldwide and increased global surface temperature anomalies.
The Millennium Project was initiated by the Smithsonian Institution, the Futures Group International and United Nations University. Its 2011 State of the Future will be published in full on August 1.
