Braudel, he said, once stated that the world centre moved from London to New York in 1929 and 10 years ago that it was moving from New York to somewhere else he couldn't identify. We do not need stock exchanges any more. All we need is a computer network. The financial centre has shifted to a cyberspace that is connected globally. Certainly those parts of the world which adapt best to information technology will make the century their own.
Asian countries seem better equipped than Africa, South America or Russia.
They have the resources. Half a century ago the region mostly exported commodities to the rest of the world, but at the end of the 20th century Asia is a major manufacturing zone and source of direct investment. It is awash with cash. Asians as a rule work hard and save hard, accumulating capital to compensate for lack of social services and retirement plans. They also have the skills.