Europe, the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan produce most of the world's goods and consume the greatest part of the world's available resources. The vast number of nations outside of this privileged economic zone have populations living in conditions of poverty and want. Furthermore, there is a severe political division in the ranks of nations. Only a small number of countries now have freely-elected, democratic government. The majority of the peoples of the world are ruled autocratically.
More chiefs of state wear military uniforms today than they did at any other time in history.
Indeed, in many parts of the world, the military coup has become a common condition of political life. Europe remains on the brighter side of this rather gloomy global picture. The privileged position that continent has enjoyed in the modern era has been retained. Western Europeans continue to live within a political tradition of representative government, and they benefit from more guaranteed personal liberties than inhabitants of most of the other continents of the world. Although the threat of terrorism is present daily, and urban crime figures are ascending, the average European's domestic life is more secure and comfortable than it ever was.