VISIONS FOR A NEW WORLD - WHAT HAS BECOME OF THEM?

In art and culture, science and research, there are always ideas and works, analyses and visions that influence the zeitgeist and trigger intense debate. As far as international relations are concerned, in recent decades Paul Kennedy's analysis of the "Rise and Fall of the Great Powers" (1); Francis Fukuyama's theory on "The End of History and the Last Man" (2); and Samuel Huntington's book on "The Clash of Civilisations and the Remaking of World Order" (3) have triggered worldwide discussions. It is probably time to make an attempt to assess how far these mostly forward-looking statements have materialised or not.