"Very often, it is not faith which brings us into conflict. It is politics and the pursuit of economic and military power, and the violent reactions they produce. It is often the manipulation of ideology, whether religious or secular." Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia

Shifts happen - but some shifts are easier to see than others. We frequently study globalization through such measurements as trade, capital flows or labour movements. But globalization's impact on cultures, societies and values calls for a much deeper, more qualitative analysis. While some argue that the global marketplace tends to whitewash regional differences, increasing interconnectedness between cultures has not always lead to secularization or homogenization. Often, in fact, it has exacerbated divisions. For the next century to be one of peace and prosperity, societies must adapt to such trends as urbanization, and adopt new paradigms for intercultural relations, education and even nutrition.

The danger lies in a situation where this does not happen, and "people see globalization as something done to them rather than something that, if it is guided by the right value system, actually can bring about a more just world," said former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "And so I think you have got to combine this economic opportunity with a sense of values that are around notions of justice as well as notions of freedom".

For many, principles continue to be defined by faith. "You can't really have modernization without values," said Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington DC (2001-2006). "And where do the values come from? They come from our religious traditions". While some in the 20th century predicted a secular future, today the opposite is true, with adherents to Islam and Christianity comprising over half of the world's population. And while strife in the Middle East dominates headlines, war is not a necessary byproduct of religious pluralism. "Very often, it is not faith which brings us into conflict," said Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia. "It is politics and the pursuit of economic and military power, and the violent reactions they produce. It is often the manipulation of ideology, whether religious or secular”.

To foster cross-cultural success, both public and private learning institutions must promote empathy and understanding. The Internet represents the greatest change, and holds the greatest educational potential, as an increasing number of students in the developed world are graduating with degrees from online programmes. The new technology provides great hope for democratizing access to education. But for the bottom billion worldwide, with no access to the Internet, even primary education is out of reach. Today, 800 million adults cannot read, and over 200 million children toil in the workplace rather than study in a school. Government, business and civil society share a collective burden to ensure that no child, anywhere in the world, is left behind.

Worldwide, the most striking societal shifts are happening around urban areas. Today, over half the world lives in a city; by 2050, the fraction is expected to top three-quarters. Making urban environments safe and sustainable requires not only enlightened leaders but also a supportive private sector and mobilized citizenry.

Burgeoning urban populations place enormous strains on existing infrastructure, particularly in Asia and Latin America. "If we think the situation is bad now," said Terry Hill, Chairman, Arup Group of the United Kingdom, "we should think about what is coming. Every city we know is experiencing stress on its infrastructure, yet everyone wants to live in a city". Public and private sectors must work together to provide upgrades, understanding that a road is not just a project but also a means to foster accessibility, a hospital not just a cost but also an investment in a healthy society.

Urbanization must also be made sustainable. If the world is to stem the effects of climate change, then cities must lead the way. Already, 786 mayors have signed a "local" Kyoto Protocol, pledging to reduce carbon emissions by 20%. Some mid-sized cities have outpaced megacities in their reforms. San Francisco, for example, now boasts a recycle rate of nearly 70% on all waste products. Other cities are aiming to enhance public transportation and have begun offering incentives for clean and efficient energy sources.

Global food chains are also evolving in tandem with the urban landscape. New tastes, menus and diets are pushing local food manufacturers into unsustainable monocultures. New consumer trends burden not only national healthcare systems, but, through its supply chain, ecological systems as well. Certain distributors are partnering with small, local farmers to provide healthy products through sustainable agriculture. But consumers must vote for those products with their forks, if they are to make the new supply chains viable.

Overall, while societal shifts brought on by globalization may seem beyond our control, we can manage change by adhering to a common set of underlying principles. "Globalization is a fact," concluded Blair, "but the values that govern it are a choice".

"There is no contradiction between modernization and faith if they are rooted in values."
Mahdi Hadavi, Founder and President, Porch of Wisdom Cultural Institution, Islamic Republic of Iran