Exploring the rise and fall of global power from the mid-nineteenth
century, this book tracks the long and interrelated trajectories of the
most serious challenges facing the world today. Although at first the
urgency of the coronavirus outbreak in 2020 seemed to take precedence
over other global problems such as socioeconomic inequality and climate
change, it has ultimately exacerbated these issues and created
opportunities to address them boldly and innovatively. A Brief History
of Now provides a bird's-eye view of world hegemony, economic
globalization and political regimes as they have evolved and developed
over the last two hundred years, providing context and insights into the
forces which have shaped the Western world. Presented in an accessible
and engaging narrative, the book addresses key contemporary challenges
and explores the repercussions of a technological revolution, the
potential instability of democracy over the coming years, and the urgent
struggle to tackle climate change. With his book, Diego Olstein helps to
answer pressing questions about our world today and provides a roadmap
for analysing future trajectories.