Nach dem 11. September: Herausforderung für wen?

Abstract

Abstract

One main purpose of this contribution is to convey central aspects of current intellectual debate in China. Starting from an understanding of the September 11th attacks as an outflow of frustration and crisis mainly in the Middle East, the article focuses on the crisis of the modern nation state as a container of violence and on the critical effects of modernisation, drawing mainly on the experience of China. Here, as in other large developing countries, future social disruption, e.g. by rural-urban migration coupled by failing employment opportunities, might produce considerable risks, even if fairly small minorities are driven into extremist reactions. The author sketches concrete policy outlines that might serve to avoid concomitant disasters.