Globalization and sustainability: the cynics, the romantics and the realists

Based on an address given to the second international conference on sociocybernetics the author gives a personal view of globalization and sustainability. He discusses economy‐driven, science‐driven and tourism‐driven globalization and gives a meaning to the term “sustainer”, He gives examples of the “nastier aspects of globalization” and considers whether there is a realistic approach to globalization and sustainability problems. Deals from a sociocybernetic viewpoint with some of the challenges to be faced in the modern world.