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The Civilization Index

The Civilization Index

Andrew Targowski
Copyright: © 2009 |Pages: 16
ISBN13: 9781605660042|ISBN10: 1605660043|ISBN13 Softcover: 9781616924935|EISBN13: 9781605660059
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-004-2.ch003
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MLA

Andrew Targowski. "The Civilization Index." Information Technology and Societal Development, IGI Global, 2009, pp.62-77. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-004-2.ch003

APA

A. Targowski (2009). The Civilization Index. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-004-2.ch003

Chicago

Andrew Targowski. "The Civilization Index." In Information Technology and Societal Development. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2009. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-004-2.ch003

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Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to define energy levels of civilizations, particularly in respect to a role of information-communication processes. Rapid changes in the world economy and social structure have brought into question traditional assumptions, prompting some intellectuals to speak of a “clash of civilizations” (Huntington, 1993; 1996) or even “the end of history” (Fukuyama, 1989; 1992). Before one can speculate about a new world order, it is necessary to develop an appropriate set of measurements to compare human societies and a terminology to describe them. The environment described as a “civilization” by Toynbee (1995) and “the world civilization” by Braudel (1993) has changed so drastically that those definitions are no longer sufficient. The spectacular progress in technology and social life that has been achieved at the beginning of the third millennium stimulates an extensive investigation into the human condition and the world status. Questions like the following need to be answered: 1. What is the state of Western and other civilizations at the beginning of the 21st century? 2. How can it be compared to other civilizations in terms of level of development? 3. What criteria and measurements should be applied in evaluating and comparing civilizations? 4. What is the relationship between a given civilization and the world civilization? This study falls into a category of wide-ranging comparisons of large structures and processes, in order to understand how human entities behave in a certain way because of the consequences of the civilization system’s behavior as a whole (Tilly, 1984).

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