THE ROAD TO JOBURG AFTER SEPTEMBER 11

World Summit Paper #9; documentation of an online debate, held November 2001

The terrorist attacks of September 11 seem to have changed world politics dramatically. New and unexpected alliances are being forged, the priorities of governments are being reassessed, and public attention is focused on the threat of terrorism. A global "war against terrorism" appears to have been unleashed that is likely to stay with us during the coming years.

What do these developments mean for the road to the World Summit on Sustainable Development? From November 16-24, 2001, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Stakeholder Forum together initiated a global online debate on these questions - i.e., the impact of the September 11 attacks and consequences for the Johannesburg Summit process.

We invited eminent intellectuals from all over the globe to contribute short opinion articles as "think pieces" to start the debate. One or two of these think pieces were posted on the Internet during each day of the discussion, and discussion participants then posted commentaries that either responded to the think pieces or elaborated their own opinions on the linkages between September 11 and issues of sustainable development.

This publication reproduces nearly all of the think pieces featured in the online discussion as well as numerous responses and independent commentaries provided by discussion participants.

[ pdf; 54 pages ]