Europe, the US and the world economy: Alan Greenspan’s search for a fifth Kondradieff

This paper was presented at 15:00 hours local time in Ankara, Turkey on 11th September 2001. On the basis of an economic analysis of the world economy it surmises an entry into an ‘age of war’ – a period of financial and military competition between advanced countries comparable to the period of classical imperialism from 1893-1918. At the close of the session which was 17:00 hours local time, being 8 hours ahead of Eastern time, hence 9:00am Eastern time, I was scheduled for an interview on Turkish television. ‘First, there is something you should see’, said the reporter. He led me to the television van where CNN footage showing an aircraft impacting the first trade tower. The second impact occurred as I watched. I emerged from the van five hours later and the interview never took place.