BNCOD has, for the past 27 years, provided a forum for researchers world-wide to gather to discuss the topical issues in databaseresearch.As the researchch- lenges have evolved, so BNCOD has changed its topics of interest accordingly, now covering data management more widely. In doing so, it has evolved from a local conference mostly attended by British researchers to a truly international conference that happens to be held in Britain. This year, for instance, sign- cantly less than half of the presentations are from UK or Irish authors, other contributions coming from continental Europe,...

This book provides the reader with a comprehensive study of the future perspectives of the international order after the collapse of the Evil Empire. The first part of the book reviews the likely evolution of the international system in the years to come, covering the global implications of the end of the East--West order (political, economic and strategic impact); the second part studies the specificities of the situation in Europe, the U.S.A., Asia, and the rest of the world, as well as the role of some international organizations. The book addresses the basic questions facing us since the...