Globalistics and globalization studies. Current and Future Trends in the Big History Perspective

Over the last few years, particularly in the last couple of years, the situation in the world has been rapidly changing. In fact, there is a strong impression that its development goes with more and more increased speed. The World System experiences really dramatic transformations which exacerbate conflicts and tension, disasters and scares as well as turbulence and backslides in the society. We suppose that a new tide of globalization will result from the started formation of the new world order which in many respects will be associated with regulation of global agreements and mechanisms connected with activities on climate change and ecology. This volume presents views on globalization and global issues from different angles. We investigate current processes both in more depth and from the Big History perspective. The present volume is already the eighth volume in the series 'Globalistics and Globalization Studies' touching a broad range of subjects within Global Studies. The volume has a subtitle - 'Current and Future Trends in the Big History Perspective'. The volume has a traditional structure and consists of three parts. Part 1 is entitled 'The Present and Future of the Global World' and comprises eight contributions considering different phenomena currently observed in the globalized world and giving an insight into the future. The second Part is entitled 'Political and Cultural Global Trends' and consists of ten contributions covering different social and political aspects of current globalization. Finally, seven contributions of 'Part III. Big History Studies' consider various issues associated with Big History.