The 1997 Asian Crisis and 9/11 were turning points for the world economy. The two events reminded the Western World of the dynamic impacts of globalisation and the increased uncertainty the world was facing. This book examines the threats to the world economy arising in the wake of the tragedy of 11th September 2001 and the preceding Asian financial crisis of 1997. The author makes the point that a distinctive '1990s-type' global capitalist system was the victim of these attacks, so that an appreciation of the peculiarities of this system is essential to an examination of the specific threats that it is likely to face in future and the policy measures necessary to deal with them. As an international relations specialist working for a Japanese trade organization both in Britain and Japan itself, the author has a somewhat uniquely privileged vantage point from which to observe, analyze and evaluate the future tendencies and dangers of the new global system. The book cuts across economics and politics and as such will be of use to a wide audience within both of these disciplines.