The Managerial Revolution: What is Happening in the World

by James Burnham

But the consolidation of the European central area does not end the world political process. There remain the contests with the other sections of the managers—with Russia as we have already seen, and the struggles among the European, the Asiatic, and the American centers for their respective shares in the rest of the world. Though the perspective of these wars stretches into the future, their first actions are already beginning, over-lapping the second phase of the second world war. By the end of 1940 it was clear that the focus of the war was shifting, that the result of the European struggle was in fundamentals decided and that a new, third, phase was beginning wherein the mighty opponents of the future—the three political structures based on the three central areas—were undertaking their first trials of strength. The voice of Chamberlain, Churchill, Bevin, and England was giving place to that of Roosevelt and the United States. These wars of the developing super-states will not end with the end of this war. Their result, we have noted, is sure to be inconclusive, since none of the three central areas can firmly conquer any of the others. But they will be fought nonetheless, and in them the disposition of the rest of the world will be decided, and redecided.