We are clearly faced with the paradox that while global economic, technological, and political change exhibits high levels of convergence around market-driven capitalism, electronic technology, and liberal-democratic politics, culture is characterized by high levels of divergence. This snapshot observation made at the turn of the new millennium may be erroneous if it proves to be the case that one element of the picture becomes dominant. For Barber, the prognosis is that McWorld may triumph over jihad, in which case polarization would give way to homogenization.