letter from John Micklethwait, Editor, The Economist

Dear Reader,

The destruction of the Iron Curtain on November 9th 1989 is still the most remarkable political event of most people's lifetimes: it set free millions of individuals and it brought to an end a global conflict that threatened nuclear annihilation. Yet the past two decades have seen economic freedom advance further than political freedom. Talk 20 years ago of a peaceful new world order has disappeared. New divisions have emerged out of nationalism, religion or just fear of the other, and much of the world still conspicuously rejects democracy. By contrast, globalisation, that awkward term that covers the freer movement of goods, capital, people and ideas around the globe, has become the governing principle of commerce. Our cover leader argues that neither of these liberties should be taken for granted—and that businesspeople should be especially worried by the political vulnerabilities of capitalism.

Here are some other pieces from this week's issue you might also be interested in. You can click straight through to each one and read it at The Economist online using the links below.

John Micklethwait

Editor in Chief