Localization—the growing economic and political power of cities, provinces, and other sub-national entities—will be one of the most important new trends in the 21st century, according to a new World Bank report released today. Together with accelerating globalization of the world economy, localization could revolutionize prospects for human development or it could lead to chaos and increased human suffering, the report says. According to the World Development Report 1999/2000: Entering the 21st Century, improved communications, transportation and falling trade barriers are not only making the world smaller they are also fueling the desire and providing the means for local communities to shape their own future. Faced with popular demands for greater self-determination, national governments from Africa to Latin America, and from Europe to South East Asia are devolving power to the local level—with mixed results. "Globalization is like a giant wave, that can either capsize nations or carry them forward," says World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, Joseph Stiglitz, who oversaw the team that prepared the report. "Successful localization creates a situation where local entities and other groups in society—the crew of the boat if you will—are free to exercise individual autonomy but also have incentives to work together." The full text of the report is available at http://www.worldbank.org/wdr        Contact: Axel Plathe, UNESCO, Information and Informatics Division