Do you think these regions will have raised their living standards, raised their wages, and lowered their rates of political corruption by mid-century? Or will they still be relatively unpleasant places to live? 

I think India will pull through in improving itself. With a population that will surpass China's by 2030, it better. Technological advances are making gains from what I've heard. Pakistan and Bangladesh will need to cool it on birth rates since both are already very dense. But Bangladeshi people have lots of kids for cultural reasons, so I don't know how they're gonna deal with their out of control population growth rate...Maybe emigration to other countries. That's what many men do in that country; they go out to the US or the UK to a good college and get a good career and then use the money to support their families back home. 

I think Thailand has the biggest shot at improvement. It has  large expatriate communities that could possibly aid in its economic development. 

As for Africa, sub-Saharan countries have a long way to go. They would have to overthrow their corrupt governments, set up an economic system that benefits them most, acquire clean drinking water and adequate amounts of food, crack down on AIDS and malaria, and vastly improve their education systems. Borders need to be redrawn so historically oppressed ethnic and religious groups aren't living in the same country, but then again, said groups could just be invaded. Europeans drew the borders of African countries during colonialism based on oil and other resources without thinking about ethnic and religious tensions. Africa will need the help of the outside world for mass improvement.

As for the Middle East, I'm afraid that their tendency to stay living in 700 AD won't be going away anytime soon. Women have no human rights in these countries and it looks like the men in power and in public mostly want to keep it that way. Women can't even drive in Saudi Arabia. Pretty sad. I think it's safe to say that these guys take their religion more to the extreme than any bible thumper in the good 'ole South. Human rights have a long road in this part of the world. 

Unfortunately there's very little chance of Africa ridden itself of the AIDS epidemic thanks to pharmaceutical companies and the United States refusing to allow developing nations to import life-saving generic drugs to the continent. Once again, the fate of the Third World is basically controlled by the first world http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/23/fire_in_the_blood_millions_die

Unfortunately there's very little chance of Africa ridden itself of the AIDS epidemic thanks to pharmaceutical companies and the United States refusing to allow developing nations to import life-saving generic drugs to the continent. Once again, the fate of the Third World is basically controlled by the first world http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/23/fire_in_the_blood_millions_die

thebest31406

Well I doubt it could get worse. chaplainDMK

[QUOTE="chaplainDMK"]Well I doubt it could get worse. themajormayor

[QUOTE="themajormayor"][QUOTE="chaplainDMK"]Well I doubt it could get worse. sexyweapons

It is in the interest of developed countries to keep poor countries poor for trade reasons, so I think they will stay about the same.

Africa and much of the middle east I wouldn't be surprised if they never got out of the stone age.

Nope. Don't see radical Islam disappearing within 37 years. It's in far too many countries now.KC_Hokie

Most of Africa is christian you crazy oath breaker.

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Nope. Don't see radical Islam disappearing within 37 years. It's in far too many countries now.tenaka2

Most of Africa is christian you crazy oath breaker.

Nope. Don't see radical Islam disappearing within 37 years. It's in far too many countries now.KC_Hokie

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Nope. Don't see radical Islam disappearing within 37 years. It's in far too many countries now.BossPerson

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Nope. Don't see radical Islam disappearing within 37 years. It's in far too many countries now.KC_Hokie

Most of Africa is christian you crazy oath breaker.

Unfortunately there's very little chance of Africa ridden itself of the AIDS epidemic thanks to pharmaceutical companies and the United States refusing to allow developing nations to import life-saving generic drugs to the continent. Once again, the fate of the Third World is basically controlled by the first world http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/23/fire_in_the_blood_millions_die

thebest31406

[QUOTE="thebest31406"]

Unfortunately there's very little chance of Africa ridden itself of the AIDS epidemic thanks to pharmaceutical companies and the United States refusing to allow developing nations to import life-saving generic drugs to the continent. Once again, the fate of the Third World is basically controlled by the first world http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/23/fire_in_the_blood_millions_die

SilentFireX

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

Most of Africa is christian you crazy oath breaker.

BossPerson

[QUOTE="BossPerson"][QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Ahh...nope look at a religious map.

 

KC_Hokie

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Nope. Don't see radical Islam disappearing within 37 years. It's in far too many countries now.BossPerson

Radical Islam doesn't exist, its just like global warming, people are becoming more radical as time goes by but it has nothing to do with religion. The world has historically gone through periods were people become more or less radical.

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]half of nigeria and most of ethiopia are christian. The vast majority of Kenya as well. As well as for much of the "south-western" part of north africaPirate700

[QUOTE="BossPerson"][QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Nope. Don't see radical Islam disappearing within 37 years. It's in far too many countries now.tenaka2

Radical Islam doesn't exist, its just like global warming, people are becoming more radical as time goes by but it has nothing to do with religion. The world has historically gone through periods were people become more or less radical.

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]it can disappear as easily and as fast as it materialized KC_Hokie

Radical Islam doesn't exist, its just like global warming, people are becoming more radical as time goes by but it has nothing to do with religion. The world has historically gone through periods were people become more or less radical.

nope both a liberal conspiracies to get more of your tax,

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"] Africa is 45% Muslim, 40% Christian, 15% other.

KC_Hokie

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"][QUOTE="tenaka2"]

Radical Islam doesn't exist, its just like global warming, people are becoming more radical as time goes by but it has nothing to do with religion. The world has historically gone through periods were people become more or less radical.

tenaka2

nope both a liberal conspiracies to get more of your tax,

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"][QUOTE="Pirate700"]Huh, didn't know Russia had that many Muslims.

Pirate700

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]I guess war and poverty don't exist either.KC_Hokie

nope both a liberal conspiracies to get more of your tax,

Hokie I was taking the piss about your denial of global warming... I even mentioned grobal warming in the post... dude! 

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"][QUOTE="tenaka2"]

nope both a liberal conspiracies to get more of your tax,

tenaka2

Hokie I was taking the piss about your denial of global warming... I even mentioned grobal warming in the post... dude! 

I think you're over generalizing a bit, especially in the middle east.  These regions are more diverse than you give them credit for.

I think you're over generalizing a bit, especially in the middle east.  These regions are more diverse than you give them credit for.

jim_shorts

Huh, didn't know Russia had that many Muslims.

Pirate700

Also, in regards to the topic....I have doubts about the situation getting significantly better. Many of these countries lack stable governments willing to care about their people. 

[QUOTE="jim_shorts"]

I think you're over generalizing a bit, especially in the middle east.  These regions are more diverse than you give them credit for.

KC_Hokie

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"][QUOTE="jim_shorts"]

I think you're over generalizing a bit, especially in the middle east.  These regions are more diverse than you give them credit for.

BossPerson

Christians and other religious groups have fled Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, and prior to that Iraq.

Kurdish conflict has been heightened as well as Sunni vs. Shia conflict.

Other than that going great in the diverse middle east! /sarcasm

[QUOTE="BossPerson"][QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Ahh...nope look at a religious map.

 

KC_Hokie

[QUOTE="BossPerson"][QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]They're becoming less diverse because of the Arab 'spring'. KC_Hokie

Christians and other religious groups have fled Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, and prior to that Iraq.

Kurdish conflict has been heightened as well as Sunni vs. Shia conflict.

Other than that going great in the diverse middle east! /sarcasm

[QUOTE="BossPerson"][QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]They're becoming less diverse because of the Arab 'spring'. KC_Hokie

Christians and other religious groups have fled Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, and prior to that Iraq.

Kurdish conflict has been heightened as well as Sunni vs. Shia conflict.

Other than that going great in the diverse middle east! /sarcasm

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]half of nigeria and most of ethiopia are christian. The vast majority of Kenya as well. As well as for much of the "south-western" part of north africacall_of_duty_10

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]explainBossPerson

Christians and other religious groups have fled Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, and prior to that Iraq.

Kurdish conflict has been heightened as well as Sunni vs. Shia conflict.

Other than that going great in the diverse middle east! /sarcasm

The only loss thats significant in the past 10 years are Iraqi Christians leaving Iraq. Other than that, people move to different cities and neighbourhoods, most dont have the ability to leave the country, especially not on a scale which would render the region less diverse on any level worth counting. BossPerson

The entire area is becoming less diverse and more sectarian. Kurds are more unified than ever while the Sunni and Shia rivalry is in full conflict using Syria as a proxy war.

Again, other than that all goes well in the diverse middle east.

I had no idea there are so many muslims in France and eastern European countries.call_of_duty_10

As for Eastern European, those regions were heavily influenced by the Ottoman Empire. I have several friends from Bosnia and Albania and was amazed when I found out they were Muslim. 

frankly if christians wanted to ride on the backs of dictators to guarantee their safety, perhaps leaving is the best decision for them.

of course i dont want them to leave, and Id wish that all these new governments would be secular governments that respect minorities, but like I said if they want to leave now just because there is a democracy in place (which comes with a million risks) than I really have no issue with that. I'd prefer they leave than to undermine democratic transitions. They can come back if they like once all the dirty work of establishing a real democracy is finished. 

frankly if christians wanted to ride on the backs of dictators to guarantee their safety, perhaps leaving is the best decision for them.

of course i dont want them to leave, and Id wish that all these new governments would be secular governments that respect minorities, but like I said if they want to leave now just because there is a democracy in place (which comes with a million risks) than I really have no issue with that. I'd prefer they leave than to undermine democratic transitions. They can come back if they like once all the dirty work of establishing a real democracy is finished. 

BossPerson

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]

frankly if christians wanted to ride on the backs of dictators to guarantee their safety, perhaps leaving is the best decision for them.

of course i dont want them to leave, and Id wish that all these new governments would be secular governments that respect minorities, but like I said if they want to leave now just because there is a democracy in place (which comes with a million risks) than I really have no issue with that. I'd prefer they leave than to undermine democratic transitions. They can come back if they like once all the dirty work of establishing a real democracy is finished. 

KC_Hokie

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"][QUOTE="BossPerson"]

frankly if christians wanted to ride on the backs of dictators to guarantee their safety, perhaps leaving is the best decision for them.

of course i dont want them to leave, and Id wish that all these new governments would be secular governments that respect minorities, but like I said if they want to leave now just because there is a democracy in place (which comes with a million risks) than I really have no issue with that. I'd prefer they leave than to undermine democratic transitions. They can come back if they like once all the dirty work of establishing a real democracy is finished. 

BossPerson

yes i know hokie, its pretty hard to find those articles. 

try looking in the aether 

Asia, almost certainly, by leaps and bounds. Middle East, probably economically. Africa, well, I don't know.

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"][QUOTE="BossPerson"]lol where has this been happening? BossPerson

Syria rebels 'beheaded a Christian and fed him to the dogs' as fears grow over Islamist atrocities

Egypts Christian Winter

Man Beheaded by Tunisian Muslims for Converting to Christianity

Tunisia and the Clash Within Civilizations

Syria: Christians fleeing country as crisis reaches "unprecedented levels of horror" 

Amid Instability In Egypt, Coptic Christians Flee To U.S.

Armenia tries to help as Christian Armenians flee Syria

Syrian and Coptic Christians fleeing to Moscow, but Russia lacks shelters

Coptic Christians Fleeing Egypt as Islamic Extremism Rises

Egypt's Coptic Christians fleeing country after Islamist takeover

Muslim Brotherhood and the killing and persecution of Christians in Egypt

Muslims behead Christian convert in Tunisia

Two Christians killed in Libya bomb blast

Christians targeted in Iraq attacks

A powerful bomb devastated a Christian neighborhood of this capital city of Lebanon