Accelerating Integration andSynthesis intheGlobal Network

Since thebeginning ofrecorded history, radical innovations havealways reshaped theworld. Attheopening of the21st century, radical technologies, oncerareandunusual occurrences, aretaking placeateverincreasing rates. Atthe sametime, thecombination ofincremental innovation basedon oldertechnologies andradical technologies areforming ever increasing complexnetworks thataremorerapidly reshaping theworld.Understanding thecurrent direction andtrends in technology requires anunderstanding oftheir effects on,and relationship to,globaldevelopment trends.The pioneers Kondratieff andShumpeter, andlater Anderson andTushman, havedescribed a theoryoftechnological cycles related to industrial andeconomic cycles. However, inthecurrent context ofglobalization, industrial andeconomic cycles canbeplaced in a new and more comprehensive globalcontextthat demonstrates thattechnological development cycles aremore related tothelarger macrostages inthehistory ofglobalization thantoeconomic cycles. Thispaperproposes thata new framework forunderstanding thedevelopment oftechnology canemergefroman deeperunderstanding ofthestages of development oftheglobal network thathaslinked theeconomies oftheworldforthepast22centuries.