The "End of the West" in the title of this book refers to the end of the Western development model of rapid expansion of material production and consumption since the Industrial Revolution, and the "Birth of the World" refers to the birth of a new world with greater equality, less material consumption, and an ecological economy. The author, Elvi Kampf, outlines the development trajectory of mankind since the Paleolithic Age, and focuses on the historical process of the development of Western developed countries and developing countries from the "Great Divergence" to the "Great Convergence" in recent centuries. At a time when emerging countries are striving to catch up with and surpass Western countries, the author points out with concern that the Western economic growth has brought about a series of ecological, economic and political crises, and environmental constraints will make the Western development model unsustainable.
本书书名中“西方的终结”指的是自工业革命以来西方物质生产和消费快速扩张的发展方式的终结，“世界的诞生”则是指一个更为平等、物质消费减少、经济生态化的新世界的诞生。作者埃尔维·康普夫勾勒了人类自旧石器时代以来的发展轨迹，并重点叙述了近几百年来，西方发达国家与发展中国家从“大分流”走向“大汇流”的历史进程。在新兴国家奋力追赶并超越西方国家的当下，作者不无忧虑地指出西方式的经济增长所带来的的一系列生态、经济和政治危机，环境的制约因素将使西方的发展方式难以为继。
本书书名中“西方的终结”指的是自工业革命以来西方物质生产和消费快速扩张的发展方式的终结，“世界的诞生”则是指一个更为平等、物质消费减少、经济生态化的新世界的诞生。作者埃尔维·康普夫勾勒了人类自旧石器时代以来的发展轨迹，并重点叙述了近几百年来，西方发达国家与发展中国家从“大分流”走向“大汇流”的历史进程。在新兴国家奋力追赶并超越西方国家的当下，作者不无忧虑地指出西方式的经济增长所带来的的一系列生态、经济和政治危机，环境的制约因素将使西方的发展方式难以为继。
