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| A war between Russia and the West could spell disaster for the future |
BRITAIN could be plunged into a bleak dystopian future where London ceases to exist if all-out war erupts between Russia and the West, according to a leading futurologist.
Relations between Moscow and Western countries have been particularly frayed in recent months due to the crisis and continued violence in Ukraine.
and deadly diseases are also capable of pushing mankind into a dystopian state of despair.
The conflict saw tensions reach a low point this summer as both the European Union (EU) and Russia imposed and extended their own sanctions on each other - with little signs of the bitter feud improving.
Dr Ian Pearson, whose job as a futurologist is to highlight "dangers and possibilities on the road ahead", warned of the peril that could ensue in the next century should tensions boil over in Moscow.
As well as the threat of Russia, he also suggested that Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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| All images were commissioned for the home entertainment release of Insurgent |
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| All images were commissioned for the home entertainment release of Insurgent |
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| All images were commissioned for the home entertainment release of Insurgent |
Speaking to NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com, Dr Pearson said: "Einstein had a brilliant observation on the Third World War.
"He said that we don't know what weapons the Third World War will be fought with, but the Fourth World War will be fought with sticks and stones.
"That's absolutely right, if we had a Third World War it would knock society right back to the Third of Fourth century or even the Stone Age.
"If it was an all-out war between American and the West versus Russia and China, then London would cease to exist and most other cities would."
Dr Pearson was shown an artist's vision of London, Edinburgh and Newcastle in a state of ruin as part of a re-imagined dystopian future.
The daunting picture of London shows The Shard up in flames and the Thames almost dried up following the breakdown of society.
But in a chilling analysis, Dr Person, who is also an author and worked as a rocket engineer for several years, said this shocking image was NOTHING compared to what could happen if nuclear war erupts.
He said: "If anything, [the images] were a little optimistic. Things like The Shard on fire, if you had a Third World War it would be a pile of rubble - it wouldn't be on fire.
If it was an all-out war between American and the West versus Russia and China, then London would cease to exist and most other cities would
"This would be one of the less dramatic dystopias really where you've got some fairly minor building damage.
"Realistically, if we had a major all-out war that went nuclear, you wouldn't be able to recognise London at all.
"These buildings are very recognisable but they probably wouldn't be standing if there was a nuclear war."
Speaking of whether the world could ever be plunged into a desolate dystopian future as seen in science-fiction movies, Dr Pearson said the "idea of a dystopian future is something that is entirely realistic".
He said: "Generally, the idea of a dystopian future is something that is entirely realistic. You've got lots of scientists, Stephen Hawking and various other people, talking about what happens if Artificial Intelligence gets too smart.
"We're seeing conflict in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East. We're seeing potential conflicts with Russia and the West on a larger scale.
"So there's all sorts of potential dystopias coming along and when society is disrupted by those futuristic wars, how would we all behave after that?"
As well as worldwide conflict, Dr Pearson also suggested that AI becoming smarter than humans, and deadly diseases could spell disaster for mankind.
Several scientists have often spoken out about the fear of AI essentially making mankind obsolete by completing tasks quicker than humanly possible.
Some have even predicted that computers could become so smart, they will not need any assistance from humans.
Other experts suggest that diseases could wipe out swathes of mankind, while leaving the rest hiding underground to escape contamination.
Dr Pearson said: "In terms of likelihoods, disease is reasonably likely as a cause and Artificial Intelligence going wrong is also reasonably likely.
"Of course deliberate conflict is always a problem, we have wars all the time. These are three quite likely scenarios this century where we could end up with a dystopia."
Dr Person described part of his job as "scenario planning" where he can lay out different eventualities for people to choose which path they want to go down.
He explained how by planning out different possibilities, it would then be up to society to avoid a dystopia happening.
One way of managing problems is by electing "better quality leaders" to take charge of countries around the world, Dr Pearson explained.
Dr Pearson, who has worked in engineering for almost 35 years, is a maths and physics graduate and has written several books and made over 600 TV and radio appearances.
He is also a Chartered Fellow of the British Computer Society and a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, the Royal Society of Arts and Commerce, and the World Innovation Foundation.
His warning came ahead of the release of the film Insurgent, starring Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts, Shailene Woodley and Theo James.
The film is based on a dystopian world and the different dystopian cities within this future, which are based on personality traits of their residents.
• Insurgent is out now on Blu-ray and DVD, courtesy of Entertainment One
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