New Delhi, June 14 -- When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, political scientist Francis Fukuyama prematurely declared the 'end of history'. He believed that capitalism and democracy-the Washington Consensus-had finally prevailed over socialism and totalitarianism.

History has returned. Ideological conflict between democracy and capitalism has not ended. In fact the two ideologies are conflicting within the Western victors of the old Cold War. Civil society movements are speaking in the West on behalf of people left behind by the 'free market' of private enterprise. Other voices on 'the Left' demand a larger role for governments in providing public services and social security. And others speak for protection of the natural environment...