Unfortunately I can't see the POSITIVE aspects of a bipolar world disorder being repeated this time. I bet you've forgotten what they were, even though most of us (both UK and American) have benefited from it. While communism presented an alternative model of economic and social systems - and it doesn't matter whether that was real or illusory- capitalism was forced to respond by appeasing the population. They simply wouldn't take the social discipline imposed during the Industrial Revolution without a share of the wealth created. The gap between rich and poor narrowed significantly, and this produced the increased social cohesion which led to the affluent and relatively contented societies of the 1940s to 1970s.

Since communism ceased to be a viable alternative in the west- which took from the mid 1950s (Hungary) to the 1980s (taking in such as Dubcek and Walensa on the way), wealth distribution has become decidedly less egalitarian, both worldwide and within developed countries. One result has been competition between ethnic groups of the type typified by the Yugoslavian breakup and rising racism in Europe.

It seems that nationalism, racism and religion will be the tools used in the new model to play off one group against another, preventing concerted socio- economic movements from being effective, and maintaining the control of the oligarchies while they dispute their shares of the proceeds.

And it's clear from other threads that there are plenty of people around willing to help them out.