Nevertheless, in the long run China hopes that economic interdependency and goodwill will eventually encourage the island to return to the fold.

ECONOMIST: Taiwan and China

The solution, according to Edmondson, is a teaming process that includes a deep recognition among individual players of the interdependency of their roles.

FORBES: Why Leaders Need to Rethink Teamwork

Some take comfort from the world's interdependency.

ECONOMIST: The G20 summit

But interdependency is a slender reed.

ECONOMIST: The G20 summit: London calling | The