I have written occasionally on links between my scientific work and political thinking, but not much, because the links seem to me abstract and speculative.

Politicians don't want democracy here in America, why would they want it in the Middle East?

What happened in Syria was, President [Barack] Obama had made a statement announcing what he called his "red line": You can't use chemical weapons, you can do anything else but [use] chemical weapons.

Throughout history, even the harshest and most shameful measures are regularly accompanied by professions of noble intent - and rhetoric about bestowing freedom and independence.

The most interesting - in fact, inspiring - people I met there [Porto Alegre] are those who remain nameless: representatives of the international campesino movement, the East Timorese delegation,... - the usual heroes, who disappear, unknown, apart from the consequences of their work.

The neo-cons constitute a radical reactionary fringe of the planning spectrum, but the spectrum is narrow.

There are a lot of things that can be done within the framework of existing institutions which would be very valuable for people.