In a market economy, however, the individual has some possibility of escaping from the power of the state

The negative side to globalization is that it wipes out entire economic systems and in doing so wipes out the accompanying culture

Some people think that as the Chinese economy becomes more and more capitalistic it will inevitably become more democratic

We also have a cultural phenomenon: the emergence of a global culture, or of cultural globalization

I'm sure Putnam is right that there's been a decline in certain kinds of organizations like bowling leagues. But people participate in communities in other ways.

It has been true in Western societies and it seems to be true elsewhere that you do not find democratic systems apart from capitalism, or apart from a market economy, if you prefer that term

In acute suffering the need for meaning is as strong or stronger than the need for happiness.