Every civilization sees itself as the center of the world and writes its history as the central drama of human history.

Turkey has its own interests and historically, Turkey conquered most of the Arab world, and the Arabs had to fight wars of liberation to free themselves from the Turks. That's in the past and that doesn't necessarily shape what is going on but it's there and it's there in people's memories.

In the coming decades, questions of identity, meaning cultural heritage, language, and religion will play a central role in politics.

Certainly there are various trans-Islamic political movements, which try to appeal to Muslims in all societies.

Nationalism is a central ideology for people who are trying to establish their own states in which they can play a dominant role.

Power remains strong when it remains in the dark; exposed to the sunlight it begins to evaporate.

There has been an Irish lobby that has impacted U.S. foreign policy for a century and a half, and at times made our relations with Great Britain very difficult. Other comparable lobbies exist.