The argument now that the spread of pop culture and consumer goods around the world represents the triumph of Western civilization trivializes Western culture. The essence of Western civilization is the Magna Carta, not the Magna Mac. The fact that non-Westerners may bite into the latter has no implications for their accepting the former.

I don't know what will happen 100 years from now.

Since the revolution of the 18th century, America has basically had an ideology of liberal democracy and constitutionalism.

I am doubtful that there will be any sort of real coherence of Muslim societies into a single political system run by an elected or non-elected group of leaders.

The question really is what will be the central focus of global politics in the coming decades and my argument is that cultural identities and cultural antagonisms and affiliations will play not the only role but a major role.

Except under rare circumstances, I don't write responses to criticism.

America doesn't border on Muslim countries. European countries do and that seems to be a fundamental difference.