Quote:Muslims will be fine with Chinese hegemony so long as it doesn't result in war on their lands and blind support of Israel. You might call that short-sighted, and maybe it is, but I think it's the truth of it.
IMHO thats a big mistake. Right now the communist rulers are relaxing the laws on religion, but only because they see it as a way of strengthing the nation. Once they reach a point where they feel they have the upper hand, then they could just as easily go back to the old oppressive ways.
Quote:I think the world is going to change very radically over the next couple of centuries.
It has done over the last few hundred years. I just hope we don't wipe each other out in the process.
Quote: We may not live to see the half of it, but I predict that the "nation-state" is a dying idea.
I think you may be under estimating the power of a national identity. Try and take it away and it becomes stronger, and may snap back ie; nationalist
edit: and yes John, I'm fully aware of what sarcasm means :rolleyes: B)