With violence flaring in the Middle East, the Arab Spring seems like a distant wilted dream. Yet, some green shoots have sprouted.
syria
December 5, 2012
2:00AM
In ancient times, the opulent and civilized found it difficult to defend themselves against the poor and barbarous nations, Adam Smith observed in 1776. In modern times, the poor and barbarous find it difficult to defend themselves against the opulent and civilized. It seems the 21st century is more ancient than modern. What else could be said of an era when failed and failing states generate far more worries for the international community than powerful states?
