Nowhere in history is this generalization more emphatic than
in the failure of the European standard-bearers of western civilization
to replace a millennium of diversity, discord and conflict by a unified,
coordinated, co-existing, cooperating European community.
At its best a civilization is insecure and even unstable, disturbed and
upset by an increasing domestic struggle for preferment and power that
includes rivalry, competition, revolt, rebellion, civil war and wars of
self-determination carried on by unassimilated regional, provincial and
colonial elements. From beyond their frontiers civilizations have been
assailed by rival aspirants for power, by armed bands in search of
plunder or by migrating peoples seeking greener pastures. All of these
forces have held the ground for diversity and barred the way to
universality.
Another factor of great consequence leading to the instability of
civilizations has been the concentration of wealth, power, privilege,
comfort and security in the hands of a minority, in sharp contrast with
poverty and insecurity among the less well-placed majority. Generally,
the privileged minority has been relatively small and the exploited
majority overwhelmingly large.
Still another disturbing factor in each civilization is the
transformation of its military arm from a means of defense against
external enemies into a major factor in the direction of domestic
affairs.
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