Civilization and Savagery in the Crucible of War

The casting of the war on terrorism as a war fought on behalf of or for Civilization against some less-than-civilized Other—terrorists and their cohorts—is a significant point. The image being generated and marketed is one of a war between the civilized defenders of everything that Civilization represents and the savage…

Civilization and Its Consequences

This article outlines the origins and meanings of the concept of civilization in Western political thought. In doing so it necessarily explores the nature of the relationship between civilization and closely related ideas such as progress and modernity. In exploring these concepts, some of their less savory aspects are revealed,…