Я, Робот
The Evitable Conflict
"Andinthosesamecenturiestherewerethemorebarbarousreligiouswars,whichrevolvedabouttheimportantquestionofwhetherEuropewastobeCatholicorProtestant.Halfandhalfshecouldnotbe.Itwas’inevitable’thatthesworddecide.-Exceptthatitdidn’t.InEngland,anewindustrialismwasgrowing,andonthecontinent,anewnationalism.HalfandhalfEuroperemainstothisdayandnoonecaresmuch.
"Inthenineteenthandtwentiethcenturies,therewasacycleofnationalist-imperialistwars,whenthemostimportantquestionintheworldwaswhichportionsofEuropewouldcontroltheeconomicresourcesandconsumingcapacityofwhichportionsofnon-Europe.Allnon-EuropeobviouslycouldnotexistpartEnglishandpartFrenchandpartGermanandsoon.-Untiltheforcesofnationalismspreadsufficiently,sothatnon-Europeendedwhatallthewarscouldnot,anddecideditcouldexistquitecomfortablyallnonEuropean.
"Andsowehaveapattern-"
"Yes.Stephen,youmakeitplain,"saidSusanCalvin."Thesearenotveryprofoundobservations."
"No.-Butthen,itistheobviouswhichissodifficulttoseemostofthetime.Peoplesay’It’sasplainasthenoseonyourface.’
