Ten Thousand Cultures, a Single Civilization

Abstract

The role of ethnicity and culture in local conflicts is examined with special reference to the former Yugoslavia. An examination of the literature on conflict resolution is offered, leading to a discussion of the probability of numerous regional conflicts in the coming century. The role of an overarching civilization in preventing their expansion into a general war is emphasized, and finally, the example of the European Union is invoked to exemplify the promise of conflict resolution through pursuit of common programs for the future, with no reference to the quarrels of the past.