s, the period of survival conflict led
to the centralization of wealth and authority. After five centuries of
suicidal competitive struggle, the European homeland of western
civilization is criss-crossed by sharp lines of division. Furthermore,
the shift of production and military power from Europe to North America
and Asia reduces the probability of speedy European integration.

In the more important centers of western civilization the chief item of
public expenditure is preparation for a war of air, water and land
machines that may extend technologically into a nuclear war. While we
have no precedent that would enable us to gauge the consequences of an
extensive nuclear war it seems reasonable to assume that it would
further fragment an already fragmented European continent.

The heavy burdens of militarism which western civilization is presently
carrying, have unbalanced budgets, which lead to inflation and to
onerous burdens of debt and taxes. It seems unlikely that a group of
warfare states like the top western European powers can escape the
economic contraction which presently threatens them and regain solvency
and stability through fiscal reforms or readjustments in tariffs and
trade.

Our analysis of the politics of civilization may be summarized in four
general statements:

1. Each civilization has consisted of a cluster of empires,
nations and peoples which at some previous period have
enjoyed independence and sovereignty.

2. Relations between these erstwhile sovereign units have
been determined by a shifting mixture of diplomacy and
armed force, with war playing a determining role in the
process.

3. In the course of survival struggle, political leadership within
the civilization has shifted back and forth as one group
has succeeded in establishing and maintaining its authority
over the entire civilization.

4. A general axiom of the politics of civilization might read:

At the conclusion of each war among civilized peoples
the victors are entitled to make the following declaration:
We operate under the Law of the Jungle: "Let him take
who has the power and let him keep who can." We have
the power. We have grabbed the real and personal property
of our neighbors and we propose to keep it. Our
friends are welcome to attend our Feast of Victory. Let
our enemies beware.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE ECONOMICS OF CIVILIZATION

Politics inv