In neither empire did a miracle ensue. It took repeated convulsions for them to finally disintegrate and for their cores, Turkey and Russia, to gain a measure of political liberty. The process continues, and is still fitful. Around the world, reforms will suffer relapse. But the premise of reformers is less in doubt than ever.
Totalitarianism is dead, and authoritarianism isn t looking too healthy.
But increasingly they realize that, thanks to technology, they can t be. The days when vast centralized governments could control the flow of written information and still prosper are gone. First among these technologies is the printing press. The Logic of Human Destiny , By Robert Wright, published by Pantheon Books. Copyright 2000 by Robert Wright.