Prescience

Our [Western civilization] superiority since the Renaissance is due partly to science and scientific technique, partly to political institutions slowly built up during the Middle Ages. There is no reason, in the nature of things, why this superiority should continue. In the present war [A History of Western Philosophy was written towards the end of WWII], great military strength has been shown by Russia, China, and Japan. All these combine Western technique with Eastern ideology--Byzantine, Confucian, or Shinto. India, if liberated [which of course it was], will contribute another Oriental element. It seems not unlikely that, during the next few centuries, civilization, if it survives, will have greater diversity than it has had since the Renaissance. There is an imperialism of culture which is harder to overcome than imperialism of power. Long after the Western Empire fell--indeed until the Reformation--all European culture retained a tincture of Roman imperialism. It now has, for us, a West-European imperialistic flavour. I think that, if we are to feel at home in the world after the present war, we shall have to admit Asia to equality in our thoughts, not only politically, but culturally. What changes this will bring about, I do not know, but I am convinced that they will be profound and of greatest importance.

Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy

This man was writing in 1945, yet in an off-hand paragraph in a chapter on "The Papacy in the Dark Ages" presaged whole books written in this past decade, countless newspaper and magazine articles, and whole think-tanks and academic conferences. Of course, the West still dominates both militarily and culturally, but his point, especially at the end, still stands, and largely involves the same players. Remarkable.