Simon Sebag Montefiore

the entitlements and the entitlements that people believe are owed to them by their societies, some of them financial in the comfort democracies of Europe, like Britain, Canada, and some of them the result of law itself, out of human rights law. But all of these things have created loyalties that are greater than to the state.

the entitlements and the entitlements that people believe are owed to them by their societies, some of them financial in the comfort democracies of Europe, like Britain, Canada, and some of them the result of law itself, out of human rights law. But all of these things have created loyalties that are greater than to the state.

And as Rousseau said, you know, if someone says, like, what does the state mean to me? The state is lost. And JFK quoted that as well because it's a quote that makes you realize the stakes at the moment are very high. So many things became unsayable and so many things lack sense that it's very easy for populists from right and left to claim that they can solve these problems.

And as Rousseau said, you know, if someone says, like, what does the state mean to me? The state is lost. And JFK quoted that as well because it's a quote that makes you realize the stakes at the moment are very high. So many things became unsayable and so many things lack sense that it's very easy for populists from right and left to claim that they can solve these problems.

And as Rousseau said, you know, if someone says, like, what does the state mean to me? The state is lost. And JFK quoted that as well because it's a quote that makes you realize the stakes at the moment are very high. So many things became unsayable and so many things lack sense that it's very easy for populists from right and left to claim that they can solve these problems.

But the point is that one of my great heroes, the historian Ibn Khaldun, the Arab historian from the 14th century, he said many fascinating things. But one of the things he said, like, he said, states don't fall from military defeats. They usually fall because of psychology. And that's worth thinking about.

But the point is that one of my great heroes, the historian Ibn Khaldun, the Arab historian from the 14th century, he said many fascinating things. But one of the things he said, like, he said, states don't fall from military defeats. They usually fall because of psychology. And that's worth thinking about.

But the point is that one of my great heroes, the historian Ibn Khaldun, the Arab historian from the 14th century, he said many fascinating things. But one of the things he said, like, he said, states don't fall from military defeats. They usually fall because of psychology. And that's worth thinking about.

a crisis of self-confidence, a crisis in which people have forgotten that the freedoms and values that they hold were fought for. And the wars are pretty unpleasant things, but those fights were worth joining. And that is the crisis today. I mean, if you look at our nation, we kind of generally agree that nation states are the best way to organize countries and empires aren't a good thing.

a crisis of self-confidence, a crisis in which people have forgotten that the freedoms and values that they hold were fought for. And the wars are pretty unpleasant things, but those fights were worth joining. And that is the crisis today. I mean, if you look at our nation, we kind of generally agree that nation states are the best way to organize countries and empires aren't a good thing.

a crisis of self-confidence, a crisis in which people have forgotten that the freedoms and values that they hold were fought for. And the wars are pretty unpleasant things, but those fights were worth joining. And that is the crisis today. I mean, if you look at our nation, we kind of generally agree that nation states are the best way to organize countries and empires aren't a good thing.

But of course, nation states are very flawed things. They exclude people.

But of course, nation states are very flawed things. They exclude people.

But of course, nation states are very flawed things. They exclude people.

They have borders. And if you're not in the nation, however that nation is defined, that can be an uncomfortable situation. So there are flaws from nation states. But I just wonder, you know, the young people that went off to fight for democracies in World War II, for example, how many of the present young generation would fight for their nation now?

They have borders. And if you're not in the nation, however that nation is defined, that can be an uncomfortable situation. So there are flaws from nation states. But I just wonder, you know, the young people that went off to fight for democracies in World War II, for example, how many of the present young generation would fight for their nation now?

They have borders. And if you're not in the nation, however that nation is defined, that can be an uncomfortable situation. So there are flaws from nation states. But I just wonder, you know, the young people that went off to fight for democracies in World War II, for example, how many of the present young generation would fight for their nation now?

And yet those nations can represent the highest ideas and values. I'm kind of old-fashioned, but I believe that America represents the highest values of freedom. I believe in that stuff.

And yet those nations can represent the highest ideas and values. I'm kind of old-fashioned, but I believe that America represents the highest values of freedom. I believe in that stuff.

And yet those nations can represent the highest ideas and values. I'm kind of old-fashioned, but I believe that America represents the highest values of freedom. I believe in that stuff.