Guns, Germs, and Steel

Another one in the category of "books I should have read already" is Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel."

A few Europe-related notes about this book, which was originally published in 1997, but republished in 2003 with a new afterward. Pulitzer Prize, as you surely know.

1. On the question he terms "Why Europe, not China?" Diamond examines why European civilization surpassed China in many ways and then expanded around the globe. Diamond attributes this success to "Optimal Fragmentation Principal" - that Europe drew strength from the competition its state system fostered while the Chinese behemoth state stagnated. "There has never been one despot who could turn the tap for all of Europe, as of China," he writes.

His thesis has some interesting implications for EU integrationists.

2. A minor note, in the context of comparing Japan with the United Kingdom: British soldiers have fought on the continent during every century since 1066.

That in itself is interesting, but a comparison adds perspective: Until the late 19th century, Japanese troops had been on the mainland during only two periods, the 8th century and the 16th century.