Niall Ferguson argues that the dominance of Western Civilization is the result of six 'killer apps' and that all, not only some, must be adopted for a civilization to be successful.
Is this the case? And to what extent does a balance between what may be seen to be conflicting 'applications' affect the longevity of a civilization?
Are the six killer apps peculiarly 'Western'?
Is the 'downloading' of any or all of these apps a form of 'westernization' of another culture/civilization?
How does Western Civilization differ from other civilizations?
What have been the strengths and weaknesses of civilizations in the past and what can that teach us about the future of Western Civilization?