“Australia - not western in geography, of course, but in every other respect for …” — Martin Jacques

Now, I know it's a widespread assumption in the West that as countries modernize, they also westernize. This is an illusion. It's an assumption that modernity is a product simply of competition, markets and technology. It is not. It is also shaped equally by history and culture. China is not like the West, and it will not become like the West.

Europe must learn to live in and with the world, not to dominate it nor to assume it is superior or more virtuous.

It is much easier to learn another language when you are young, enthusiastic and unembarrassed.

With the United States in slow long-term decline, how will that affect the position of English? And where will all that leave monolingual Britain? Our political leaders like to boast about how global Britain is, but when it comes to languages, it is near the bottom of the global league, together with another island state, Japan.