Rather like religion, nationalism has a bad name in the modern world, and, rather like religion, it more or less deserves it. [They] have probably brought more havoc upon humanity than any [other] two forces in history, and doubtless will bring a great deal more.... It would seem, then, well to ...figure out ...how it might be prevented from tearing apart ...the societies in which it arises, and beyond that the whole fabric of modern civilization.

      Clifford Geertz, The Interpretation of Cultures

... a liberalized Russia might be possible but ... a significantly liberalized Soviet Union is probably a contradiction in terms.