It is always important to remember that all political problems are, in theory, resolvable. We often fall into the trap of thinking that political disputes are etched in stone. They are not–the positions taken reflect one possible interpretation of interests and values. Interpretations, however, can be changed. What matters is imagination and a desire to solve the problems. Such is the case in the boundary disputes in the South China Sea which reflect the competing positions of China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Each of these states asserts that their positions are immutable. But with just some simple differences in assumptions, all these disputes can disappear.
As we watch the Arab Spring unfold in a bewildering variety of forms, it is useful to think about how revolutions are often perceived by outsiders. Foreign Policy has an interesting essay on how the British viewed the American Revolution.
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