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Conflicts are never caused in any simple way by identity, culture or economics. Where resources are scarce, or there are strong historical memories of conflict, small events are more likely to inflame passions.

Today continuing poverty and distress are a deeper and more important cause of international tensions, of the conditions that can produce war, than previously.

Very few conflicts in the history of the world have been satisfactorily concluded according to a published timetable, because you lose all flexibility in dealing with your opponents.

Clashes of values and the struggle for primacy constitute a constant in human history that accounts for that other constant - conflict and war.

Experience has shown how deeply the seeds of war are planted by economic rivalry and social injustice.

There is an expression now that is commonly used about these so-called internal conflicts which are not really internal, because they have connections to the outside world.

The world is divided into two categories: failures and unknowns.

I believe it is still true that conflicts among major powers usually stem from geopolitical rivalries but rarely from economic competition.

One of the biggest challenges facing the globe is the gap that exists in the wealth and standards of living enjoyed by the world's nations.

I always felt that if countries knew each other better, there would be less war. Often, conflict goes with demonizing other countries and cultures.