From modernization theory towards the ‘clash of civilizations’: directions and paradigm shifts in Samuel Huntington's analysis and prognosis of global development1

This paper critically discusses Samuel Huntington's contribution to development studies. Long before his currently debated work on the clash of civilizations, Huntington wrote on the political order in changing societies. In this highly influential book of the late 1960s he argued on the basis of modernization theory for strong governments to accompany the inevitable and universal process of modernization. His clash of civilizations seems to argue from different assumptions. It insists on the essential differences between cultures based on religion. These cultural differences would now give rise to the most important conflict constellations. In his earlier and later work Huntington insists on the primacy of Western values and the need to defend them. The author critiques the assumptions, concepts and some of the empirical evidence of Huntingtons recent study.     

Preface and Dedication

Earth, Moon, and Planets -     

The Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary at Gorgonilla Island,Colombia, South America

The discovery of a new Cretaceous/Palaeogene (K/Pg) bathyal marine sequence on Gorgonilla Island, SW Colombia, extends the presence of Chicxulub impact spherule deposits to the Pacific region of northern South America and to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Gorgonilla spherule layer is approximately 20 mm thick and consists of extraordinarily well‐preserved glass spherules up to 1.1 mm in diameter. About 70–90% of the spherules are vitrified, and their chemical composition is consistent with Haiti (Beloc) impact glass spherules. Normal size‐grading, delicate spherule textures, welded melt components and an absence of bioturbation or traction transport suggest that the Gorgonilla spherule layer represents an almost undisturbed settling deposit.     

Lattice-preferred orientation and microstructure of peridotites from ODP Hole 1274A (15°39′N), Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Testing models of mantle upwelling and tectonic exhumation

Eleven harzburgites and one dunite from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 209 Hole 1274A preserve high-temperature mantle textures. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis shows moderately developed crystal lattice preferred orientations (LPOs) in olivine and orthopyroxene (M-indices ≈ 0.1) indicative of crystal-plastic deformation at ~ 1250 °C. These rocks preserve a protogranular texture with a weak olivine foliation, a very weak or absent orthopyroxene foliation that may be decoupled from the orthopyroxene LPO, and minor interstitial clinopyroxene and spinel. Olivine grain size distributions, along with melt-related microstructures in orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and spinel suggest that high-temperature deformation textures have been overprinted by pervasive post-deformation melt-rock interaction. Paleomagnetic data constrain the olivine [100] axes to be subhorizontal and oriented at low angle (≤ 28.6° ± 10.6°) to the ridge axis at the onset of serpentinization. This orientation is consistent with either complex 3-D mantle upwelling or 2-D mantle upwelling coupled with complex 3-D tectonic emplacement to the seafloor.     

Winter storm- and summer thunderstorm-related loss events with regard to climate change in Germany

The development of winter storm- and summer thunderstorm-related loss events within the next decades in Germany was investigated with regard to change in frequency and intensity caused by climate changes. As a first step, observed meteorological data were connected with insurance data on a statistical basis. A regional climate model was then used to estimate future climate development. Using the statistical relations between meteorological and insurance data, the development of climate-driven damages was calculated. Results show that an increase of loss events can be expected within the next decades. These results show loss ratios shifting from higher return periods to smaller ones. In progressive decades, all these loss events become regionally more differentiated.     

Das Naukluftgebirge in Südwestafrika

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Results from the Eso Large Program on Transneptunian Objects and Centaurs

BVRI photometry of 107 TNOs and Centaurs establishes the range of spectral gradients to be between –5 to 55%/100 nm (with one exception). A cluster of very red Cubewanos is firmly identified in orbits of low inclination and eccentricity beyond 40 AU from the Sun. Further correlations between surface colours and dynamical parameters (inclination and perihelion distance) are suggested for Cubewanos and scattered disk objects, but lack complete confidence for their reality. Plutinos and Centaurs do not show any clear correlation between surface colours and orbital parameters. We present in this paper 12 spectra obtained in the visible region and nine of them for which we obtained also near infrared spectra up to 2.4 microns. A few other objects have been observed, but the data are still under reduction and analysis. The principal reported results obtained are: (i) a wide range of visible slopes; (ii) evidence for surface variations on 2001 PT₁₃; and (iii) possible detection of few percent of water ice (1999 TC_36}, 2000 EB₁₇₃, 1999 DE₉, 2001 PT₁₃, 2000 QC₂₄₃, 1998 SG₃₅).