As society at large became more secular the dream of universalism followed suit. Because individualism became more mainstream alongside this secular dream of a united humanity, I can see why New World Order conspiracies persist. Universalism and individualism are kind of paradoxical after all, but, if Kohn is to be believed, both are necessary for the establishment of modern nationalism. One world government conspiracy theories are just a product of the paradox, the result of staunch individualism bashing into a drive for universalism. Though the individualism involved in such theories is simultaneously on the personal and national level.
Anyway, along with the roots of such conspiracies, Kohn's coverage of the emergence of sovereign states deeply involves France. He notes how France of the seventeenth century had some great thinkers (Rousseau, Descartes, etc.). He mentions that during this time the French were the most wide ranging of the European peoples. And, he makes it clear that French was the language to learn if you wanted to appear truly civilized and sophisticated. Add that to the list of things that change very slowly.
What's interesting is that this romantic perception of French lasted to the present despite the long period of England's nigh global dominance. Though the French (and Spanish, and Portuguese, and Dutch, and Germans) were involved in colonizing the world, too. Maybe it's lasted so long because it was the English who dominated. But Kohn's not reached that point in history just yet.
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