Interesting article by Pavel Kohout of the Center for Economics and Politics in Prague on declining birth rates in Europe and the role played social security systems in driving the birth rates lower.
I'm not as gloomy regarding the potential integration of Muslims into European society as Mr. Kohout, but I do believe that some of the more "socially progressive" aspects of European life may be curtailed. European Muslims are not going to lead Europe back to the middle ages.
However, the potential for ethnic strife is great if Muslims are treated as pariahs. This potential is even greater in E. Europe and Russia where there's less of a commitment to liberty and greater uncertainty about ethnic and political identity.
Fifty years from now Europe will be more Islamic, there's no doubt about that. However, I see no reason to think it will be less democratic. Muslim democrats may vote for various changes to the law, but I don't think there'll be any real attempt to impose Sharia law or anything even vaguely like that.
{Article found through the Corner.}
