If I told you that the emergence of blogs, Twitter and Facebook have changed our societies in more profound ways than we imagine, you’d be justified in telling me that I’m being neither original nor very pertinent. There is certainly something to be said about the amplification effect those services have on self-centeredness and gossip, and how those are sometimes more powerful than the few examples we have of new media spreading freedom, truth and democracy. Still, I think we are seeing the first signs of a profound revolution, one that is remodeling society in a way that is more in tune with our evolutionary origins. One where the notion of tribe makes a comeback, but with a couple of twists.

When a Dutch cartoonist drew the prophet Muhammad, the world split between those who thought that was a serious crime that deserved death, and those who thought freedom of speech was more important than anybody’s susceptibility.

• The state owns a majority of railways, energy production and distribution, aircraft and telecommunication industries of the country.
• There is a minimum wage, and it's pretty high: 1300 euros a month.
• Health care is mandatory, universal and state-managed.
• Cities have an obligation to provide cheap homes to poor people.
• Several of the top TV and radio stations are state-owned.
• Movies and art in general are largely sponsored by the state.
• Public schools are often better than private ones.
• Free college education for all.
• Top 3 scientific colleges pay their students for being promising future contributors to society.
• Owning a gun is not a sacred right guaranteed by the constitution.
• The constitution is only 52 years old, and it can be changed by referendum.
• People can't get fired from a permanent position for no good reason and without a severance package or time to rebound.
• If you get fired, you get substantial unemployment insurance.
• Religion and the state are strictly separated, to the point that cults and religions pay taxes like everybody else, and politicians rarely talk about their religious convictions, or lack thereof. No mention of God is made on banknotes.
• 64% of the population defines itself as atheists or agnostics according to http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131
• Children in school don't pledge allegiance to the flag.