And, needless to say, it’s not Western civilisation that’s to blame. Michael Burleigh explains: “Dialogues between civilisations, Christian, Islamic or other, are fine, but a constant part of this must be the grim reality that visited Van Gogh on a cold northern street, an event depressingly indicative of the ethnic and religious complexity of Europe. We cannot wish away the clash of civilisations.”

Times, 5 November 2005