The rise of the nation-state after the treaties of Westphalia was a long process of subordination: long standing loyalties to tribe, religion, clan, family, and ethnicity were violently replaced by a loyalty to the nation-state. However, that process appears to be going into reverse (see The US, Globalization, and the Red Queen). More interestingly, at a general theoretical level, it appears that loyalty to the nation-state is in inexorable decline due to globalization.
The question is whether the violence at FT Hood is an example of this trend line or not? Details of the case that show conflicted loyalties, and the eventual subordination of loyalty to the US to religious and ethnic loyalties, seem to be fairly clear. On the other hand it could just be a one-off 'postal' employee. Just another alienated, isolated, and enraged man bent on revenge for perceived injustice/slights.
What do you think?