international analysis and commentary

A golden age of democracy

Let me state a bold claim:  This is a golden age of democracy. That runs counter to the conventional wisdom of the last four years that there is a rising tide of authoritarianism sweeping across the globe, and especially the United States.…

Waste is a terrible thing to mind

Several years ago, Kentucky Fried Chicken changed its name to “KFC”, jettisoning the word “fried”, which had come to read like an advertisement for arteriosclerosis. Not long after, British Petroleum changed its name to “BP”, avoiding clear…

The shape of tomorrow

The post-pandemic world doesn’t look peaceful at a first glance, and that impression is likely to continue: conflict will intensify and unrest will necessarily follow due to underlying, long-term realities. The existing chasm between the…