Category Archives: politics

A “new post-ideological strategic world order”?

Pepe Escobar sees Eurasian integration and associated trade developments as possibly marking the emergence of a new, post-ideological strategic world order. China, with its infrastructure-focused Belt and Road Initiative, is driving this process. By contrast, the US appears to be locked … Continue reading

Posted in politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A “new post-ideological strategic world order”?

Radicalism, religion and climate change

Although Christianity is now in rapid decline, secularized versions of Biblical ethics and eschatology still flourish and continue to exert a profound influence on moral and political thinking, especially in left-wing and radical circles. But a case can be made … Continue reading

Posted in politics, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Fantasies, facts and values

The Western cultural tradition, which combined various elements (religious, intellectual, scientific) into a rich and resilient and trans-national framework of thought and practice, is all but dead. Witness, for example, the increasingly propaganda-ridden media environment, the absurdities of identity politics … Continue reading

Posted in culture, philosophy, politics, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fantasies, facts and values

How Donald Trump is like Marxism and Psychoanalysis

Recently my Twitter and Facebook timelines have been littered with references to this story: Man, 92, Allegedly Beaten With a Brick & Told ‘Go Back to Mexico’ by a Mom in Front of Her Child. Terrible. It was posted on … Continue reading

Posted in politics, Race | Tagged | 2 Comments

Like An Oscar, But Not

Blocked! I don’t know what brought on my inclusion on this sort of reverse Index librorum prohibitorum (I don’t think I’ve ever engaged with this particular site) but recognition is recognition…  

Posted in politics, Religion | Tagged , | Comments Off on Like An Oscar, But Not

Ideologies of Undivided Devotion

From Yuri Slezkine’s magnificent The House  of Government’, a Saga of the Russian Revolution, a book centered around the idea that Bolshevism was, at its heart, just another millenarian sect, if a peculiarly malevolent one: “Of the seventeen prisoners, thirteen, amongst … Continue reading

Posted in history, politics, Religion | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ideologies of Undivided Devotion

Oprah: The Queen of Unreason

The Oprah moment may have faded for now, but I have little doubt that it will return, in which case this Slate piece by Kurt Andersen (and, no, I don’t agree with his jibe about Reagan) will be one that … Continue reading

Posted in culture, politics, Science & Faith | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Oprah: The Queen of Unreason

Why Trump could murder someone and people would still support him

In 1683 the Ottoman Turks marched toward Vienna. John Sobieski, the king of Poland, became a hero to all Europe because of his defense of the Habsburgs in their time of need. In contrast, France had traditionally been a rival … Continue reading

Posted in politics | Tagged , | Comments Off on Why Trump could murder someone and people would still support him

The cretin shall rise again

Roy Moore is almost certain to be the Junior Senator from Alabama soon enough. That much we know. Part of me takes pleasure in the victory, as it is true that the Republican establishment of states like Alabama is sclerotic … Continue reading

Posted in politics, Roy Moore | Tagged | 1 Comment

Pope Francis and “Fake News”

It was perhaps not that surprising that Pope Francis would look to involve himself in the controversy over ‘fake news’. The terms in which he did so were, however, unexpected…. The Guardian reports: Pope Francis has lambasted media organisations that … Continue reading

Posted in culture, politics, Religion | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Pope Francis and “Fake News”