Korean nuclear tension: Apocalypse… almost now

Korean nuclear tension: Apocalypse... almost now

The saber rattling and harsh rhetoric during the current nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula should remind mankind of something we have forgotten. Atomic weapons are terrifying things, and talk of using them should be a taboo subject. A week or so ago, I found myself reading Agatha Christie’s 80th, and penultimate, book, “Passenger to Frankfurt,” and… Continue reading Korean nuclear tension: Apocalypse… almost now

Act Globally, Think Locally!

Act Globally, Think Locally!

The looming military conflict between the US and North Korea contains a double danger. Although both sides, the US and North Korea, are for sure bluffing, not counting on an actual nuclear exchange, rhetoric never functions as mere rhetoric but can always run out of control. Furthermore, as many commentators have noticed, the weird thing… Continue reading Act Globally, Think Locally!

How did Trump really end up clashing with North Korea? By pursuing two contradictory foreign policies at the same time

How did Trump really end up clashing with North Korea? By pursuing two contradictory foreign policies at the same time

The looming military conflict between the US and North Korea contains a double danger. Although both countries are for sure bluffing, and not anticipating an actual nuclear exchange, rhetoric never functions as mere rhetoric but can always run out of control. Furthermore, as many commentators have noticed, the weird thing is that Trump decided to… Continue reading How did Trump really end up clashing with North Korea? By pursuing two contradictory foreign policies at the same time

Trump Against the Machine: How Political Elites Failed

[Transcript below video.] Slavoj Žižek: I know that even in the United States when you have someone like Donald Trump, I know that there is a lot of elitist liberal reaction. Like here we see the limit of democracy but in the wrong sense, in the sense that you see stupid ordinary people are seduced… Continue reading Trump Against the Machine: How Political Elites Failed

An impotent passage à I’acte

The Universal Exception

Following 11 September, rightist commentators like George Will immediately proclaimed the end of America’s ‘holiday from history’ – the impact of reality shattering the isolated tower of liberal tolerance and the cultural studies focus on textuality. Now, we are forced to strike back, to deal with real enemies in the real world … But whom… Continue reading An impotent passage à I’acte

We need to talk about Turkey

We need to talk about Turkey

There is something weird about the solemn declarations that we are at war against the Islamic State – all the world’s superpowers against a religious gang controlling a small patch of mostly desert land… This doesn’t mean that we should not focus on destroying Isis, unconditionally, with no “but…”. The only “but” is that we… Continue reading We need to talk about Turkey

Stalin: Paradoxes of Power, with Stephen Kotkin

Books by Kotkin [amazon template=thumbnail&asin=0143127861][amazon template=add to cart&asin=0143127861] [amazon template=thumbnail&asin=0812966791][amazon template=add to cart&asin=0812966791] [amazon template=thumbnail&asin=0195168941][amazon template=add to cart&asin=0195168941] [amazon template=thumbnail&asin=0520208234][amazon template=add to cart&asin=0520208234] STEPHEN KOTKIN: I think there are a lot of people out there, but I can’t see anyone. Which is fortunate. I get stage fright. I have to thank Jean Strouse again for… Continue reading Stalin: Paradoxes of Power, with Stephen Kotkin