I can’t imagine what more could be said about the horrible attack 12 August 2022 on Salman Rushdie. So many brilliant writers and public intellectuals have spoken of the author’s bravery and support of freedom of expression. This was the topic Rushdie planned to speak about at the Chautauqua event. So, may I thank you, … Continue reading The Attack on Salman Rushdie and Freedom of Expression
Fifth Estate
Volker Schneider: a Professor’s Professor
I’ve returned from a Festschrift for Prof. Dr. Volker Schneider, who has moved to an Emeritus Professorship at the University of Konstanz in 2020. While a celebration of his retirement was delayed repeatedly by the pandemic, his colleagues moved ahead with an edited collection of papers for his Festschrift around the politics of the complex … Continue reading Volker Schneider: a Professor’s Professor
The Evidence and Legal Basis for Genocide Claims Against the Russian Federation
Report on genocide in Ukraine
Empowering Public Access to Information: Read News Critically but also Source Information
The public are being constantly warned about the risks of fake news and misinformation on social media, the internet, and even some broadcast television outlets and newspapers. Should you abandon social media or only read the elite press or what? My suggestion is to read or view the news critically but don’t rely only on … Continue reading Empowering Public Access to Information: Read News Critically but also Source Information
Rooting for Twitter and Musk
The future of Twitter and of Elon Musk’s ownership of this platform are problematic. That said, it has been clear that Twitter had lost the plot in several respects and could benefit from new ideas and leadership. I’ve used Twitter for over a decade (13 years) and continue to value this platform, such as for … Continue reading Rooting for Twitter and Musk
A Crisis of Incivility
Restoring civility in politics could be central ...
Political Narratives of the Russo-Ukraine War
A rising discussion of political narratives seems to have reached a crescendo in the first months of the David and Goliath Russo-Ukrainian War. The idea of a narrative is an attractive way to help people stay on script, but if you stick with a narrative, surely it must square with the facts. The Russian narrative … Continue reading Political Narratives of the Russo-Ukraine War
Wars will be televised
Speculation about why the Ukraine War has been so closely followed around the world has been ongoing, often critical of the attention given Ukraine in comparison with other conflicts across the world. But one reason must reside in the incredible, breathtaking coverage on broadcast and news media, but also over new alternative media, including social … Continue reading Wars will be televised
The War of Words over Ukraine
Military conflict tied to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine is largely contained within the nation, while the world looks on feeling helpless. But there is another conflict over Ukraine – a worldwide war of words on the internet, social media, and over mass media in four interrelated areas. It is important and you can … Continue reading The War of Words over Ukraine
Three Musketeers Needed in Europe
Europe Needs ‘The Three Musketeers’: A Personal Perspective NATO ‘s evocation of the spirit of ‘all for one and one for all’ is soiling the reputation of ‘The Three Musketeers’.[1] Alexandre Dumas’s The Three Musketeers was first published in 1844, providing a fictional account of four (not three) heroic musketeers over the 17th and 18th … Continue reading Three Musketeers Needed in Europe