Essays

essays

Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy revisited

In the titanic struggle between capitalism and socialism, there can only be one winner.

Niall Ferguson September 8, 2023

essays

The invention of Catherine the Great

Catherine II’s inoculation against smallpox was an extraordinary act of political self-creation.

Lucy Ward September 6, 2023

essays

The terrible dilemmas of leadership in a thermonuclear world

Nuclear weapons are likely to be around for a long time to come – and the predicaments they create for world leaders are unlikely to be easily solved.

Francis J. Gavin September 1, 2023

essays

The old man: the political genius who made Singapore

A hundred years on from his birth, Lee Kuan Yew’s city-state is more prosperous and stable than ever.

Christopher Hale August 29, 2023

essays

Imperial Miasma Theory

A genre of books has emerged that claims Britain’s imperial past can explain everything about Britain’s present travails. As its latest offering confirms, it ends up explaining not..

Samuel Rubinstein August 24, 2023

essays

The enduring secret to Cyrus the Great’s success

Few ancient monarchs have enjoyed such a consistent positive reputation as Cyrus the Great. Perhaps it’s time to become reacquainted.

Ali Ansari August 22, 2023

essays

Three victories and a defeat

There is a spectre haunting American foreign affairs: the spectre of the successive victories of the Second World War, the Cold War, and globalisation. A period of renewal is neede..

Michael Auslin August 15, 2023

essays

Beware the Ides of August

World-altering events often happen in the middle of August. Is this a coincidence or is it something about the time of year?

Suzanne Raine August 7, 2023

essays

In pursuit of greatness: from Troy to Westminster

Foundation myths based on the lives of heroic figures are often used by leaders to affirm their own authority — but they can also inspire wider society.

Daisy Dunn August 4, 2023