The search for ‘early civilisation’ in ancient societies has obscured the diverse ways in which ancient societies survived and thrived.
The Chinese Communist Party is a state within a state. It is also a ninety-million-strong faith community on a hundred-year moral mission.
Japanese art aspires to the principles of balance and natural rebirth which underpin the ancient Japanese philosophy of life.
The space race of the twenty-first century has more players, more money and ambitions for Mars. It’s about more than just technological prowess. Space is becoming the new arena for a clash of civilisations.
In our globalised, postmodern age, an unprecedented level of choice and knowledge is transforming our understanding of morality.
Modern atheists cast humanism as an anti-religious movement. But its roots in theology must be recovered if we are to confront the ethical challenges of today.
Critics of European integration point to the weakness of common cultural and political ties on the continent. But European identity can emerge even in difficult conditions.
From obscure stakes in biotech companies to intellectual property theft, the Chinese state is engaged in corporate subterfuge. But what can the West do about it?
Rousseau’s concept of the ‘noble savage’ presented an enduring challenge to the Enlightenment moral order.
The traditional Arab State is under increasing pressure from internal and external forces. Will those in power recognise the need for reform before it is too late?
Questions of accountability were at the heart of the European integration project, even before the devastating impetus of the Second World War.
Deference to history will not be enough to answer the geopolitical questions of the future. New systemic forces are in play.
The internet and social media were supposed to democratise knowledge and unite the world. Things didn’t quite turn out that way.
Western governments must wake up to the uncomfortable reality that when terrorists go quiet, they might be planning something big.
While no longer a state power, the Catholic Church remains a powerful political force in modern diplomacy.
Modern society is history’s most equal. But progress has not been linear – or easy to calculate.
Ancient Chinese ideas on merit are being manipulated to block checks on power and venerate authoritarian governance.
How did our ancestors think? The written word provides crucial evidence of how language has shaped human consciousness.
American state investment in science is returning. But the threats of today – pandemics, climate change, China – will require bold political leadership as well as money.
The nature of war has changed forever. The West must adapt if it is to ward off threats to global stability.
In the cultural vacuum left by the collapse of communism, nostalgia for the Soviet Union defines and sustains the modern Russian nation.
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