Notebooks

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Dollar v Renminbi

China's drive to turn the Renminbi into a global currency may run into structural barriers.

David Roche February 4, 2026

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The perils of hyper-literacy

In a post-literate world, reading is treated more like an assumed good than a skill to be actively practised.

Alastair Benn February 3, 2026

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Visions of a new Syria

Efforts to craft a new identity for Syria will mean little if its government cannot get a grip on spiralling sectarian violence.

Shiraz Maher February 2, 2026

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The stakes of a Pahlavi restoration

Iran’s last Shah presided over rapid economic growth, social transformation, and expanding opportunity, particularly for women. Yet the unresolved political legacy of Pahlavi rule ..

Roham Alvandi January 29, 2026

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How the kitchen conquered the home

The contemporary kitchen is no longer just a place to cook but a symbol of taste, wealth and personal identity.

Zoe Strimpel January 28, 2026

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Why Europe and America need each other

European leaders must rebalance, rather than replace, the bonds that tie them to the United States. Even in the age of Trump, Washington remains an indispensable partner.

Lawrence Freedman January 28, 2026

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Primo Levi’s grey zone

The Auschwitz survivor insisted we suspend moral judgement on those concentration camp prisoners who, faced with impossible choices, abetted the Nazis’ project of annihilation.

Ian Thomson January 27, 2026

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After American exceptionalism

For decades, American power was underpinned by ideals that inspired allies and adversaries alike. But the 'City on the Hill' now shines less brightly.

Marc Polymeropoulos January 27, 2026

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Bevin’s alternative European order

The Western European Union, conceived by Ernest Bevin, provided a crucial framework for European security. Its history illustrates how even the most useful security arrangements ca..

Peter Ricketts January 26, 2026