Notebooks

notebook

Syria needs a strong parliament

Despite threats and intimidation, Syria’s parliamentary elections were a successful and vital first step in the country’s transition to democracy.

James Snell October 14, 2025

notebook

László Krasznahorkai’s universe

The fictions of Nobel laureate László Krasznahorkai are the latest in a rich tradition of allegorical speculation that can be traced back to the ruined visions of Franz Kafka and S..

Jared Marcel Pollen October 13, 2025

notebook

The perils that remain on Gaza’s path to peace

Donald Trump’s plan to bring peace to Gaza – and the wider Middle East – may ultimately depend on the US president himself.

Jack Dickens October 9, 2025

notebook

The madness in Rousseau’s method

The 18th-century philosopher Thomas Day, a fanatical believer in the virtues of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's educational methods, tested his theories to destruction.

Nigel Andrew October 9, 2025

notebook

France’s common sense vacuum

More than institutional rewiring, France needs to transform its political culture, away from grandiose ideals and toward common sense.

Marc Le Chevallier October 8, 2025

notebook

Will Russia crack?

With the US seemingly resigned from the peace process, the war will end when Ukraine's infrastructure is destroyed – or Russia runs out of money.

Owen Matthews October 6, 2025

notebook

Why politicians need to show, not tell

The West's political institutions should strive to do less, but better.

Eliot Wilson October 3, 2025

notebook

The rise of the mega-influencer

Mega-influencers shape the public imagination. And in a world where narratives matter more than facts, the imagination is where wars are won and lost.

Phillip Dolitsky and Luke Moon October 2, 2025

notebook

Viktor Orbán’s geopolitical hedging

The Hungarian leader's balancing act between western powers and a revisionist bloc is unsustainable in an era of great-power competition.

Elvira Viktória Tamus October 1, 2025