Woke thinking compartmentalizes groups according to their identity rather than class oppression. Wokism breaks this connection by moving us into tribes disconnected from each other. This undermines classical liberal thinking and even the leftist emphasis on class solidarity.
Every year, millions fall below the poverty line, but millions rise above it, too. We need a better understanding of the causes of and solutions to poverty than simplistic, emotional appeals.
Now that China is the senior partner in its relationship with Russia—and Russia’s leading international backer—it is the only country that can guarantee the terms of any armistice or peace agreement.
After World War II, liberal democratic countries rose rapidly, even more so after the collapse of the Soviet Union. That trend is now in reverse. What is causing this crisis? Inequality is to blame, sure, but don’t count out the culture wars too.
Canada is an example of a thriving democracy that does a good job of integrating immigrants, but that doesn’t mean the underlying tensions between peoples and cultures have disappeared. How to best welcome newcomers into society is still an open question.
Robert D. Kaplan’s latest book is about deep regret written by a keen observer of war. It outlines how he got the Iraq War wrong and reminds us that the potential for tragedy is always present.
The history of Russia is told brilliantly in a new book, The Story of Russia, by highly respected Oxford historian Orland Figes. This book is good old fashion history that respects facts and truth while telling an interesting story in contrast to postmodern social history.
A powerful rebuke to Piketty’s work is in a new study, The Myth of American Inequality: How the Government Biases Policy Debate, which makes a strong case that everything we know about income inequality and poverty in the U.S. is wrong.
Maggie Haberman’s Confidence Man carefully documents Trump’s life, his dependency on his father’s wealth, and his rise to fame despite the relatively few business successes and enormous losses.
Liberalism seemed to be waning and a realist world looked possible just a few years ago, but then Russia invaded Ukraine and China’s economy stalled. Don’t count liberalism out just yet.
