Tag: History

Mauritius formally challenges Britain’s ownership of Chagos Islands

Britain’s ownership of the Chagos archipelago has been formally challenged after the Mauritian ambassador to the UN, Jagdish Koonjul, raised his country’s flag above the atoll of Peros Banhos. In a ceremony on Monday at 10.30am local time, Mauritian officials sang their country’s national anthem and the red, blue, yellow and green standard was raised up… Read More Mauritius formally challenges Britain’s ownership of Chagos Islands

Dilip

The Break-Up of Britain / The US today resembles the Soviet Union just before it fell

Because of the impact it has already had and because its influence continues to grow, Tom Nairn’s The Break-Up of Britain, first published in 1977, is the most significant book on British politics of the past half-century, even though it is not a famous best-seller. Today, its republication by Verso signals the post-Brexit renewal of… Read More The Break-Up of Britain / The US today resembles the Soviet Union just before it fell

Dilip

Rajendra Prasad’s Speech, made hours before India’s Independence

Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India, gave this speech on August 14, 1947, just before India achieved independence. Because his thoughts on non-violence, truth and tolerance continue to have an enduring relevance today.    At this crucial juncture in our history, when after years and years of struggle, we are finally going to hold the… Read More Rajendra Prasad’s Speech, made hours before India’s Independence

Dilip

Alfred McCoy: The Epic Struggle over the Epicenter of Global Power

Great Britain’s dominion over the oceans began with an historic naval triumph over a combined French-Spanish fleet off Spain’s Cape Trafalgar in 1805 and only ended when, in 1942, a British garrison of 80,000 men surrendered their seemingly impregnable naval bastion at Singapore to the Japanese — a defeat Winston Churchill called “the worst disaster and largest… Read More Alfred McCoy: The Epic Struggle over the Epicenter of Global Power

Dilip

Archive amassed by Nazis sheds light on Masonic history

Initially tolerated by the Nazis, Freemasons became the subject of regime conspiracy theories in the 1930s, seen as liberal intellectuals whose secretive circles could become centres of opposition. Curators combing through a vast historic archive of Freemasonry in Europe amassed by the Nazis in their wartime anti-Masonic purge say they believe there are still secrets… Read More Archive amassed by Nazis sheds light on Masonic history

Dilip

Glenda Sluga: 'Only That I Were an Official Person!' – Women in diplomacy during the Napoleonic wars

Women born in Europe between 1763 and 1771 and who lived through the Napoleonic wars – even those who lacked a formal education – were liable to remark on the limits to their life choices. As the cultural, legal, and political profile of women’s difference sharpened, some persisted in wanting the same experiences as men… Read More Glenda Sluga: 'Only That I Were an Official Person!' – Women in diplomacy during the Napoleonic wars

Dilip

Patrick Wintour: Russia’s belief in Nato ‘betrayal’ – and why it matters today

The current confrontation between Russia and the west is fuelled by many grievances, but the greatest is the belief in Moscow that the west tricked the former Soviet Union by breaking promises made at the end of the cold war in 1989-1990 that Nato would not expand to the east. In his now famous 2007 speech… Read More Patrick Wintour: Russia’s belief in Nato ‘betrayal’ – and why it matters today

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Chris Hedges and Mark Rudd Discuss Self Destructive Forces on the Left

NB: This argument is an American counterpart of my understanding about the delusions of revolutionary extremism. These delusions are to be found amongst extremist nationalists too, who also see themselves as revolutionaries. These ideological pipe-dreams are fueled by visions of forcing human character into new a mould (determined by the Headquarters of Truth), an addiction to totalitarian… Read More Chris Hedges and Mark Rudd Discuss Self Destructive Forces on the Left

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