No Great Civilization Without Great Constructions
Tomáš Březina—known as the “Concrete King,” a man who built an empire of construction materials and now prepares to enter politics—has been releasing episodes of his podcast. The latest is…
From Ideology to Nationhood: Stalin, Khamenei, and the Politics of Survival
The German invasion of the Soviet Union brought not only devastation but also a transformation in Stalin’s rule and Stalinist ideology. The regime realized that repression alone would not suffice;…
Crisis, Class, and the Birth Gap
Demographers have long observed a pattern that emerges whenever economic crisis strikes: different social strata do not respond in the same way to uncertainty. Among university-educated women, childbearing is postponed.…
Tradition Without Illusion
A recurring weakness in conservative thought deserves frank acknowledgment. When an institution or custom proves useful, even noble, and manages to endure for a generation or two, conservatives tend to…
Prosperity Promised, Dependency Delivered
In my last note note, I remarked that much of the criticism directed at various tyrannies is not, in truth, born of compassion for the peoples who suffer under them.…
Queer and Communism: Choice or Destiny?
At this year’s Prague Pride one could spot a banner declaring: “Being queer is not a choice, being a communist unfortunately is.” Clever enough, at first glance. But why should…