Serhii Plokhy is a Professor of Ukrainian history at Harvard University and the Director of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. He’s written many books including The Gates of Europe, Nuclear Folly, and Atoms to Ashes. His most recent book is The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History. Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon Make a one-time Donation... Continue Reading →
Violence Against Civilians: The Wagner Group, Brutality and Exploitation of Africa
By Akinyetun, Tope Shola The incidence of violence in Africa has exponentially increased over the last decade. There has been an increase in violent extremist attacks, terrorism, insurgency, farmer-herder crises, identity conflicts, climate-induced violence, and banditry – inter alia – resulting in the deaths of thousands of people and the destruction of property. Data from... Continue Reading →
Putin, Accountability, and the International Criminal Court
By Ambassador Thomas Graham Jr. and David Bernell There is a line in scripture that says, “If anyone causes one of those little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea”... Continue Reading →
The Invasion of Ukraine and the Geopolitics of Energy
By David Bernell As the war in Ukraine goes on, with Ukraine’s army thus far stopping the Russian push at Bakhmut, and a Ukrainian offensive expected as more (and more lethal) weaponry is being supplied by members of NATO, one of the issues that held greater salience earlier in the war continues to play a... Continue Reading →
Was NATO Expansion a Response to Russian Aggression?
By Justin Kempf NATO Expansion was a Response to Russian Aggression At the end of the Cold War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization consisted of 16 member states. Over the past thirty years it has grown to 30. After Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden applied for membership. Their inclusion will double NATO... Continue Reading →
Some Realists are Unrealistic About Russia
By Justin Kempf A Tragic Anniversary One year ago today Russia invaded Ukraine. It's difficult to adequately describe what has happened. Some call it the War in Ukraine. But this description absolves Russia of its role in starting the conflict. Serhii Plokhy has a new book called The Russo-Ukrainian War. This sounds like a fairer description.... Continue Reading →
The Value of Airpower and the War in Ukraine
By John Christianson The Value of Airpower for Modern Militaries The Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022 shocked the world and united western democracies in a way Vladimir Putin has always aimed to undermine. The war has now become a clarion call for the defense of democracy from external threats that has united... Continue Reading →
Why We Support Ukraine
By Justin Kempf Why We Support Ukraine Yesterday Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an address to Congress where he made his case for continued military and economic support for his country. During his time in Washington, he made the case not just for additional weapons, but also more powerful ones as well. Yet while the United States... Continue Reading →
Would Putin Use Nuclear Weapons?
Become a Patron! Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. Would Putin Use Nuclear Weapons? In a speech yesterday to the Russian nation, Vladimir Putin warned the West he would use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. He even emphasized his warning was "not a bluff." Still, it's unclear what Putin means when he refers to... Continue Reading →
The Kremlin Shows New Vulnerabilities
Become a Patron! Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. The Kremlin Shows New Vulnerabilities The annexation of Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine threatens to escalate the war in unexpected ways. Russia has repeatedly emphasized any attacks on its territories amount to some kind of red line. They have even signaled a possible nuclear response. Former... Continue Reading →