The Role of Intoxication in Ancient Persian Decision-Making

Number of words: 118 Alfred P.Sloan, the former CEO of General Motors, presents a nice contrast. He was leading a group of high-level policy makers who seemed to have reached a consensus. “Gentleman,” he said, “I take it we are all in complete agreement on the decision here…..Then I propose we postpone further discussion of … Read more

Rethinking Education

Number of words: 52 Seymour Sarason was a professor of mine when I was in graduate school. He was a wonderful educator, and he always told us to question assumption. “There’s an assumption,” he said, “that schools are for students learning. Well, aren’t they just has much for teachers learning.” Excerpted from‘Mindset’ by Carol S. … Read more

The Intricacies of Power Dynamics in Fear Societies

Number of words: 339 Overt cooperation with the west would, however, pose anew danger to the Soviet. How could the communist regime give up the ideological enemy that had served so well since the Bolshevik revolution in 1919 to stabilize its rule? Hero too, the Soviets were confronting a problem faced by all fear societies. … Read more

The Evolution of Democracy in Germany and Italy

Number of words: 263 With a half a century of hindsight, what seems absurd is that anyone ever believed that democracy could not take hold in Germany, Italy, or elsewhere in Europe. Today Germany and Italy are liberal democracies with governments that protect the rights of their citizens and peoples  who live at peace with  … Read more

The Enduring Legacy of Soviet Dissidents

Number of words: 176 But inside the USSR, Amalrik’s book was not dismissed as the ranting of lunatic. The leadership new that Amalrik had exposed the Soviet regime’s soft underbelly. They understood their vulnerability to dissident ideas: even the smallest spark of freedom could set their entire totalitarian, dissident books were confiscated, and every typewriter … Read more