21 hours agoWho Were the Joint Opposition Front (UAE)?Evaluating some of the countries in my scope of research is that sometimes it’s challenging to find separatist opposition in places you might expect. One such place is the United Arab Emirates. The UAE seems ripe for potential political splits, as a federated monarchy composed of seven sheikdoms without a…Uae2 min read
1 day agoGenocide by LawsuitIn the United States, indigenous sovereignty is being eroded piece by piece. A series of recent Supreme Court decisions have chipped away at longstanding legal distinctions between Native American tribes and the U.S. government. First, on June 13, the court decided in a 6–3 decision in the case of Denezpi…Indigenous2 min read
2 days agoThe Enemy is Imperialism, Wherever It ExistsIn the wake of Russia’s War in Ukraine, talk of decolonization has become a talking point within broader circles. On June 23rd, the Helsinki Commission hosted a panel discussion on Decolonizing Russia. During the discussion, a comment by Casey Michel — author of American Kleptocracy — stood out to me: …Colonialism2 min read
4 days agoFrom whence shall we expect the approach of danger? (Part 3)Part 1 of this series discussed some recent books on American secession and a second American civil war. In Part 2 of this series, I laid out some factors of concern when looking at the potential for a U.S. national split-up. …Civil War6 min read
5 days agoAnother Weird Iambic Pentameter ExerciseI’ve been reading Steven Fry’s The Ode Less Traveled. …Writing2 min read
6 days agoThe Biggest Reasons Secession Might FailIt’s been nearly a week since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In that week, social media has been abuzz with talk of many liberals’ fears of (and in some cases, desire for) an impending break-up of the United States of America. Many commentators posit presumptions suggesting that such…America4 min read
Jun 29Here’s What I’ve Been Reading LatelyI’ve been writing a lot lately. I’ve also been reading a lot in support of that writing. I’ve been reading books about writing, fiction and non-fiction that I want to study to pick apart their writing style, and books I’m reading (or rereading) to think more deeply on my subject of interest, break-away movements. …Writing2 min read
Jun 28Will the Liberal World Order Die in the Suwalki Gap?Russia’s Baltic Sea exclave, Kaliningrad — Captured by the Nazis after WWII and never ceded to Poland or Lithuania following the end of the Cold War — receives the bulk of its industrial supply goods through routes from Belarus across the 40-mile stretch of land known as the Suwałki Gap…War2 min read
Jun 27Fundraising is Not Enough: The Party Needs New BloodThe conversation around abortion rights has sparked new critiques of the Democratic Party; here’s one way that passionate liberals can work to change it. — After the fall of Roe v. Wade, many American liberals feel a growing disillusionment with the Democratic Party. To the many American liberals, the moral injury of the fall of Roe cuts even deeper given that it happened during a Democratic presidency, with a Democratic Party Majority in Congress. Common…Politics5 min read
Jun 25A Letter to Myself Three Years AgoDear David, The next few years are going to be a trying time. It will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Yet, events will unfold, altering your life and the world in ways you could never have predicted. Let’s start with the personal: Next year, your mother will die. This…3 min read