How can we quantify the power of a country? Putting so many demographic, economic and military factors into a single number may seem like a daunting task,… Read more “How Not To Measure a Country’s Power”
Month: July 2021
The Great Myth of the Wehrmacht
In 1985, English historian Max Hastings published a provocative Washington Post article, titled simply: Their Wehrmacht was Better Than Our Army. The title refers to the German… Read more “The Great Myth of the Wehrmacht”
The History of Happiness: Are People Getting Happier?
Over the last few centuries, the lives of people have improved in almost every quantifiable way. Education, lifespan, living standards, hygiene, and countless other factors have steadily… Read more “The History of Happiness: Are People Getting Happier?”
More than Mordor: Tolkien and the First World War
It’s no secret that J. R. R. Tolkien borrowed from his experience in the trenches of World War One when creating Middle Earth. A month ago, I… Read more “More than Mordor: Tolkien and the First World War”
The Forgotten History of Disabled Veterans
When a war ends, the people are always quick to celebrate the returning soldiers and to mourn the dead. Yet few ever devote much thought to disabled… Read more “The Forgotten History of Disabled Veterans”
Mini Take: The Demographic Shadow of the First World War in Germany
War can have a huge effect on a nation’s demographics, but not always in the way you would expect. The First World War (1914-1918) was the world’s… Read more “Mini Take: The Demographic Shadow of the First World War in Germany”
Just War Theory in Game of Thrones: Part II
Welcome to Part Two of my series about just war theory as applied to George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. In the last… Read more “Just War Theory in Game of Thrones: Part II”
Just War Theory in Game of Thrones: Part I
Disclaimer – the following article contains spoilers for George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire Series, as well as HBO’s Game of Thrones. Beware!… Read more “Just War Theory in Game of Thrones: Part I”
Tragedy and Farce 