Monthly Archives: May 2014

Pfaff on European Parliament Elections

The elections to the European Parliament have produce a flow of articles stressing the rise of “extreme right” or “neo-fascist” parties. An important article today by William Pfaff puts that in perspective. The rise of opposition to the bureaucrats in … Continue reading

Posted in In the World, Musings and Polemics | 2 Comments

Viktor Hryhorov’s Painting “Independence Day”

As Ukraine approaches a fateful election next Sunday, I have been drawn to contemplate one of the most moving and thoughtful paintings in our collection. The painting pictured above is by Viktor Hryhorov (Grigorov–Григоров). Rebecca and I purchased it from … Continue reading

Posted in Art, In the World | 1 Comment

USSR 1987-91: An Empire Self-Destructs

There seems to be a prevailing opinion in Russia and elsewhere that the Soviet Union broke up under the pressures of the Cold War. Wrong! The Cold War ended before the USSR fell apart. There also seems to be a … Continue reading

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Remembering Vasya Aksyonov

It is now nearly five years since Vasya Aksyonov died, much too young, like many of his compatriots who began their public careers in the 1960s during Nikita Khrushchev’s brief “Thaw.” A couple of years ago I was asked to … Continue reading

Posted in Arts and Letters, Literature | Leave a comment

Johanna Granville on Poker with Putin

Dr. Johanna Granville, a professor at the American University of Bulgaria, who has conducted extensive research in Ukraine, has written a thoughtful policy paper (“The Folly of Playing High-Stakes Poker with Putin”) that identifies some of the dangers that can … Continue reading

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Golinkin on the Language Issue in Ukraine

Much of the media and official comment on the turmoil in Ukraine has focused on geopolitical factors, with little attention to the historical context of the various issues or to one of the most emotional issues dividing Ukraine: the status … Continue reading

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Chas Freeman on Unforseen Complexities in the World

Ambassador Chas Freeman delivered a speech today in Victoria, B.C., with a brilliant analysis of changes in the world that have caught American policy makers, and must media pundits, by surprise. I would call attention especially to his observation, “The … Continue reading

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