Tag Archives: diplomacy

White Paper: Nations of Negative Identity: A Typology and Analysis of Societal Harm

Posted on October 21, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary This white paper examines the phenomenon of negative national identity—when a nation defines itself primarily by opposition, resentment, or trauma rather than by a positive shared vision. Such identities often arise from colonization, defeat, victimization narratives, or ideological … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: Afghanistan–Pakistan: Conflict Dynamics, Capabilities, and Pathways to (De-)Escalation

Posted on October 20, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive summary Border violence between Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has spiked to the worst levels since 2021, culminating this week in a Qatar- and Turkey-mediated ceasefire after days of airstrikes, artillery exchanges, and border closures. The truce commits both sides … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Military History | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: What Was Lost: Scotland in the Wars of the Auld Alliance and in the Brain Drain of Empire

Posted on October 2, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Scotland’s history is marked by two great forms of loss: first, the devastation of recurrent wars fought against England in the medieval and early modern periods, often within the framework of the Auld Alliance with France (1295–1560); second, … Continue reading →

Posted in International Relations, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: The Effects of History and the Seeming Marginality of Scotland on Relations Between Scotland and England

Posted on October 1, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The relationship between Scotland and England is one of the most enduring and complex in Europe. From centuries of armed conflict to the eventual Treaty of Union in 1707, their shared history has shaped both nations’ identities, economies, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: The Yemen Conflict: Deep Divides, Complex Dynamics, and Paths Toward Peace

Posted on September 23, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Yemen’s civil war is a multifaceted conflict rooted in historical, political, economic, and regional divides. The conflict involves multiple internal actors (Houthis, the internationally recognized government, Southern separatists, tribal/local authorities, extremist groups) and external powers (Saudi Arabia, UAE, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

White Paper: The Geopolitics of Beowulf: Lessons from the Poem and the Germanic Legendary World

Posted on September 21, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The Old English epic Beowulf is often read as heroic poetry, an allegory of Christian virtue, or a martial narrative of monsters and heroes. Yet beneath its surface lies a sophisticated meditation on geopolitics, power, and inter-polity relations … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: Gatekeepers of Innovation: The Historical Role of Those Who Normalize Outsider Genres and Groundbreaking Ideas

Posted on September 19, 2025 by nathanalbright

Abstract Throughout history, groundbreaking innovations and outsider genres have rarely been embraced directly by the mainstream. Instead, they first emerge in marginalized, experimental, or niche contexts. What determines whether such movements remain underground or become transformative is often the presence … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Musings, On Creativity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: Patterns of Mongol Failure in Japan, Burma, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe

Posted on September 17, 2025 by nathanalbright

Abstract The Mongol Empire, forged under Genghis Khan and expanded by his successors, became the largest contiguous land empire in world history. Yet despite its relentless conquests, the Mongols faced significant failures that marked the limits of their expansion. This … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: Toward Statehood for the Bektashi World Headquarters: Pathways, Precedents, and Plausible Timelines

Posted on September 13, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive summary Albania’s government has floated creating a Vatican-style enclave—the “Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order”—on the grounds of the Bektashi World Headquarters (Kryegjyshata) in Tirana. Drafting began in late 2024; any such move would require amending Albania’s Constitution (which … Continue reading →

Posted in International Relations, Musings | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: Consequences and Implications of Israel’s Sept. 9, 2025 Strike on Hamas Leadership in Doha, Qatar

Posted on September 10, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary On September 9, 2025, Israel carried out a strike in Doha targeting senior members of Hamas’s political leadership resident in Qatar. Qatar condemned the action as a violation of its sovereignty; early reporting indicated multiple fatalities among associates … Continue reading →

Posted in International Relations, Middle East, Musings | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment