Tag Archives: international relations

An Exercise In Ethnology

Posted on April 22, 2011 by nathanalbright

Longtime readers of my blog will be well aware of my blog’s interest in questions of ethnicity, which at their basis are studies in identity.  In our nationalistic world we tend to think of “nations” or “peoples” as the fundamental … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can Contemporary China Learn A Lesson From 1421?

Posted on April 14, 2011 by nathanalbright

For those who are unaware, during the early part of the 1400’s, China was far and away the most impressive trading empire in the world, with trading bases as far from China as Cape Breton Island (also called Cibola or … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Amarna Letters: A View From The Other Side

Posted on April 11, 2011 by nathanalbright

The Amarna Letters (along with later Hittite letters from the same era) provide an unusual perspective on events that were once familiar to every schoolboy and are still a subject of considerable interest to me personally (and I hope to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Biblical Art of War, Biblical History, Christianity, History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Somaliland Update: Anti-Piracy Efforts, Tax Codes, Important Meetings, War Crimes, SSC Surveillance

Posted on April 3, 2011 by nathanalbright

Today is a relatively busy Somaliland update entry, as it has been a busy week for Somaliland, with international interest in its coast guard efforts against piracy, changes to the Somaliland tax code, anticipation of an important meeting with the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Somaliland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Syria Joins The Club

Posted on March 25, 2011 by nathanalbright

Right now there is an elite list of Middle Eastern dictatorships that have either collapsed in recent weeks [1] [2] or are tottering rather badly [3] [4].  To that illustrious list we can add Syria [5].  Syria’s dictatorship, despite its … Continue reading →

Posted in International Relations, Middle East, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Modest Proposal For A Quirky Cable Series

Posted on March 23, 2011 by nathanalbright

Today I would like to share with you a random sort of idea that springs of my interest in imaginary nations and the deceptive nature of maps [1].  This idea is a modest proposal for a quirky sort of series … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Libya, Iraq, and the Perils of Partition

Posted on March 23, 2011 by nathanalbright

When I earlier examined the implications of South Sudan Independence [1], one of the most obvious implications is that partition (or separation) will serve as a model for future problems. By and large the international community has generally only supported … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Somaliland Update: Friends In High Places and A Pakistani Two-Step

Posted on March 22, 2011 by nathanalbright

The news I tend to get about Somaliland tends to come in waves, and the news I got last night was no different.  There were two separate, and intriguing updates.  The first is an eloquent letter from a supporter of … Continue reading →

Posted in International Relations, Somaliland | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

On The Folly Of Land Wars In Asia

Posted on March 4, 2011 by nathanalbright

The folks at Stratfor have provided a very excellent analysis of why one never fights a land war in Asia, as Robert Gates (current Secretary of Defense) stated so colorfully [1].  Four times in the last century the United States … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Review: Headlines In History: The 1900’s

Posted on March 3, 2011 by nathanalbright

Headlines In History:  The 1900’s, by James Miller, Bonnie Szumski, and Scott Barbour, editors This volume is definitely a disappointing end to an excellent series.  Instead of the excellence reached by most other volumes of this series [1] [2] [3] … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Book Reviews, History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History, Music History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment