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Luxury in the Shadow of a Kleptocracy – Fidel Castro and Che Guevara fishing in 1960, a reminder of the contradictions within Cuba's revolutionary myth.
Political Opinion

Cuba’s Kleptocracy: How It Operates and Why It Matters

Behind the revolutionary rhetoric lies a kleptocracy – a system built on corruption, power, and control.

By
John Suarez
22 Min Read
Cinema as Inquiry: On Art, Knowledge, and Justice
Culture & Politics
14 Min Read
Religion in International Politics: Power and Influence
Faith and Power: World Leaders in Prayer – A Moment of Reflection in International Politics. President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush, Former President George H. W. Bush, Mrs. Barbara Bush, Former President Bill Clinton, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton, bow their heads during the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance service at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.
BooksPolitics & Religion
19 Min Read
Our Disintegrating Societies: On What Divides Us
Disintegrating Societies: The Rise of Division and Unrest. As societies fracture under the weight of political polarization, economic disparity, and social unrest, the line between order and resistance blurs. This powerful image captures the escalating tensions between authority and protest, a reflection of the deepening societal divides shaping our world. Are we witnessing the fight for justice or the collapse of civil discourse? As democracy wavers, the question remains: what comes after the unrest?
Insights
11 Min Read
A New History of Atlantic Slavery from the Global South
BooksPolitical History
16 Min Read
When Animals Dream: The Hidden World of Animal Consciousness
Animal Dream: A red fox sleeps peacefully in the sunlight, its body relaxed and still. Photo by Qijun Huang.
BooksEnvironment & Animals
14 Min Read
When Pop Stars Play Working-Class Heroes: Music and Labor
Bad Bunny, wearing a green baseball cap and a black suit, holds up a Grammy award while speaking at the microphone. His working-class aesthetic, often reflected in his music and performances, raises questions about labor, authenticity, and pop stardom.
Culture & Politics
9 Min Read
A World on Edge: Environmental Injustice Threatens Us All
Environmental injustice: A group of firefighters stand against an overwhelming wildfire, their silhouettes illuminated by the intense orange glow of the flames.
BooksEnvironment
12 Min Read
Women and the Reformations Around the World
A painting depicting the marriage ceremony of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora. Katharina, a former nun, is portrayed as a central figure, symbolizing the role of women in the Protestant Reformation as active participants in reshaping religious and social norms.
BooksPolitical History
17 Min Read
Understanding the Causes of War: Human Nature and History
A stark glimpse into the trenches of World War I, epitomizing the brutal realities of conflict. This image underscores the enduring 'causes of war'—territorial disputes, political rivalries, and the human propensity for domination.
BooksPolitical History
14 Min Read
From Ivory Tower to Public Square: Why Writing Clearly Matters
The great writer Yaşar Kemal never confined himself to the isolation of an ivory tower. Instead, he wielded his pen with extraordinary clarity, crafting narratives that bridged the struggles of ordinary people with profound insights into humanity's shared experiences.
Insights
13 Min Read
The Walls Have Eyes: Technology and Migration Today
Robo-dogs are being deployed at the border as part of heightened surveillance measures in migration control.
BooksTechnology
16 Min Read
Environmental Violence and the Human Right to a Healthy Planet
A crowd of demonstrators holding various handmade signs during a climate protest. One sign asks, "Which green do you see?", showing a tree juxtaposed with money, while others convey environmental justice concerns. This image captures the urgency of addressing environmental violence as a global human rights issue.
BooksEnvironment
13 Min Read
How New Digital Technologies are Transforming Climate Activism
a climate activism protest, featuring demonstrators holding banners and signs with messages like "Change is Now" and "Just Stop Oil." The setting includes prominent landmarks, suggesting the protest's visibility in a public or political hub.
BooksTechnology
20 Min Read
Resisting Reproductive Coercion: US Abortion Pill History and Politics
Abortion Pill: A Democratic delegate at the 1976 convention holds a sign advocating for abortion rights, with a backdrop of banners reading "Freedom of Choice." – Photo by Warren K. Leffler.
BooksPolitical History
23 Min Read
Cuba’s Role in Terrorism and Failed Efforts at Detente
Firefighters rush an injured man away from the scene of the Fraunces Tavern bombing on Jan. 24, 1975. This act of terrorism by the FALN resulted in over 50 injuries and four fatalities
Political Opinion
17 Min Read
From Fictions to Lives of the Haitian Revolutionaries
Bronze statue of Henry Christophe, Haiti's first and only king, who played a pivotal role in the Haitian Revolution and the establishment of the Kingdom of Haiti. The statue reflects his enduring legacy as a leader and visionary who championed anti-slavery and anti-colonial ideals.
BooksPolitical History
12 Min Read
Agitators in Albanian Communism: Face-to-face propaganda
Socialist-style mural depicting a group of Albanian agitators in a march, with a central female figure raising a rifle. The characters wear traditional and work attire, representing various social classes united, with a red flag featuring the double-headed eagle, a symbol of Albania, in the background. The agitators move forward with determined expressions, emphasizing the revolutionary spirit and the struggle for freedom.
Political History
13 Min Read
Britain and China: Unexpected Lessons from a Long History
Chinese officers tearing down the British flag on the 'Arrow' and arresting crew members, a scene of British Imperial war propaganda during the Second Opium War.
BooksPolitical History
17 Min Read
Religious Liberty and the Religions of the World
Thomas Jefferson, champion of religious liberty, whose Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom laid the foundation for the separation of church and state.
BooksPolitics & Religion
14 Min Read
How Emotions Shape Climate Action: Barriers and Agency
Emotions ran high as Dutch climate protesters gathered, expressing deep frustration and urgency about the government's lack of action against climate change.
BooksEnvironment & Animals
19 Min Read
Does Humanity Have a Death Wish?
Industrial chimneys releasing smoke into the sky, highlighting the environmental impact of human activity on the planet and the challenges humanity faces with pollution and climate change.
BooksEnvironment & Animals
16 Min Read
Albanian Women Under Communism: The Illusion of Liberation
Albanian women: A young girl wearing a white shirt and a red scarf in the style of an Albanian communist pioneer raises her fist in a revolutionary salute. The image, taken from Ylli Magazine, reflects the official ideology of the Albanian communist regime of the time, promoting socialist values and contributing to state propaganda.
Political History
10 Min Read
Routine, Resistance, and Retribution: Life in Auburn Prison
Auburn State Prison, c.1880
BooksPolitical History
14 Min Read
Deconstructing AI Hype and Its Impact on Social Media
Artificial intelligence (AI) is now an integral part of our everyday experience, subtly shaping how we communicate and interact through the smartphones in our hands.
Technology
21 Min Read
Anxiety in the Age of Algorithms: The Cost of Outsourced Freedom
In the digital age, the promise of personal freedom has been overshadowed by a new form of anxiety: the fear of being constantly watched and analyzed. The omnipresence of surveillance through Big Data turns our lives into a series of algorithm-driven decisions, as we increasingly hand over our autonomy to artificial intelligence. Are we truly liberating ourselves, or are we merely transferring our anxiety to the machines that watch over us?
BooksTechnology
16 Min Read
The Evolving Nature Views of the Religious Right
The influence of the Religious Right in the January 6th Capitol attack can be seen in how some of its members joined the assault, driven by a mix of religious fervor and extreme political beliefs. Photo by Tyler Merbler .
BooksPolitics & Religion
17 Min Read
Ethics for the End Times
Members of the Red Rebels, part of the Extinction Rebellion movement, perform a silent protest highlighting the ethics of addressing the climate crisis.
BooksEnvironment & Animals
22 Min Read
Reinventing Europe’s Past: The Counter-Revolutionary Legacy
Statue of Edmund Burke, a prominent Counter-Revolutionary thinker of the 18th century, known for his critique of revolutionary rationalism and his defense of European traditions.
BooksPolitical History
15 Min Read
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