In December 1970 there was an attempt to impose on Italy the ‘authoritarian solution’. It was a strange coup d’état, so subtle and secretive that when it failed many denied, as they still do, that it had even taken place. Prince Junio Valerio Borghese, the architect of the coup, is one of the most controversial … Continue reading »
Filed under Politics …
The Kirkburn Sword
“Probably the finest Iron Age sword in Europe” according to the British Museum. Iron Age, 300-200 BC From a burial at Kirkburn, East Yorkshire, England At this time in the Iron Age (300-200 BC) few people were buried in graves when they died. However, East Yorkshire was an exception and this sword was found in … Continue reading »
Is Mexico A Failed State?
Over the past several months, I have heard the question as to whether or not Mexico is a failed state raised a number of times. As part of the “Mexico Series” I have been posting over the last year or so, it is time for me as an International Relations academic to address that question… … Continue reading »
Paintings of The Day: The Course of Empire by Thomas Cole
Before proceeding, permit me to suggest clicking on the pictures below, so that in their enlarged state, they may be more thoroughly appreciated… 1) The Savage State The first painting, The Savage State, shows a valley from the shore opposite a distinctive crag, in the dim light of a dawning stormy day. A hunter clothed … Continue reading »
The Rwandan Genocide and École Technique Officielle: Indifference? Negligence? Or Something Else?
I have been surprised by the amount of feedback received on my earlier post on the Rwandan genocide: The Rwandan Genocide, Dom Bosco School and Captain Luc Lemaire: Indifference? Negligence? Or Something Else? A frequent question I receive involves Dom Bosco School and the École Technique Officielle (ETO)… Where the stories between the two converge … Continue reading »
The Nobistor Affair
Faithful readers will recognize the below as an excerpt from a previous post of mine. However, with this story gathering momentum and attention from Hollywood, I have decided to highlight it in an effort to protect the truth. For source information as well as the original work this is excerpted from, please click here For … Continue reading »
The Bulgarian Countryside: Pictoral Evidence Of The Failures Of Communism
On our trip through the Balkans last year, The Velvet Rocket team spent a fair amount of time exploring Bulgaria. Western Bulgaria is quite rural and provided us with an interesting social commentary on communism as I will reveal below. Eastern Bulgaria is more developed due to its proximity to beachfront property that has attracted … Continue reading »
