Russia
Let’s Make Putin’s London Cronies Sweat
Our failure to face up to the Russian ruler could have dire consequences
What Putin Wants
Alarmingly, there are credible Western voices advocating a grand bargain with Russia
Putin and the Art of Political Fantasy
How does the Kremlin exploit Russia’s long tradition of absurd conspiracy theories to control public opinion? By confabulation
Muscovite Manners
Teaching etiquette in the modern world
Russia’s not so Lovable Rogue
An account of Eduard Limonov’s adventurous life, that’s a bit too heavy on admiration
Video: In Hock to the Oligarchs?
A recording of our event at the Frontline Club is now available
War Games
The Lasker-Capablanca showdown of 1914
Puny Putin
Russia may dominate world maps, but it is an economic pygmy compared with the developed nations as a bloc
Russia Versus Ukraine
Vladimir Putin is often described as being like a grandmaster in his moves on the diplomatic board. This is based on the clichéd view that Russian skill at chess is a function of national character — which it isn’t: besides which, Putin’s moves are conditioned by rage and resentment, which leads to highly irrational decisions.
Europe Cannot Do Without Putin’s Gas
It will be another decade before the Continent can substitute the product of American fracking for Russian energy piped via Ukraine
Why Remoaners should back Boris
“Boris, ironically, now offers Remoaners the best chance of a soft Brexit, or at least a sensible one. And to those who want a second referendum—’the people’s vote’—there may even be a chance of that too.”
On the road
“In the summer of 1980, in the grip of some Kerouac-ish fantasy, I opted to hitch-hike from Laredo to New York”
Discovering the Great War of China
A third of a million Chinese labourers helped the Allies defeat the Kaiser, but their huge unsung contribution ended in betrayal