Critical readings of books on politics, history and society.
Political Economy & TradeAcemoglu and Robinson trace global inequality to political and economic institutions, offering a compelling thesis challenged by China’s growth and neglected geographical factors.
Human Rights & DemocracyRevisiting Åsne Seierstad’s The Bookseller of Kabul reveals how war, patriarchal authority, and Taliban restrictions shape one Afghan family’s daily life.
Roberto Saviano’s gripping investigation exposes the power, corruption, and human costs of the cocaine trade—and the personal danger of bringing its secrets to light.
Robert Kagan challenges post–Cold War optimism, arguing that renewed rivalry between democracies and autocracies demands greater democratic solidarity.
João Pandiá Calógeras traces Brazil’s diplomatic foundations, challenging colonial stereotypes and highlighting the Treaty of Madrid’s legal legacy.
Human Rights & DemocracyA teacher’s encounter with his exact double becomes a lens for examining globalization, cultural uniformity, and the erosion of individual identity.
