Category Archives: Theory

Answering Martin’s Questions Regarding Anarchism

Posted on August 29, 2009 by

H/t to Martin for tagging me on this. I added a question (A), How were you introduced to anarchism? (A) How were you introduced to anarchism? I was introduced to anarchism in my teens through the punk-rock and hardcore punk … Continue reading →

Posted in Archives, History, and Historiography, Friends, Allies, and Frequented Sites, International Politics, Labor, Radicalism, Theory | 2 Comments

Ernest Sternberg: A Revivified Corpse, Left-Fascism in the Twenty-First Century

Posted on January 14, 2009 by

Ernest’s Sternberg’s review of Bernard-Henri Lévy’s, Left in Dark Times: A Stand Against the New Barbarism (New York: Random House, 2008 ) in Telos (A Revivified Corpse: Left Fascism in the Twenty-First Century) is well worth reading (also check out … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Archives, History, and Historiography, Magazines and Newspapers, Radicalism, Theory, Totalitarianism | Leave a comment

Essentialism is Not Unique to the West

Posted on January 12, 2009 by

[H/t Elder of Ziyon] Essentialism views races, social classes or cultures as possessing a specific set of characteristics or properties. Back in my grad school days many of my colleagues associated essentialist ideologies with the Western world. They tied essentialism … Continue reading →

Posted in Theory | Leave a comment

Negative and Positive Content of Political Beliefs

Posted on December 22, 2008 by

Gabriel Noah Brahm’s review in the recent Democratiya had me thinking about the following question, are political beliefs/ideologies defined primarily by their positive content or by their opposition(s)? Here is the relevant section: Somewhere along the line, the idea took … Continue reading →

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What is Your “Teaching Philosophy”?

Posted on August 3, 2008 by

[H/t Varnam whose post discusses the influence of Marxist, Nationalist and Orientalist historiography in India. Have a look. I also want to thank Varnam for introducing me to Maps of War. Watch 5,000 years of imperialism and conquest in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Theory | Leave a comment

On Nonviolence

Posted on August 1, 2008 by

I recently posted some comments to an article regarding non-violence and revolution which seemed to argue that “good” revolutions are non-violent and “bad” revolutions use terrorism. It seemed a tad simplistic so I posted some criticisms regarding this and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Theory | 5 Comments

Identifying the Fourth Wave of Terrorism

Posted on July 13, 2008 by

[H/t Contentious Centrist. This post was prompted by Norman Geras’ critique of a “thoroughly confusionist” article by lawyer Waleed Aly which attempts to obscure the definition of terrorism. More discussion here.] As others have pointed out, I don’t think the … Continue reading →

Posted in (Anti)Terrorism, Archives, History, and Historiography, Radicalism, Theory | 3 Comments

Happy Independence Day! Gil Troy on Centrism

Posted on July 4, 2008 by

Happy 4th to my readers in the U.S.A.! I hope the weather is better in your neck of the woods than NYC. It’s overcast and raining. Not the greatest weather for a bbq or fireworks. If the weather clears up … Continue reading →

Posted in Archives, History, and Historiography, Theory, U.S. Politics | 7 Comments

Lebanon and the Issue of Force in Democratic Societies

Posted on May 23, 2008 by

After widespread Hezbollah violence in West Beirut earlier this month, things seem to have settled down. Bu the political problem at the core of this conflict remains, the legitimacy and weakness of the Lebanese state. David Schenker (WINEP) provides some … Continue reading →

Posted in (Counter)Terrorism, International Politics, Radicalism, Theory, West Asia | Leave a comment

Thoughts on the Current Debate: A Perspective from the U.S.

Posted on April 24, 2008 by

[Image courtesy of Zombietime.] I haven’t found the time to post a response to what Bob, Marko and the Drink Soaked Trots for War have been writing the past week or so. I’ve found the discussion stimulating aside from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Allies, and Frequented Sites, Radicalism, Theory | 1 Comment