The Dead Hand of Austria-Hungary
Simon Maass traces the enduring influence of Austria-Hungary on modern intellectual life, arguing that the empire’s admirers have often drawn precisely the wrong lessons from its history.
Essays
Articles that illuminate, from policy op-eds and cultural commentary to literary criticism.
A Message from a Lifelong Dog Lover: Pit Bulls Are Dangerous
Karen M. Prince, who grew up in a family that frequently rescued dogs, argues that compassion for unwanted animals should not blind us to the dangers posed by pit bulls, a breed responsible for far too many severe and fatal attacks, particularly against children.
The Cambridge Five: Stalin’s Men at the Heart of Britain
Allen M. Hornblum, author of The Invisible Harry Gold, reviews Antonia Senior’s new book on the Cambridge Five, examining how a group of privileged Cambridge graduates came to betray their country—and why the British government was so slow to hold them accountable.
Even in the Matrix, You Still Have to Pay Your Debts
What would happen to morality and politics if Descartes’s skeptical scenarios turned out to be true? Philosopher Jimmy Alfonso Licon argues that the answer depends: Some would unsettle our claims about property, legitimacy, and history, while others would leave much of ordinary life intact.
“Only in America”: Civic Memory at 250
Bruno Manno reflects on Fourth of July celebrations at his grandparents’ Italian tavern in Cleveland in the 1960s—and on the need for a renewed, reflective patriotism as America marks its 250th birthday. To combat growing disengagement among the citizenry, he proposes a new civic compact.
We Need to Talk About Spelling
Step inside the mind of a linguist as Danny Bate considers what words like “ticketed” reveal about English spelling and how the language’s written form is becoming, in subtle and accidental ways, a little more Chinese-like.
The Many Lives of Thomas More
Scholars Andrew Hadfield and Joanne Paul examine the many competing interpretations of Thomas More, a historical figure of remarkable complexity and enduring interest, nearly five centuries after his death.
Confronting the Honesty Crisis
Christian Miller, a Wake Forest professor and director of the inter-university Honesty Project, urges us to rediscover the virtue of honesty at a time when it is increasingly imperiled by artificial intelligence, online infidelity, and other temptations to deceive.
The Social Wealth Men Without College Degrees Need
Bruno V. Manno argues that men without college degrees need more than job training or credentials. They need “social wealth”: relationships, mentors, institutions, and pathways that help them build stable, connected lives rather than be left behind.
Pericles the Eccentric
Pericles is remembered as Athens’ great democratic statesman and orator. But as Cambridge University classicist Paul Cartledge argues, his private life—especially his relationship with Aspasia—also reveals him as one of antiquity’s most distinctive, even eccentric, figures.
It Was Not Trump Who Started the Iran War
Trump’s critics accuse him of abandoning his peace platform by striking Iran. Walter Block and Frank Tipler argue instead that the United States is finally answering decades of Iranian aggression—and that force may be necessary to restore peace
The Oldest New Idea
What, if anything, do Catholicism and critical theory have in common? Both hold that texts cannot be read without an authoritative interpretive framework. But where the former grounds that authority in the divine, the latter are left wandering in the wilderness, writes Stuart Doyle.
Repression in Tanzania Demands the World’s Attention
Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s longstanding reputation for relative stability is over, writes teacher Tony Njoroge. Journalists are being arrested, opposition leaders disappeared, and protesters shot. This urgently demands the world’s attention.
Constitutional Distortion and America's National Debt
As America’s debt nears $39 trillion, policymakers debate spending while ignoring a deeper question: Is much of modern federal spending constitutionally authorized? William J. Watkins, Jr. argues expansive readings of the General Welfare and Commerce Clauses helped create today’s crisis.
The Right’s Caricature of the Neocons
Have neocons received their fair shake? Neoconservatism is increasingly dismissed by critics on the Right as insufficiently conservative, if not outright evil. However, many of these critiques rest on a fundamental misunderstanding of the movement and its intellectual history, writes Simon Maass.
Thank You, Governor Murphy
Education professor Karen M. Prince draws attention to another urgent quality of life issue: the danger posed to pedestrians by reckless E-bike use. She praises officeholders in both New Jersey and Florida for their efforts on this issue—a policy matter that so far has been notably bipartisan.
The Islamic Republic Cannot Be “Defanged”
The debate over how to “defang” the Islamic Republic of Iran presupposes that the regime’s conduct can be separated from its character. Pierre Rehov contends that the regime’s very nature precludes any effort to compel it toward a more moderate course.
On the Death of Ali Khamenei
Muzainy Shahiefisally, a member of the Iranian diaspora, reflects on the death of Ali Khamenei at the hands of Israeli bombs and the brutal legacy of repression the late Supreme Leader leaves behind. But could this mark a new beginning for the Iranian people?
Why We Have Banned Social Media for Our Child
As debates swirl in legislatures around the world about restricting children's social media use, senior editor Jonathan Church offers his own experience raising a daughter while limiting screens.
There Is No Universal "We"
In an age shaped by humanitarian universalism, what are the philosophical roots of the modern Western “We”? Are they as inevitable—or defensible—as we assume? Benedict Beckeld examines the theological and philosophical foundations of this notion and asks whether they should be reconsidered.
Ben Sasse’s Dignity in the Face of Death
In December, former Senator Ben Sasse announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In the months since, the courage and dignity with which he has faced his diagnosis have been deeply inspiring. In this essay, Erich J. Prince shares what he has learned from the father of three.
Allegiance or Accident? The Supreme Court and Birthright Citizenship
Legal scholar William J. Watkins, Jr. examines the constitutional history of birthright citizenship and offers his prediction for how the Supreme Court may rule on the challenge to Executive Order 14160.
What Tennessee Williams Saw Before the Assisted Dying Trend
University of Rochester lecturer Robert Rich turns to Tennessee Williams’s final play to challenge a culture that regards the elderly as burdens—a view now finding expression in public policy.
Nigeria Needs to Heal Itself, but the United States Can Help
Tom McDonough, who has spent considerable time in Nigeria, contends that the country's problems go beyond the headlines regarding the persecution of Christians. Rather than American bombs, Nigeria needs American guidance on political reform.
Please Stop the Profanity
Education professor Karen M. Prince expresses her disenchantment with the pervasiveness of profanity in contemporary life. Sadly, even the presence of children is typically not enough to discourage swearing. She asks us to consider holding our tongues when tempted to let the expletives fly.
A Life Made Unlivable: Prejudice Takes on a New Meaning in Africa
The West has long abandoned draconian measures to enforce morality, guided by the belief that every individual—sinner and saint alike—has dignity. In this personal story, Tony Njoroge reminds us of the consequences of twisting moral concern into hatred, a cost still borne in parts of Africa.
The Age of Self-Capital: Work, Identity, and Artificial Intelligence
As AI reshapes labor markets, the most valuable forms of work are no longer tasks but traits. Al Binns examines how AI accelerates a system in which personality and identity are increasingly monetized. The question is not whether work will disappear but what kind of human life will remain.
Teaching Students to Think for Themselves Is Never Apolitical
Journalism professor Robert Jensen considers how educators should handle contentious politics in the classroom, from the Iraq War to more recent American actions in Venezuela. He argues that honest disclosure of one's interpretive framework is essential to teaching students to think critically.
How the High School Diploma Can Restore Its Credibility
Despite soaring education costs, literacy among young people is declining. Education expert Bruno V. Manno explains how diplomas became detached from actual skills while offering a practical blueprint—informed by encouraging stories from across the country—for reversing the decline.
Are We Ready to Be Governed by Artificial Intelligence?
Experts Bruce Schneier and Nathan Sanders explore how Artificial Intelligence is already shaping the executive, judicial, and legislative branches, showing that we are already, at least in part, governed by AI—with more likely to come.
Reflecting on Tragedy: From Brown University to Bondi Beach
Senior editor Jonathan Church, writing in the wake of horrific shootings in Rhode Island and Australia, reflects on the death of his own mother, wringing meaning from tragedy, and what it is to live in a grief-laden world.
Can "Deliberative Polling" Solve Polarization?
As Washington emerges from a historic shutdown, Stanford’s James Fishkin outlines how Deliberative Polling offers a path toward rebuilding trust across the partisan divide. His decades of work suggest that genuine deliberation can still depolarize American politics.
Public Servant in Name Only: Rob Bresnahan Hardly Alone
A young congressman elected on promises of integrity has quickly become one of Washington’s most prolific stock traders, writes editor-in-chief Erich J. Prince. Is it any wonder why so many Americans feel nothing ever really changes at the Capitol?
Why We Should Return to Ivan Turgenev’s "Fathers and Sons"
In this essay, Sadhika Pant helps us to see why Turgenev’s fourth novel remains the most enduring portrait of Russia’s 19th-century ideological storm. More than a mere history, the novel continues to resonate as an antidote to the revolutionary spirits of today.
If Being Virtuous Feels Easy, It Could Be Junk
Although no one likes to admit to doing it, virtue signaling is a practice that is a natural part of being a human. Yet, in this essay, philosopher Jimmy Alfonso Licon advises caution by comparing the practice to the culinary equivalent of junk food–tempting but counterproductive.
Agnosticism Is Not Reasonable
Refusal to make a choice is a choice of its own. Although often presented as the intellectually humble third option between belief and atheism, Stuart Doyle argues that agnosticism presents a false middle path that is neither coherent nor practical.
The Conservatism of Russian-Speaking Jews
Simon Maass, a German writer of Soviet Jewish descent, contends that Jews who left the Soviet Union often hold distinctly conservative views—and are steadily shaping politics in their new homes.
The Oldest Hatred, the West’s Latest Test
Following the October 2nd terrorist attack in Manchester, England, Gerfried Ambrosch examines the ideological convergence between the Western left and Islamist movements—and calls for renewed resolve in confronting anti-Semitism in all of its forms.
Is the Current Era of Free Speech Over?
Considering the rest of the developed world, it is a miracle that the First Amendment continues to reign in the United States. Tracing the precarious history of free speech in the country, legal scholar Eric Heinze writes that shifting bipartisan attitudes are placing it under threat.
Caste Remains the True Test of Inclusion in Corporate India
Across boardrooms from Bangalore to Delhi and inside Western corporations staffed by an increasing number of Indian employees, caste continues to influence who advances and who does not. Ignoring this reality, writes Indian scholar Disha, makes all other efforts at fostering inclusivity ring hollow.
The State Sovereignty Question Again Rears Its Head
Tom McDonough argues that Governor JB Pritzker’s recent appeal to “state sovereignty” misreads the Constitution. Revisiting the works of Orestes Brownson, McDonough warns that treating the Constitution as a tool of convenience risks reviving old errors about sovereignty and federal authority.
Let's Teach Young People Hope—Not Doom
Education expert Bruno Manno argues that when educators present social and ecological problems as intractable, this can foster hopelessness in students. This school year, he urges, we should teach students that problems can be solved, not merely bemoaned.
The Perennial Allure of Political Violence
Writing from across the Atlantic, Gerfried Ambrosch condemns both the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the disturbing celebrations that followed, ending with a forceful defense of free expression.
Why Today’s Atheism Requires a Leap of Faith
Who commands intellectual authority between believers and secularists? Rather than dismissing faith as irrational, Michel-Yves Bolloré and Olivier Bonnassies invite readers to consider whether atheism itself withstands logical scrutiny.
We Ought Not Tolerate Reckless Driving
Our editor-in-chief argues that reckless driving must be treated as the urgent social ill that it is. Driving is dangerous enough already, and those who wantonly flout traffic safety need to be consistently held accountable.
From Austerity to Arms: Europe’s Recurring Escape from Deflationary Paralysis
Europe’s turn from austerity to rearmament recalls an older pattern: economic stagnation broken by military spending. This essay traces the parallels—and the risks—for the European Union’s future.
Why We Should Reacquaint Ourselves with William Blake
Mark Vernon, the author of a recent book on William Blake, urges us to rediscover the wisdom contained in the writings and artwork of the great British polymath.
The Machiavellian Keir Starmer
British writer Seamus Flaherty, channeling Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund's new book, dissects the Machiavellian approach British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has brought to his political career and now premiership.
Revisiting "The Classical Liberal Case for Israel"
Walter E. Block and Alan G. Futerman's book, which was published in 2021, has taken on ever greater import since the October 7th attacks. In this essay, historian Paul Gottfried questions some of the book's assumptions and its use of history.
Who Pays for "Free" Speech?
Law professor Eric Heinze reminds us that for all the rhetoric about free speech, demonstrations and protests often impose on the public costs of millions of dollars.
Engineering Morality in the Age of Driverless Cars
Once the realm of ivory tower thought experiments, the trolley problem is increasingly relevant in the real world as algorithms replace the human behind the wheel, argues philosopher Jimmy Alfonso Licon.
A Prison Love Story
An unconventional love story, but a love story just the same.
The Clash and the Quest
In this essay, Alexander Zubatov traces how the stories that fill the boundless canvas of Western canon are, in essence, reflections of two contrasting Homeric archetypes. Venturing beyond the literary, the motifs offer the frames through which one can interpret existence itself.
When Therapy Fails Artists
As a challenge to conventional advice about rest and recovery, poet Nada Faris explains the importance of working amid suffering for those who derive meaning and inspiration from their craft. Shakespeare, Woolf, and Orwell did some of their best work in times of despair, after all.
The Enduring Question at the Heart of Gone with the Wind
Sadhika Pant revisits the 1936 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, a book recently targeted for cancellation by certain activists. Pant suggests that Scarlett O’Hara and Ashley Wilkes represent two dueling approaches to living, and this dichotomy invites nothing short of civilizational questions.
What an Exiled 19th-Century Economist's Letters Tell Us about the Tariff Debate
Perhaps there truly is nothing new under the sun. Robert Rich revisits the writings of Friedrich List, whose pragmatic views on economics were eclipsed by classical orthodoxy but, amid today’s debate over free trade and American exceptionalism, prove surprisingly resonant.
Four Questions to Ask Before Using Artificial Intelligence
Professor Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin, an expert on artificial intelligence, provides a four-point framework for thinking about whether or not to employ new AI technologies in day-to-day life.
The Supreme Court Takes a Welcome Stand against Reverse Discrimination
Jonathan Church, a long-standing critic of the excesses of the critical social justice movement, examines how a recent ruling dismantles the legal double standard that required some Americans to meet a higher burden of proof in discrimination cases.
The Movement James Burnham Began
David Byrne, the author of a recent biography of the mid-century conservative intellectual James Burnham, traces the thinker's influence on Goldwater, on Reagan, on Musk.
Rousseau, the Letter Writer
A new book by Christopher Kelly and Eve Grace explores the letters of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, including many previously left unpublished. These letters provide insight into the mind of the French thinker, a man whose ideas influenced revolutions and political thinking the world over.
As I Think about Pope Francis
Joe Weil, a poet, professor, and Catholic, reflects on the death of Pope Francis, what he loved about the man, and what he hopes the late Pope sees differently on the other side of this world.
Why America?
Originally published in late 2020—a year when many called for a national "moral reckoning"—this personal essay by Alexander Zubatov draws on his family's journey from the Soviet Union to New York in the 1970s to illuminate why America, to him, remains exceptional.
Sponsored · An Apology from Trump’s America
Discover Tony D. Senatore’s provocative new dialogue on free speech and moral courage.
What Moby Dick Still Teaches Us
Andy Owen, who served in the British military in the Middle East, revisits the 19th century classic, believing it can shed light on some of the most important questions of our day, when it comes to both foreign policy and ourselves.
Common Sense or Academic Theory: America's Modern Political Divide
Through a blend of political philosophy and cultural criticism, Alexander Zubatov incisively examines how the 2024 election revealed America's divide between those whose worldview is guided by the dictums of the educated elite, and those molded by their experiences living regular lives in community.
A Three-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
In this rigorous analysis published in 2024, Seamus Flaherty cuts through the polarized rhetoric surrounding Israel's war in Gaza to examine hard truths that both sides must face. His historically grounded perspective offers fresh insights for those seeking to understand the intractable conflict.
Editor’s Choice: Notable Articles in 2024
Contributing editor Jonathan Church reflects on the most important essays the magazine published in 2024.
What Europeans Don’t Understand about Trump
Benedict Beckeld—a philosopher who has lived and taught on both sides of the Atlantic—attempts to explain through a blend of personal insights and politico-historical analysis what Europeans are ill-equipped to understand about the leader of their most important ally.
What Europe Can Learn from the American Election
Writing from Munich, Gerfried Ambrosch considers what Europeans should conclude from the rather decisive electoral victory of President Donald Trump.
Long Live the Queen: 1926-2022
Originally published shortly after Queen Elizabeth II's death, this meditation by Englishman Henry George explores how Britain's ancient crown transcends mere symbolism, revealing monarchy's power to unify and morally anchor a nation—insights that should resonate even for us across the Atlantic.
Blues Run the Game
Erich J. Prince reflects on the famous Jackson C. Frank song, the life of the songwriter, and the age-old question: What value is there in a change of scenery?
America’s Return to Industrial Policy
Should we actually want more government intervention in the economy? In this policy op-ed, Fasteau and Fletcher present a clear-eyed analysis of how strategic government support for manufacturing could restore American economic dominance while countering China's ambitions