In my latest op-ed, published on May 22, 2016 in the Wall Street Journal, I talk about how insular politics can negatively impact trade and the economy, both through the lens of ancient Greek demagogues as well as the current state of affairs leading up the American Presidential Election later this year. Scroll down to read the full article. …
North Korean Missiles and Greek Spears
Barry looks at the recent failed missile tests by North Korea and deepens our understanding of them by an ancient Greek case study.
From Perpetual Peace to Armed Camp in the Baltic
Könisberg, Germany, where Kant dreamed of perpetual peace, is now Kaliningrad, Russia, where a major military and naval buildup is shaking the security of the Baltic — and of NATO. Barry explains how and why.
Uneasy Allies: America, Turkey and the Kurds
Is it true that nations have no allies or enemies but only interests? Recent US-Turkish relations remind Barry of that statement by Lord Palmerston, and they bring him back, as usual, to lessons from Greece and Rome.
Maskirovka and the Greeks
As Russian jets buzz an American ship and plane during NATO maneuvers in the Baltic Sea, Barry puts it into historical perspective. See his latest post on the Hoover Institution’s Military History in the News.
Happy Ides of March!
Today is a great day…except if your name is Julius Caesar! To commemorate the Ides of March, there have been many notable postings on the Internet highlighting The Death of Caesar: The Wall Street Journal has published an excellent op-ed of mine discussing the leadership failures on March 15th, 44BC (reading the article may require a subscription so stay tuned …
Something Special for the Ides Tomorrow…
Friends, Romans, Countrymen! Something very special will be made available for you tomorrow on the Ides of March… On Sunday, March 13th, Barry was interviewed by Fareed Zakaria on Fareed Zakaria GPS (a CNN program) discussing The Death of Caesar and how the life of Julius Caesar related to the 2016 American Election. This will made available for the public …
Caesar’s Last Hurrah
On March 14, 44 B.C., the day before the Ides of March, Caesar went to the dinner party from hell. The scene was the Roman house of his friend Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Caesar brought with him another friend, Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus. Lepidus was a glorified errand boy for the dictator but he was a loyalist and Caesar had …
The Great Santini
The weekend brought the sad news of the passing of novelist Pat Conroy at age 70. I mourn him and send condolences to his family. His books bordered on bathos but also on poetry. I love them. They evoke a sumptuous sense of place in South Carolina. And, from the moment I first read them, they spoke to me, as …
March is for Leaders
In the ancient world the waters of March ran red with blood. The month of spring was also the month of war. It was the traditional kick-off of the military season, when legions marched and navies sailed. No wonder Julius Caesar planned to start a vast military campaign in the east during March 44 B.C. The Romans knew what …