Behind the Times

Sri Lanka’s historic ethnic divisions were forged during British colonisation and a bloody civil war. Could the current crisis help unify a divided country? 

Puerto Rico’s future might be statehood, independence or more of the status quo, but change is unlikely to be won through voting alone. 

Hong Kong’s ‘one country, two systems’ policy was boldly pragmatic, but it was not the first time such an idea had been tried – nor the first time that it failed.

The term ‘Viking’ as it is commonly used is misleading, warping our perception of the Middle Ages. It should be retired.

Class interest and ostentatious generosity are the hallmarks of elite charity. So, too, is a fixation with posterity. 

The UK Parliament was not designed for women with children and this continues to present challenges for new parents. How far have things changed? 

Since it became its first imperial possession in the 18th century, Russia has denied Ukraine’s national existence, while seeing it as an exotic threat.

Barbados’ decision to remove Queen Elizabeth II as head of state was inevitable. Why did it take so long?

Britain has been a high inequality, high poverty nation for most of the last 200 years. 

Recent restrictions on the right to abortion in the United States imitate policies enacted 150 years ago.