Behind the Times

Distortions and Omissions

Chinese history is dominated by a nationalist interpretation that owes much to British ideas of the 19th and early 20th centuries. 

Body and Mind

Are we adequately prepared for the toll this pandemic will take on mental health? 

Colonial Mentalities

A culture war on race and empire divided the intellectual classes of Victorian Britain.

Who’s Afraid of the Stasi?

The sinister reach of East Germany’s Ministry for State Security did not end in 1989. According to the British press, the Stasi is still with us.

Pandemics: Now and Then

As human populations expand and their exploitation of the globe increases, so does their vulnerability to certain diseases.

Disraeli or Churchill?

Boris Johnson is facing a national crisis like few other prime ministers. Which of his predecessors will he draw comparisons with?

The State of Myanmar

Myanmar’s colonial legacy includes racial hierarchies and authoritarian government. In the new nation state, not everyone is welcome.

Escape to Mexico

Filmmakers, revolutionaries, Iranian shahs – Mexico has a long history of providing political asylum.