Behind the Times

Body and Mind

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

Abolition and the Victorian Culture War

The abolition of slavery in the 19th century was only the beginning of a culture war on race and empire that divided the intellectual classes of Jamaica and 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.