Both Russia and Iran strongly identify with the past, and this is the go-to stance of terrorist groups like Hamas.

Yes, history is repeating. The historic recurrence or eternal return of things and events is due to unsolved deeper problems of the human nature or psyche. Some people might learn from some of their mistakes , but the historic record shows that humanity does not learn from its mistakes, Humanity does not learn from its past. There is no evidence that we know how.

'Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' (George Santayana).

Scientific modes of thought cannot be developed and become generally accepted unless people renounce their primary, unreflecting, and spontaneous attempt to understand all their experience in terms of its purpose and meaning for themselves. The development that led to more adequate knowledge and increasing control of nature was therefore, considered from one aspect, also a development toward greater self-control by men.

Norbert Elias

Conlusion: The materialist consumer society can provide no answer or solution to the improvement of the human condition, with respect to greater self-control,moral reflection and ethical engagement.

For a humanitarian transition away from our predatory psyche , two factors are needed. The first is a shift in the mode of production, which may be happening with the transition from the industrial age to the knowledge age. The second is a transformation of the level of consciousness through a spiritual leap forward.

History is always repeating itself, but each time the price goes up.

Will Durant

Yes, Stephen, no genuine reshaping.

One important similarity is the rise of oligarchs, a problem for both ancient Athens and Rome, and their movement towards politics. In fact the world is in danger from the oligarch-politician connection, whereby rich people become powerful politicians, like Trump, and to a lesser extent Musk. The latter is attempting to influence our thoughts/thinking in the Russian manner through twitter or whatever he now calls it. The iconic member of this group of course is Putin, whose political ambitions run alongside his financial ones and is now considered the richest man in the world-will the Russian empire as a consequence, as he siphons off the empire's riches, become the poorest imperial polity while its core of criminal businessmen and politicians become the richest?

Although this does not involve medievalism, in Ancient Rome oligarchs vied for rule and created mercenary armies in the manner of 1990s Russia and in the present.

Stephen,

Defining spiritual? There have been spiritual ages in the past but usually they have not, for example, been defined through religion or indeed politics but in defiance of both. You see the possibility of human improvement more sharply than I do as those who do well in society for themselves, Trump for example, not only see their world as the best possible end but the only possible end. Putin used brutality to obtain power and wealth and now rules a society that approves of brutality and connects it to toxic masculinity. Stephen, they can succeed!

You see liberality as necessary and the world moving inexorably towards that desired end, but this view may not be correct. Present evidence suggests it isn't.

It' seem to be taking on from where it was left post WWII.

Fatema,

Good to have you on here but once again I think I may upset you.

I realised that with the rise of religious belief there would be these problems years ago. Belief creates the conditions for autocracies. Monotheisms emphasise obedience and political conservatism, so here we are! When religions rise, political abuses naturally follow.

Stephen I. Ternyik

There has been some progress. The size of organizations within which there is not war has increased from tribe, to chiefdom, to states, to nations. Each step was accomplished by accepting more diversity in behavior and beliefs. The next step would be for a new world order.

Unfortunately, history has shown the route to the next step involves the internally caused collapse (before being conquered by outside forces) of the old order. The new order builds on the the old by seeing what was done wrong in the very beginning - hence re-organization.

So, yes, the collapse is happening. This time the humanism is causing a waste of resources which drains the vital essence of society. The next world order must not only be more tolerant of differences but also allow nature to take its course.

John,

Excellent diagnosis.

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.

Joseph Campbell

What Campbell recognized was that, as a constantly changing and evolving species, there was a need for synthesis, regardless of what our histories told. He also urged listeners not to look too far into history to understand who we are today, and more importantly, who we want to become. Evolution—social, psychological and spiritual—was always at the forefront of his lectures and books. As he said in those final moments of his life: It doesn’t help to try to change [an imposed system] to accord with your system of thought. The momentum of history behind it is too great for anything really significant to evolve from that kind of action. The thing to do is learn to live in your period of history as a human being. That’s something else, and it can be done.

Stephen impractical. Always fight the good fight and not be an observer.

Stanley Wilkin "Is the world returning to the Past?"

On the contrary it seems to be going "back to the future"! Please see the following report from NBC: 2h ago / 9:02 PM EDT

[Top New York U.N. official retires amid 'genocide' in Gaza

Christopher Cicchiello

The director of the United Nations' New York office of the high commissioner for human rights, who is retiring, said in a letter that the U.N. has failed to end a "text-book case of genocide" in the Gaza Strip.

Craig Mokhiber wrote that "the current wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people, rooted in an ethno-nationalist settler colonial ideology, in continuation of decades of their systematic persecution and purging, based entirely upon their status as Arabs, and coupled with explicit statements of intent by leaders in the Israeli government and military, leaves no room for doubt or debate."

Mokhiber's retirement goes into effect tomorrow, and a spokesman for the U.N. said there will be a recruitment process to fill the vacant post.

“Mr. Mokhiber informed the UN back in March 2023 of his upcoming retirement," it said in a statement. "The views in a letter made public today are his personal views."

Mokhiber condemned the U.S., the United Kingdom and much of Europe for allowing the "horrific assault" on Palestinians to continue and "giving political and diplomatic cover for Israel's atrocities."

Mokhiber began working for the U.N. in 1992 and lived in Gaza as a U.N. human rights adviser. He cited his experience with the campaigns against the Tutsis, the Yazidi and the Rohingya that informed his use of the word "genocide" to describe the situation in Gaza.

"High Commissioner, we are failing again," he wrote in his letter, addressed to the high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk.]

Abdul, you know I do not agree with Israel's inappropriate response to Hamas' gruesome onslaught, but you cannot point out one atrocity and not the other. Throughout this over the years since Hamas took control of Gaza, Hamas has attacked Israel, usually with small scale terrorist attempts or missiles. Israel has made disproportionate responses, for which it must be condemned.

Hamas are backed by Iran, a terrorist country which founded the religious terrorism that caused so much harm in the period from 1980. It is run by a kleptocratic elite. Hamas has backing probably by Russia. Another terrorist state. Surely, to stop all this, Hamas whose only political policy is the destruction of Israel, not to help the people of Gaza, should be dealt with. To point out Israel's perfidy without mentioning Hamas is not the way toward an answer.

Saudi Arabia and Israel were to meet and establish a peace treaty which could have included some resolution of this problem but would have left Hamas without purpose and money. Russia gains by this conflict. Iran, which funds Hamas. would have been marginalised. They needed and would have predicted Israel's response, a wrong response, and must be held equally responsible. If people genuinely want to stop this, they stop Hamas.

You do not mention Hamas. Why not? Honestly Abdul this happens every time and the one reason Israel is not stopped is because of Hamas. While they illegally run Gaza, it will continue. Stop Hamas, deal with Israel!

Stanley Wilkin :

In response, I would say the same thing as I said in your other forum:

[Stanley, If you want to draw an equivalence between a militarized state power armed to the teeth with state-of-art arsenals, supplied and supported by the self-seeking leaders of the "civilized" West on one hand, and a subjugated, dehumanized population confined and imprisoned in open-sky prisons only to facilitate indiscriminate bombing for decades, facing death at any instant with no hope for their future but only act in a prison revolt, on the other; then I have nothing more to say on this issue.

Regards,

Abdul]]

Also, please refer to the report in The Guardian by [Harriet Sherwood, which I posted there:

"A statement signed by more than 800 legal scholars, including experts in international law and Holocaust and genocide studies, has warned that Israel is at risk of committing genocide in Gaza."

Hamas is a recent phenomena and is a consequence of the much older phenomena, i.e., Israel!

Regards,

Abdul

P.S. We must agree that the "Top New York U.N. official Craig Mokhiber knows much more on this issue than anyone else; including us!

Stanley, a little more background of Gaza; from a press report:

22m ago

(11:20 GMT)

[Why are people in Gaza living in refugee camps?

Israeli air raids continue to target refugee camps in Gaza. But why are people living in refugee camps in Gaza?

Gaza was part of historic Palestine before the state of Israel was created in 1948 in a violent process of ethnic cleansing, expelling hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes.

It was captured by Egypt during the 1948 Arab-Israel War and remained under Egyptian control until 1967, when Israel seized the remaining Palestinian territories in a war with the neighbouring Arab countries.

More than 60 percent of Palestinians in Gaza are refugees, expelled from their homes in other parts of Palestine in 1948, in places such as Lydda (Lod) and Ramle, and now live just a few kilometres away from their original homes and towns.]

Stanley Wilkin :

Stanley, in contrast to the renaissance (or the enlightenment), our future humanity will look back at our (present) epoch under decadent and moribund monopoly capitalism as the epoch of blind and cruel ideology, without empathy ; ruled by selfish and crude group/class interest and the denial of objective and social truths. This is evident in political/social fields in the regions you identified in your introduction to this forum. The same is true in the realm of theoretical natural sciences and cosmology; as I have tried to show through my scientific works. Please see (at least) one articles shown in the following link.

"Quō Vādis Theoretical Physics and Cosmology? From Newton's Metaphysics to Einstein's Theology!": Article Quō Vādis Theoretical Physics and Cosmology? From Newton's M...

This is not an empty claim, but is slowly being recognized. Please see the following recent e-mail to me.

[Dear Abdul Malek,

In recognition of your scholarly achievements and contributions to the advancement of knowledge in your field, it is our pleasure to nominate you for Full Membership in Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society.

📷

As the world's largest interdisciplinary scientific honor society, Sigma Xi recognizes researchers for the values we hold in high esteem, including more than 200 Nobel Laureates. All joining together under a single Mission:

“To enhance the health of the research enterprise, foster integrity in science and engineering, and promote the public's understanding of science for the purpose of improving the human condition.”

Membership in Sigma Xi distinguishes you as an exceptional contributor to the research community and offers a myriad of opportunities to support your career.

Sigma Xi members enjoy access to programs and initiatives that recognize innovators, support interdisciplinary research, foster responsible conduct of research, train researchers in science communication, cultivate the next generation of researchers, and promote the public understanding of science.

For more information about the Society's leadership, members, programs, awards, and publications, we invite you to explore the 2021 Annual Report.

To accept your nomination, please complete the online nomination acceptance form, found here: sigmaxi.org/nom-accept-mal-long. If you have any questions about Sigma Xi, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to welcoming you as a companion in zealous research!

First Nominator:

Second Nominator:

📷

📷

Jamie L. Vernon, PhD

Executive Director and CEO

Sigma Xi member since 2013

Daniela G. Carlson

Manager of Membership and Chapters

Sigma Xi member since 2022]

Abdul

I cannot say if the report is accurate, nor can I deny it. From one standpoint it looks like a biased rendition. Not history.

Not sure the past gives anyone the right to massacre others. Children, young women, young men.

In the 12th century an army of Christians were decapitated one by one by Saladin's (his or another general associated with him) army who were trying to reclaim Jerusalem. Indians believe the British acted badly with regards to the mutiny and events in WW2. This fuels their growing extreme nationalism under Modi which involves the right to bully Muslims. Previous conquerors destroyed Indian cities and massacred hundreds of thousands. The Ottomans took over Constantinople and at some point the Greeks might claim it back.

Again, the past does not give anyone rights in the present. Do we need to live in a world of feuds? Christians massacred. Muslims massacred to create an empire. The USA destroyed huge numbers of indigenous peoples and in exactly the same way did Russia. The Americans stole huge tracts of Mexican land, who stole it from Navahos, and now put up fences to stop them getting back in. China still rules Tibet which China claims historically belongs to them, but as with Ukraine and Russia, it doesn't. Tibet once ruled over China.

The past is another country.

I do not agree with Israel. But the pogrom in Russia shows antisemitism is strong still. A few years ago, Jeremy Corbin lost an election and the leadership of the Labour party because of claims of antisemitism against the far left in the party, which he denied. I was in politics several years before then and many jews were leaving the Labour Party because of prejudice. They were coming to me to complain. That wasn't the only reason he lost. For all his intellectual demeanour he wasn't very bright.

My point about Hamas is that it is a terrorist organisation. A North African student once said to me: What are they doing there. They are doing no good. They just want to destroy Israel. If Gaza was allowed to exist normally they could have prosperity and decent lives.

The problem is Hamas. After that, the world!

Stanley Wilkin > "I cannot say if the report is accurate, nor can I deny it."

Stanley, I understand that you are just expressing your personal opinion! I have nothing more to say on this issue.

Abdul, I know something of this period but not enough. I cannot just accept what you say, as you would not just accept what I say. I will research it though and come back to you. I do not believe that Britain etc had the right to dispose of other's land, but done properly the Jewish efforts should have benefitted everyone.

You do know the Israeli's have their own version?

It's picked up back on from where it was left.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375096169_Palestine_Israel_solution

Fatema,

I followed through.

Stanley Wilkin > "I cannot say if the report is accurate, nor can I deny it."

Stanley, I hope you know it by now!!!

Abdel, I am very specific about my understanding of truth as uncertain, and therefore I keep to imprecision in my valuation of its nature.

Humanism is declining because humanism is in conflict with what nature demands - Survival of the fittest. When humanity's organizations fail, the adopt older (prior) organization forms. We have learned from the past, our larger organizations have become larger. We are failing to take the next step of creating a world order without war. So, nature is requiring us to go back and try again. But our current definition of humanism and the accompaning morals is what has failed. I suggest the next approach should involve considerable tolerance of others without recourse to violence.

Peace in the Mideast? The only demonstrated way is like the US did to the Indians. Let Israel have North Gaza and confine the Hamas to South reservation. Next treat Lebanon the same this time, and the west bank.

Who would you rather have as a ally - Hamas or Israel?

“The ones you put down

Will, tie you too, below;

The ones you left behind

Will, forever, be your shadow!”

Rabindranath Tagore (English translation, AM)

Stanley Wilkin : The USA destroyed huge numbers of indigenous peoples and in exactly the same way did Russia.

Which indigenous peoples were destroyed by Russia?

Igor,

While Russians put it across that the Russian Empire was acquired peacefully in fact it moved forward with incremental processes and numerous small often decimating wars. The Russian Empire process appears to be the conquest and containment of Eastern tribes and degrees of Russification, but in all cases many indigenous lives were lost.

We must nevertheless note the difference with North America becoming part of American identity and diseases destroying much of the indigenous population. Vast tracts of North America became empty and USA citizens moved in. In Russia the ideology effected was that of Empire followed by nationalist imperatives whereby holding land became imperative. But given the numbers involved, percentage wise both states destroyed the same number of groups and tribes. In the Russian empire enforced collectivism destroyed many Far Eastern ethnic economics and cultures.

Vast tracts of North America did NOT become empty. There was considerable war and killing of indigenous people. The tribal organization required the land per individual be large compared to farming organization. Some such as the Apache were starting the transition form hunter based to farming. It is true that the actual number killed is fighting was relatively small. But in the end, the ``disease'' that killed their society was starvation as a result of a deliberate attempt to vanquish the guerilla fighters. Indeed, the starvation method seems to be the only means to kill guerilla fighters.

Stanley,

Why have there never been reservations on the territory of the Russian Empire (if we do not talk about the pale of settlement for Jews)?

John,

I accept what you say but there had been hundreds of thousands of people living in large settlements when Old World diseases struck. The Mound Culture in central America was sophisticated and were in their millions. While the Iroquois were whittled away by British and Americans the Plains people (Cheyanne, Sioux etc) were new to the plains. There were far fewer when white immigrants arrived. Although the inhabitants in the West fought hard they could not defeat the Europeans coming into the land by the millions.

Europeans did not come to the North America of a century before the Pilgrims and if they had they may have been chased out by the huge cultures (by comparison) there earlier just like the Vikings. In Russia the ethnic groups there kept their integrity even though the Tsars sent soldiers to control them, but that had a lot to do with the size of the territories. As they were both enormous and often unproductive. There was gold in the Black Hills and then oil. But, many of the population now has European types. Cities were established in Siberia and populated by Russians, with the ethnic groups pushed into the hinterland to poverty. Effectively, racism.

Interestingly, after the Mongols were pushed out of Russian (Muscovy) land half the Muscovy population remained tartar. They had no rights but effectively a smallish European population ruled over a tartar one that helped produce Muscovy riches.

Igor,

See above.

My point about Muscovy after the Golden Horde was ejected was that it was a dual or mixed culture. The Tartars, who suffered under the Mongols more than the Russians as the latter co-operated and worked as Mongol tax collectors, were sophisticated and great wealth producers. I suggest its was a dual or mixed society, indeed the North East of Rus, Vladimir, was already ruled by mixed race princes, half European or Slav and half Kipchak or Volga Bulgar. For centuries the Vladimir Princes who founded Moscow married Kipchak wives.

Last on Russians and Siberians: the latter were made to work for the Russians. Russia seems always to have been an extraction economy, but the Plains Indians were not suitable for this process.

The disease reduction was effective primarily in the 1500s, 1600,. The American (ie the US) was in the 1800s. However, there is an interesting contrast between Spanish, English (US), and French (Canadian) expansion. The US approach was to replace the Indigenous peoples. In the early 1800s the `Mountain men" were mainly trappers whereas the French established trade and trading companies with indigenous tribes doing the trapping. The Spanish (Catholic) method was to enslave with the Barons being the leaders. The US system has shown the best at providing a powerful country. BTW part of the US system was the formation of the idea of private ownership (contrast with the Spanish system of kings and Barons). This innovation has as much to do with the method the US adopted (kill and replace the lesser performing tribe structure).

So, `returning to the past' means returning to the chiefdom or tribe structure of organization that includes the increase in inter-tribe warfare. This is playing out in the Mideast where the `tribes' are fighting the More advanced (technologically which follows from organization structure). The various methods of dealing with indigenous (tribal) peoples are proving again the US approach works most effectively.

interesting viewpoint, while your point about the disease model is interesting, it certainly disrupted indigenous peoples state development and is used to explain the fall of the Aztec and Inca Empires. Still, the gap until the appearance of Europeans is valid except of course they arrived in the 17th century.

Also, the indigenous peoples of North America played little part surely in the US economy? the general direction was to take their lands and use them with greater purpose. I'm sure you've read Benjamin Franklins autobiography where he talks about destroying indigenous cultures with alcohol for the above purpose. The link between puritanism and American business is secure!

Good points.

However much savagery, brutality, pogroms, genocides etc., happened in the past history, the human spirit ultimately prevailed, all along!

So, it is probably a sin to lose hope on humanity; specially in the context of the modernized West, which brought the greatest hope after the Copernican revolution. But as the on-going and live horror movie in Gaza unfolds, before the eyes of the whole world; and the "civilized" humans seem unable or unwilling to stop the dehumanization of fellow humans; it is increasingly difficult to keep that hope!. Gaza will be another stain in the conscience, particularly of Europe; which already carry such stains of past and recent history of contempt for humanity!

Abdul,

What about the stain of appalling Hamas crimes? Spare a thought for those? The young women killed, the old, the children. Remember, others will be remembering these too. This one way approach to such horror unless expressed equally will occur again.

While I am fully aware of the complexity of the issues such short sighted descriptions of these events shows hypocrisy and raises concerns. Others Abdul will be considering your writings in the same fashion. The poor young woman dragged half naked around Gaza and then killed.

Its not only Arabs who suffered.

Stanley, It is not a question of debate. It is a matter of the recognition of the historical developments in Europe and its consequences, (which you do not seem to consider), that led up to to these event! You unfortunately, try to evade the past history, which the United Nation's Secretary General stated so clearly, from the very start of this tragedy for humanity and unfortunately, more such tragedy may occur, unless the root of the problem is taken care of!!!

In any case I do not wish to make any further comment than what I already stated above.

Abdul,

it is your reasoning which is wrong not mine. the fact is you are using history to advance the destruction of Israel and clearly support Hamas. Nevertheless, these reasons are the very ones that stop the world from supporting your cause. Genocide and using the past to both confirm and create it. More tragedies will occur while Hamas is supported and a blind eye given to its atrocities. If you're ok with that than fine, but remember if you stick a knife in someone they are given the right to stick one in you. The past has only a minimum moral part to play in feuds.

Abdul i am aware of what Israel is doing but hey spare sympathy, even a single flutter of the eyes, towards the victims if Hamas otherwise many others will see only hypocrisy. They will see you as they see Hamas. That doesn't help your cause.

Stanley, So your logic is: "might is right" and it therefore justifies the creation of a new North America in the Middle East, in 21st century (at the behest of Europe), the way our friend John Hodge described the past history, above. So, what imprisoned and "barbaric" Hamas has done, must be outdone 1000 times over in a leisurely, methodical and premeditated way, on the innocent people, including newborns in hospitals. This must be done with the help of the most modern weapons of the "civilized" West; and particularly with the support of the single most powerful person (who could make a difference), but was devoid of the minimum sensibility for humanity; just because he wants to be re-elected as the "most powerful" person. All these, against the outcry of the Chief of the UN (and its many organs) and the overwhelming majority of the people of the world!

Sorry, I have nothing to do with this "logic", and will not make any more comment or response. Thanks.

Abdul

You cannot glean 'might is right' from my words but instead 'take responsibility'. The massacres by Hamas were dreadful. Revolting. Criminal. Israel's reprisal is not acceptable. Dreadful. Unnecessary. But it is reprisal! You do not kill, unless there is no other choice. Rape women (Hamas) kill children. Although I and you know that Israel would not attack Gaza if Hamas did not engage in terrorist acts, Israel has done and does other things. That should be focused on and dealt with in a correct fashion. If Israel attacks, you have the right of defence as does Israel if it is attacked. Did you know that Iran probably kills more Muslims then Israel and certainly causes more harm. (I understand the issue of Palestinians in Israel and their possible mistreatment but find a better way. Use laws! Use outside law provision.)

Not killing entire Jewish families.

There is a history behind this but not yours (not entirely). That history includes the Jerusalem Mullah actively siding with Hitler. That includes the present extreme right wing Israeli government with its fanatical religious contingent wanting itself to reclaim a past that never truly existed. The use of religion to implement killing! On all sides. Anyway, ownership of land is an iffy matter. Arabs in its colonialist drive out of Arabia took it by force from Byzantines who took it by force from others. The Angles took much of Britain from the British, whose genes remain, as Byzantine genes remain in Palestine.

Hamas wants to destroy Israel. Genocide. You give me every reason to believe that your thinking leads that way too. Lets call time on all this daft thinking, usually inspired by religion. Do not forget, the possibility of Palestinians being used by Russia is high. Not proven, but high.

I came across a viewpoint which is close to one I've developed, that is linking Putin's Russia to the distant past. The other writer placed Putin's Russia within tribally based religious groups. My contention is it is close to radical Islam where violence is consecrated and the interpretation of Islam is a reversal to medieval periods, especially the use of language. In effect, Iran and Russia, as can be seen by their closer association, have much in common.

Dear Stanley Wilkin, I think history is a bit like Tango. Tango is a dance based on improvisation (in history seize the opportunity). In tango, a few simple rules define the limits of improvisation: the leader (regardless of how he achieved power) leads, and the follower (the people, the masses) follows. Generally, 8 steps are taken: one or two backward, two or four to the side (right and left), and three or four forwards to always advance along a straight or curved strip to follow the edge of the dance floor and leave the other couples space for their dance journey. On a dance floor frequented by many dancers, space is inevitably limited and, since tango is improvisation, it is not easily predictable how individual couples will interpret the music they are listening to. Since the leader (who guides the couple) cannot see what is happening behind him, he must avoid taking steps against the flow, that is, in a direction contrary to the direction of the dance, or rather, any steps backward should be taken possibly towards the center of the floor and/or in the dance direction. Usually, more experienced dancers should occupy the outermost part of the floor, which theoretically allows for greater speed. In reality, it is not uncommon to see dancers, whether expert or not, who are exclusively concerned with "their tango", rather than the harmony of the dance floor, perhaps because they are "too enraptured or even possessed (in history there is certainly no shortage of leaders possessed, pompous and full of themselves)” by the emotion created by the music they listen to at that moment. Finally, in tango shows, generally in the theatre, the dancers can perform in the style called "Tango Fantasia" characterized by choreographic figures and steps with a strong scenic effect (as today's political leaders often do with their amazing promises of good governance), generally deriving from classical and contemporary dance and adapted to the Argentine Classical Tango.

History is thus one step backward, two sideways, and three steps forward. Unfortunately, in the last quarter of a century the world seems increasingly dominated: by selfishness (Americans first, Italians first, etc., etc. etc.), by populism (many leaders of many countries say what the people want being told, speaking to bellies rather than minds, promising amazing recipes against taxes, poverty, immigration, etc., etc.,). The anachronistic concept of nation and nationalism (driving force of all wars), which seemed dead and buried also thanks to globalization (cultural, scientific, economic, etc.) is increasingly widespread not only in Russia, the Middle East, and in the USA but also, with different nuances, in some South American and European countries. Unfortunately, for several decades now, in too many countries those who are rich are becoming richer and those who are poor are becoming poorer. Too many people die in deserts and seas in a desperate attempt to emigrate, in search of a better and dignified life, towards richer and more advanced countries. None of the governments of the richest and most advanced countries realize that it is necessary to "tear down walls and build bridges" as Pope Francis says, taking up a famous phrase coined by Giorgio La Pira (1904-1977; Italian politician and jurist) in a letter of 1970 to Paul VI (Unifying the world: here is the - unique - problem of today: unifying it by building bridges everywhere and tearing down walls everywhere...). The Marshall Plan which significantly contributed to the reconstruction of Western Europe by establishing peace between winners and losers seems to be a rather unique example in the history of the world, let's hope it doesn't remain so.

There is a tendency to see repetition within human beings rather than external factors although there is ammo in seeing that there are only a few possible models.

Elsewhere I have noted that in reality Russia has not changed in 800 years and the attempt to change it in the 1990s merely caused a reaction back to sacral leadership.

Trump's language seems constantly the language of a mythical past.

Dear Stanley Wilkin, populists leverage fears (fear of the different, both from a cultural and religious point of view and a purely physical point of view, fear of the unknown, fear of the future, etc., etc.) and ignorance (the lack of knowledge and familiarity with history, the role of institutions, social equity including equal rights and duties between men and women, inalienable human rights, etc., etc.). Socrates, considered the father of ethics, was condemned to death by the judges, following the people's vote, because he taught young people to think for themselves in the search for truth. Socrates taught "maieutics" to "bring out" absolutely personal thoughts to the student, as opposed to those who wanted to impose their views on others with rhetoric and the art of persuasion of which many politicians and rulers of then and today are masters and great interpreters. Perhaps, for all these reasons or many of these reasons, Trump manages to make a large number of Americans, but not the majority of Americans, think like him.

Dictators, totalitarian regimes, and "democrature" (falsely democratic dictatorships) make the people think with the head of the leader generally with force, propaganda, and more or less forced persuasion. Fortunately, Trump cannot use force. I love Russia very much. I like Russia so much that I would like at least 4 of them by the end of the century. All the conditions seem to be there since there will be 4 or 5 hegemonic powers by the end of the century. USA, China, India, EU (if it manages to complete political unification) and/or the UK (if it does not rejoin the EU, which I hope for, and will constitute a new economic-financial power with its former colonies and /or allies). The easternmost part in the Japanese-American economic-financial sphere of influence, the central-eastern part in the Chinese sphere of influence, the central-western part in the Indian sphere of influence, and the part west of the Urals will become part of the EU together with Belarus, Ukraine and the Caucasian republics. For the Middle East, Africa, the Australian archipelago, and South America... we'll see. Because the geopolitical structure of the world has been, is, and will be increasingly determined by economics and finance. Because the use of force and weapons cannot subjugate anyone and in the long term can lead to the end of life in the world.

Leonardo "...I love Russia very much. I like Russia so much that I would like at least 4 of them by the end of the century..." May I ask why you love a country ruled by a bloodthirsty maniac who commits genocide of a neighboring nation with the support of 85% of Russians? And why do you want to multiply the Russian model of fascism to other countries? (read the definition of fascism and compare it with modern Russia). What is positive about it?

Dear Vladyslav Honcharenko, for a country to join the EU it must be a "Democracy" and must respect "fundamental human rights" (Dignity, Freedom, Equality, Solidarity, Citizenship, Justice; see: https:// eur-lex.europa.eu/browse/summaries.html). Philip of Macedon (date of birth unknown - death 602 BC) and then above all the Romans loved to say "Divide et impera" (divide and command), in antithesis to the saying "unity is strength". Therefore, 4 Russias are much better than one.

Leonardo, instead of answering my specific questions, you wrote me some abstract hints, and phrases. Do you think that human rights are not respected in Ukraine?

Dear Vladyslav Honcharenko, absolutely not, Ukraine is already democratic and once the war is over it will be increasingly so. I was talking about Russia because, in my opinion, sooner or later the part of current Russia from the Urals to Ukraine, Finland, Belarus, and the Caucasian Republics will become part of the EU provided that it has a democratically elected government and that respects the fundamental human rights, that is, on condition that it becomes a true democracy like all the other EU countries, including Ukraine. Sooner or later the same fate will befall Belarus. The other three pieces of current Russia: will certainly be democratic, the part that will be in the sphere of economic-financial influence of Japan and the USA; the part that will fall within the Chinese sphere of influence is governed by a pro-Chinese government; perhaps even the part that will go into the Indian sphere of influence will be a democracy in the Western sense of the term.

Leonardo,

Hope you are right!

Germany says Russia has intensified disinformation against Ukraine in Europe - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/04/1/7449149/

Deportations and repressions: How Russia conducts ethnic cleansing of Ukrainians in occupied territories - https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/analytics/deportations-and-repressions-how-russia-conducts-1712129914.html

With Russia its as much a 'staying the same' as returning to a distant past. Nevertheless, what Putin has done is hack away at evidences of the modern

world in his creation of a self-serving autocracy.

I will state that the first claims for medievalism, a return to the past, was directed at Putin's Russia and Stalin's empire.

Biden speaks after Senate passes aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and TikTok bill — 4/24/2024 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdCLMzxeG5w

Yes, I agree with Prof Stephen I. Ternyik that history repeats itself.

Sad, but there it is.

Okay, but I am not sure what the word "tropes" means in this question. Tropes could mean metaphors, could mean arrangements of narratives. could be metonymy, could be archetypes. What is this question asking?

YouTube

Taras Kuzio is an important historian Ukranian born British academic.

Worth looking at as he recounts the Russian Church's role in Russian crimes.

Taras Kuzio - Russia’s Orthodox Church is Complicit in Crimes of Genocide, Abduction and Persecution

📷

Silicon Curtain

The authoritarian rule of the economics of drugs (opium) has been with us for over eight thousand years

This "iron fist in a velvet glove"is the "ancient regime", operates 24/7

Re: Feudalism as Medieval tropes...

Yanis Varofakis is currently touring with about Technofeudalism - his theory that in 2024, the global neoliberal capitalist system has been replaced by a polarized technofeudal economic system.

Good interview: https://youtu.be/w6H6tvVuGgo?si=0ztT75JFIkD_r4Q1

Terry,

Such a view is widely held but it largely references Russia, on which much work has been done in this area, and in fact where the idea emanated from. But for me the first change was in Iran with the late 1970s change to a theocracy, which then seems to have had some hand in ISIS. (Maybe). These are all backward looking states or organisations.

A harsh response to the aggressor... Only force can stop an aggressor... Concessions only stimulate the aggressor... Leaders of Europe are beginning to understand how to prevent a third world war. This is a very in-depth analytical article on Foreign Affairs - A taboo has been broken in Europe. Only a few months ago, it would have been inconceivable for European leaders to propose sending European troops to Ukraine. But on February 26, French President Emmanuel Macron said the deployment of European forces to Ukraine could not be “ruled out.” Since then, other European officials have joined the chorus; the Finnish defense minister and Polish foreign minister have both suggested that their countries’ forces could end up in Ukraine. These comments, combined with existing support for such measures in the Baltic states, show that there is a growing bloc of countries open to...

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/europe-not-nato-should-send-troops-ukraine

A friend of Berlusconi told how Putin gave the ex-prime minister of Italy the heart of a killed roe deer - https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/politica/24_maggio_05/fabrizio-cicchitto-intervista-3e395915-d24a-475f-a364-5ce6ac85axlk.shtml?refresh_ce

Leonardo Cannizzaro

There is reality to your selection, and, in time, possibility but India I think should be excluded as it too is turning towards fascism under Modi, with the latter using some of Putin's techniques to increase his power.

India may gain local influence but it may be a bad influence.

I consider Ukraine's recovery as essential for the health of the region as it will drive the political future. Democratic? Yes. But also one watching Russia like a hungry hawk.

The war between Ukraine and Russia will be remembered as one nation fought for its freedom, and the other for its slavery.

Dear Stanley Wilkin, one of the reasons, perhaps the main one, why the UK did not oppose and, possibly, favored the birth of Pakistan was because it did not trust India, which was considered too oriented towards the USSR at the time. Both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. Economists predict that in 2075 the largest economies in the world will be: 1st China, 2nd India, 3rd USA, 4th the EU if it manage to establish political unity, and if the UK rejoins the EU as I hope. Russia today in 11th place in the ranking of the largest economies in the world will count less and less. I agree that Modi's policies seem to distance India from Democracy as conceived in the West increasingly. We can only hope that Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party loses the elections currently underway, which will end at the beginning of June, perhaps to Sonia Ghandi's Indian National Congress (even if the current president of the party is now Kharge). However, it seems that Modi will also win this election even though he has lost all local elections since 2021 due to his terrible management of the pandemic. In any case, in the 2070s the, aforementioned, 4 powers will decide world geopolitics, hopefully peacefully.

Dear Leonardo. Your forecast for the year 2075 is probable only in one case - If Ukraine, with the support of the West, defends its independence from Russia and becomes a member of the EU and NATO. Because Ukraine is an outpost of Europe against the eastern horde and if Ukraine falls, Putin will go further to Europe. And this is the beginning of the third world war. Then the fourth world war will be stones and sticks much later than 2075.

Dear Vladyslav Honcharenko, Ukraine's current "difficulty" has been mainly determined by the failure of the USA to send "aid" for reasons of American "internal politics" (election campaign). Perhaps, Russia has more "difficulties" than it appears, since its energy industries are forced to sell their products (oil and gas) practically below cost. Much will depend on who wins the elections in the USA and, to a lesser extent, on the war's progress in the Middle East. The economic growth of China and India is unstoppable and increasingly faster as long as they do not lose the rich markets of the West. Therefore, the relations between China and India on the one hand and the EU, UK, Canada, and the USA on the other must continue to be strong and improve more and more.

On the other hand, China demands and claims its "territorial integrity" and therefore cannot contradict itself by stating that Russia has the right to invade Ukraine. The EU is open and happy to welcome all democratic countries from Europe and perhaps also from other continents.

Currently, the following have applied to join the EU: North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Turkey. Ukraine will enjoy a "privileged" path and will immediately join the EU once the war is over.

101 years ago, the Bolsheviks from Moscow launched a policy of “Ukrainization” to strengthen their power in Ukraine. And when it began to threaten the regime, its supporters were sent to camps and shot - https://babel.ua/en/texts/58047-101-years-ago-the-bolsheviks-from-moscow-launched-a-policy-of-ukrainization-to-strengthen-their-power-in-ukraine-and-when-it-began-to-threaten-the-regime-its-supporters-were-sent-to-camps-and-shot

Our willingness to help others is governed by a specific brain region pinpointed by researchers in a study of patients with brain damage to that region. Learning about where in the brain "helping" decisions are made is important for understanding how people might be motivated to tackle large global challenges, such as climate change, infectious disease and international conflict. It is also essential for finding new approaches to treating disorders of social interactions... - https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05-brain-reveals.html