Over at Commentator I gallop through some of the issues arising from the splitting-up of countries, drawing on the examples of the collapse of the USSR and SFRY, and seeing how far they apply to Scotland. The division of Czechoslovakia into two units might well be more relevant, as a commenter fairly […]
Here’s my latest LSE book review, on a new book by Charlie Beckett with James Ball describing the rise and fall of Wikileaks: One of the key advantages of WikiLeaks as seen by its avowedly radical ‘hacktivist’ creators led (loosely speaking) by Julian Assange is that it subverts all existing […]
My piece over at Telegraph Blogs about language teaching and learning in UK schools has attracted 226 comments so far. First, an apology to Will Hutton. My piece said that Hutton’s Guardian article on this subject did not make clear that learning languages is hard work. Openmind2010 points out that […]
Here’s the link to the next UK Speechwriters’ Guild conference, in London on 23 Feb. The theme is Make it Stick: Techniques for Leaders to Get Their Message Across. An excellent line-up of speakers/presenters, not least a cameo appearance by myself, and a disgracefully good bargain at £249 for the […]
Long time no write. Somewhere between Writer’s Block and despair at the surging stupidity seen in all directions. Plus nursing my aching ankle and visiting Liechtenstein on a new ADRg Ambassadors training expedition. The roleplays in Liechtenstein included a couple of exercises where chairing a meeting was part of the […]
That story about my having contributed to the energetic Berlin Speech by Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski has reappeared, this time in a piece by Krzysztof Szczerski MP, a member of the Polish opposition. It’s in Polish. But the opening passage caught my beady eye. In it Mr Szczerski notes the […]
My latest book review for LSE books was sent in the other day. A review of a compilation of blog writings by successful ex-blogger and junior Minister (under Labour) Tom Harris MP. Here’s the review. I was none too charitable, alas. The whole thing looked like a rather poor rushed […]
A reader kindly points me in the direction of a blog written by Denis MacEoin which aims to portray Israel in a fair (and therefore favourable) light. Not least in this powerful letter he has sent to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, which offers the worthy prelate some food […]
Part of the problem facing the Eurozoners as they struggle to convince global markets that all is under control so DON’T PANIC is identifying what exactly is the issue which needs solving. After all, they might make a bad situation worse by misdiagnosing what needs to be done. Views on […]
A reader sent me this email message on New Year’s Eve: I just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed reading your sane and authoritative commentaries over the last year. "Spark of hope" indeed! More power to you! What a kind thought. Sane. Authoritative. Hopeful. Powerful. Yup – that’s this website! […]
