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Trump

The permanence and possibility of the crisis

PHILOSOPHY: Agamben's sketches for a theory of civil war are thus perhaps also a contribution to a new theory of revolution. Revolution beyond politics. Where the revolution is finally thought beyond any notion of a state and standing upright like a soldier who salutes. MODERN TIMES has chosen to print the afterword to Agamben's book about the civil war.
Mikkel Bolt -

A thorough breach of the norms

Karen J. Greenberg: Subtle Tools. The Dismantling of American Democracy from the War on Terror to Donald Trump

USA: Donald Trump broke down established norms and led democracy astray, but he would never have reached this far, if the groundwork had not been laid by others – this new tradition of imprecise wording, secrecy and dodgy methods.
Hans Henrik Fafner -

The new right wing's historical development and network

Mathias Hee Pedersen: Fascists in sheep's clothing? The identitarian movement, the New Right and right-wing radicalism in the 21st century

Fascism: In his extensive studies, Hee Pedersen has mapped the political currents of the right wing with a focus on ethnicity and brought them into a historical context
Niels Johan Juhl-Nielsen -

In the direction of the totalitarian

Timothy Snyder, illustrator Nora Krug, translates John Grande: About tyranny: Twenty things we can learn from the twentieth century

PRE-FASCISM: Timothy Snyder's little textbook on tyranny – written for society "between Hitler and Stalin" – lies between patriotic obedience and political disobedience. The book is still current.
Marianne Solberg -

Late fascism is here

CAPITALISM: The West's "thin" fascism, which Bolt analyzes, is there especially because there is currently nothing else. Which does not rule out that it will one day grow as "thick" as Russian and Chinese fascism.
Carsten Juhl -

The war in Ukraine – what is the role of the United States?

USA / RUSSIA: It was a sad day for the world, but Russia's shocking military action should not stop us from looking at the role of the United States in the situation that has arisen.
FREDRIK S. HEFFERMEHL -

A contemporary diagnosis – without the ability to criticize?

Foster's thing: What Comes after Farce: Art and Criticism at a Time of Debacle

ART: Is there no longer anything to reveal or distort?
Mikkel Bolt -

Rethinking democracy

David Stasavage, John G. Matsusaka: The Decline and Rise of Democracy. A Global History from Antiquity to Today, Let the People Rule. How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge

Democracy: The Greeks do not have the patent on the idea of ​​«democracy». And are referendums a necessity to get democracy back on track?
Hans Henrik Fafner -

"Dealing with illiberal states is a chronic problem"

John Ikenberry: Power, Order and Change – in World Politics

USA: We talk to John Ikenberry about «after victory moments». Is there any real incentive for the powerful state to spend money to rebuild and foster a better order? The liberal international vision is not globalism, it is intergovernmentalism.
Hans Henrik Fafner -

Putin's swamp

Luke Harding: Shadow state. Murder, Mayhem, and Russia's Remaking of the West

RUSSIA: This is a type of crime that has merged with political misrule up to a level where democracies are threatened in their foundations.
Ranveig Eckhoff -

People in the small towns

USA: What were Trump's chances of re-election in November? Extensive fieldwork provides useful insights into the segment commonly perceived as his core voters.
Hans Henrik Fafner -

The dissatisfaction, the frustration, the inconsolability, the hopelessness and the mistrust

Aspen Hammer: USA. A superpower in crisis

POLICY:: In the USA, the annual value of lobbying activities is estimated at well over NOK 40 billion.
Christian Borch -
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Full 100-page MODERN TIMES including the appendix Orientering and Modern Times Review comes out quarterly in early March, June, September and December) with international book reviews (non-fiction) and comments / essays. According to the physical newspaper (and PDF), the articles are published regularly online (see the newsletters).

© MODERN TIMES & Orientering AS. PO Box 3113 Elisenberg, 0207 Oslo. Chief editor: Truls Lie

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