Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
"Here is a not entirely frivolous suggestion: How about skipping the political science textbooks when it comes to trying to understand the former Soviet Union and instead opening up the pages of Gogol, Chekhov, and Dostoyevsky?"
Mongolia exploits huge coal and copper reserves in Gobi desert. Good for GDP, bad for environment. 2,000 trucks a day ship coal to China. Copper mine needs 920 litres of water per second. "There's not a lot of water in the Gobi"
China's growing influence in Central Asia worries Russia. Vladimir Putin's call for a new Eurasian Union, tying ex-Soviet states to Russia, should be seen as a defensive move against China, not against the European Union
"The computer you are using to read this article is already involved in a global war." The war for minerals. Lithium, niobium and other rare earth minerals are at centre of a new "Great Game". One in which China is taking the lead
In this case, about fall of Soviet Union. Politically, economically, was in pretty good shape in the 1980s. Even with hindsight, can't say failure was inevitable. Hidden factor: Power of ideas. People started to think out loud
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has struck up a partnership - and friendship - with Donald Trump. Piece recounts a dinner in New York between the Trump and Georgian delegations. Written like a scene from a Kubrick film
Think-tanker ranks Russian non-intervention in Kyrgyzstan rebellion as main foreign-policy event of past year—evidence of waning imperialism
Why neighbours won't help Kyrgyzstan. Russia prefers weak government there, easier to dominate. Central Asian states use rioting as argument that democracy creates instability
Follow-the-money investigative journalism. Despite headline, mainly about Kyrgyzstan. Makes persuasive case that rulers in central Asia are bought off with contracts to supply fuel to US bases
Clear, crisp, concise paper on cause and effects of Kyrgyz uprising. Competition for use of Manas airbase led America to support corrupt Kyrgyz dictator, while embittered Russia backed opposition
Essential political background to Kyrgyz rebellion. Bakiyev double-crossed Russia over Manas airbase, further outraged Putin by stealing Russian aid, so Russia destabilised Bakiyev with propaganda, tariffs
That's what the piece is called, that's what you get. Entertaining account of misrule, corruption in Central Asia's most "insubordinate, rebellious, and mutinous nation". And a picture of sheep's entrails
