It basically comes down to hiking vs waltzing — When asked by a journalist why he prefers the Berlin Philharmonic over the Vienna Philharmonic — Conductor Herbert Von Karajan said this: “If I tell the Berliners to step forward, they do it. If I tell the Viennese to step forward, they do it, but then they ask why.” Suspicion…

What a tragic fate for a community, a country, for everyone — During one of my lectures, professor of sociology — Kristina Stöckl — gave insight into the situation of Russian scientists before and after the Russian attack on Ukraine, based on her experience and research. Russia’s attack on Ukraine which began on February 24th, 2022, changed everything for researchers with a…

A people in denial — The brutalized society of Russia is silent. There is indifference and despair. Many endure the unbearable by simply not admitting anything is wrong. This mood moment in Moscow was made possible through stories from acquaintances and fellow students I asked at university who have friends in Russia. They've kindly shared…

Ethnic minorities see themselves much closer to mainstream society than previously thought — A young man shoots ten Black people dead while filming himself, fueled by the delusional notion of white supremacy and the delusion of a “great exchange” of the population. The horror of the Buffalo bloodbath — just over a month ago — united Americans. When the South Korean pop band…

Russia is a military power but lacks the soft power for the status it so craves — In a guest lecture at my uni, political scientist and Russia expert Gerhard Mangott spoke about how he sees Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as a strategic mistake at the expense of its own people. My notes and my takeaway. Russia is only a regional power, said US President…

Where’s the new Howard Baker? The January 6th Insurrection and the same old nothing on stricter gun laws — The hearings on the storming of the Capitol will tell a story so dramatic, so explosive, that it would raise the roof of the US House of Representatives. So said Jamin Ben Raskin, an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. …

There’s a dispute over the style of clothing worn by young girls at school — The discussion in Italy I think it’s safe to say, is representative of similar discussions around the world. Me, I’m based in Austria so I know there are similar discussions. So, how light and summery can an outfit be at school? …

What a career diplomat thinks — Last week, I was lucky enough to listen to Masha Gessen’s talk and wrote about it here — This Is The Final Chapter Of The Russian Empire. Today at uni, in our history lecture, we had a visit from the Ex-German ambassador to Russia. His take on Russia, Putin, and…

A right-wing minority prevails — not only in regards to gun laws — The answer, as horrifying as it sounds, is this: Maintaining white supremacy. A minority, a white, conservative to far-right minority, wants to turn back the clock. To maintain white supremacy in the ethnic-sociologically changing USA. …