J > Recent Status Updates

The writing and pacing isn't the best, but I am appreciating the greater level of detail.

There is really some great analysis here and striking forecasts, but obviously some problematic rhetoric given his perspective and interests, and the past 30 years have not made the case for his thesis stronger overall, based on some of his mispredictions. He is at least surprisingly frank about the excesses and hubris of many Western leaders.

Found it very funny that the first example Huntington gives of his theory in comparison with the 'deficient' realist model is rejecting Mearsheimer's prediction of a Russia Ukraine war, instead saying Ukraine is more at risk of splitting east and west. Of course, Ukraine's internal divisions have been a factor, but the greater bonding of the Russian and Ukrainian peoples has not proven as forthcoming.

Great chapters on Sahel and Ethiopia. I thought he would not predict the major Russian move into the AES but he mentioned its possibility. Very interested for the Spain chapter.

Greece and Turkey chapters were great, the history sections were more concise, but some funny pronunciations of Selyuk and Rohava. Great idea to include the Sahel

I still tire of the lengthy pre-20th century history sections - pls try to be less stereotypical, flippant and witty and more accurate if you are going to bother.

P.S. forgot to mention previously how he kept calling Sayyid Qutb "Kupt" in the previous chapters.

كام هيكون كره ان تسميه قبطي يا باشا

hoped to finish notes on the WW1 chapters but my MIPP pen already ran outtt

bro's complaining that people protested American atrocities in Vietnam and didn't engage in high-level strategic debate instead

I would prefer more contemporary history and less of the sweeping summary generalisations but I understand their importance for context. Marshall is obviously a veteran journalist and not an academic and thinks he's quite witty, which he can be. Certainly enjoying it mostly.

Arthashastra stuff was good, as in The Secret World but found India chapter underwhelming. Chapters 1, 2 and 4 remain the most interesting. 3 is good too if more complicated

methinks I'll have to get started on my other books anyway if I'm too finish any of the prereading in the next 9 weeks

slow going