Hereditary dynasties could not survive the industrial revolution. Well, except for one
Last week’s column drew from British historian Dominic Lieven’s current book about emperors and empires. Called In the Shadow of the Gods, it’s an exploration of the characteristics that contributed to dynastic success or failure. Lieven’s penultimate chapter deals with the challenges modernity posed to hereditary dynasties. As the environment changed rapidly, the crowns adorning…
Being recognized as divinely anointed didn’t guarantee acquiescence, but it was still a huge asset
Dominic Lieven is a British historian who has written extensively on European, particularly Russian, history. His latest book, In the Shadow of the Gods, is about emperors and empires. It examines their historical scope and the characteristics that contributed to dynastic success or failure. At over 400 densely written pages (excluding notes), the book is…
Energy security is back on the global agenda. Not long ago, energy security was almost taken for granted by all. With the emergence of new energy frontiers over the last decade and a half – including shale oil and gas and the growing emphasis on renewables in the Americas – it was felt that energy…
Already a steady supplier and can grow significantly if major projects get the go-ahead
Europe needs new suppliers to get off Russian oil and maintain energy security in the long term. Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil industry is already a steady supplier and can grow significantly if major projects get the go-ahead. “We have the potential certainly to be producing more,” says Paul Barnes, Atlantic Canada and Arctic director…
It won’t be easy because Canada lacks the infrastructure to ship oil or gas to Europe directly
With serious endeavours to reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies underway, global energy markets are faced with a real challenge: where will the oil come from to fill the emerging supply shortfall? As part of their efforts to punish Russia for its Ukraine misadventure, Western countries are trying to cut off their dependence on Russian…
Access to stable and affordable energy from Canada is important to the Free World
Canada’s chattering classes – often more accustomed to playing the ineffectual dovish role – are rushing to prove their outrage over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demonstrate their resolve to make Russian President Vladimir Putin pay. However, these are often the same people who opposed Canadian gas pipelines, which could help fellow NATO countries. The…
Misleading Canadians about what we can do to help our allies and the world
Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said recently that Canada isn’t the solution to the energy security crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He’s wrong and he’s misleading Canadians about what we can do to help our allies and the world. Guilbeault is a former Greenpeace activist vehemently opposed to Canadian oil and gas. Here is…
Unfortunately, Canada is in no position to help because of decades of poor energy policy
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine didn’t cause the energy crisis in Europe. Rather, the energy crisis enabled the invasion – and it’s been decades in the making. So what are we going to do about it? Energy policy must be strategic. Unless Western nations address our energy security, we may be destined to see this kind…
The U.S. made it clear that Russia will pay for a Ukrainian invasion. But so will other nations
The possibility of Russia invading Ukraine is the hottest geopolitical issue today. And this carries implications for the global energy balance. Growing concerns over the possible military conflict in Ukraine, resulting in disruption of natural gas supplies to Europe, is a point of deliberation in Washington and other NATO capitals. The United States has made…
1920's Ireland is a fascinating study of competing perspectives
December 1921 was a critical turning point in Irish history. The Dec. 6 Anglo-Irish Treaty aimed to end the War of Independence by “establishing the Irish Free State as a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth.” But it actually did more. It effectively launched the fledgling entity on a glide path toward full independence without…
Last week’s column drew from British historian Dominic Lieven’s current book about emperors and empires. Called In the Shadow of the Gods, it’s an exploration of the characteristics that contributed to dynastic success or failure. Lieven’s penultimate chapter deals with the challenges modernity posed to hereditary dynasties. As the environment changed rapidly, the crowns adorning…
