Wealth and opportunity gap

The Origins of Wealth and Opportunity Gaps, and a Possible Way Out

1) If you grew up in late 1980s and early 1990s like me, you certainly remember ALF—the furry irreverent extraterrestrial featured in the NBC sitcom of the same name. At the beginning of the show, ALF crash-lands in the garage of the suburban middle-class Tanner family, who lives in the San Fernando Valley and gives … Continue reading The Origins of Wealth and Opportunity Gaps, and a Possible Way Out

All You Should Know about the Changing World Order

May you live in interesting times (an allegedly Chinese saying, in fact not Chinese at all) 1) We live in extremely interesting times. The world order around us is changing quickly and profoundly. The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Ukraine crisis are just two most talked-about elements of larger transformations that are taking place on … Continue reading All You Should Know about the Changing World Order

Negotiation, War and Peace

Back to the future? What history tells us about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the world of the coming decades

1) Since the beginning of the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, both sides have referred to the enemy’s allegedly fascist nature, striving to frame the opponent’s actions as manifestations of the destructive and ruthless spirit displayed during the Second World War. In many respects, however, the war we are witnessing in … Continue reading Back to the future? What history tells us about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the world of the coming decades

Understanding the Ukrainian crisis: a talk at the UPF Barcelona

For all Spanish speakers: Recently, I've had the honor to participate in a talk about “The Ukraine catastrophe. Russia and the West,” together with the diplomat Eugeni Bregolat, the journalist Rafael Poch, and professor Tamara Djermanovic. During the event at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barclona we discussed the keys to the conflict and the … Continue reading Understanding the Ukrainian crisis: a talk at the UPF Barcelona