Welcome! I’m a security and foreign policy analyst who’s spent the past 20 years in conflict zones, emerging markets, and declining democracies across the world. Some of you may know me from the occasional news show or Twitter. I’m launching this Substack to bridge the gap between macro policy debates on security and geopolitics and the micro, practical reality of getting things done in a democracy. We know a lot needs to change, but what can we actually do? Whether you’re a voter, a politician or a journalist covering these issues — this place will have ideas for you.
We live in an era of radical bullshit. The best weapon to fight against it is what I call radical authenticity: sharing truth not just with academic correctness, but also with human clarity and conviction. This substack will be a home for radically authentic geopolitical analysis and practical political strategy. Here’s a peek at some posts to come:
Trumpocalypse Now: The threat to American democracy worse than Trump
The most German phrase in the world: 5 words that explain Germany’s domestic decline and foreign policy failure
Where Europe Starts: A memory from Ukraine before the Maidan
PR Tips From Someone Who Hates PR: How I went from a few hundred to 100,000 followers in a year
Everyday Life in War Zones: What you should know if you’ve never been to one
What Selling Gym Socks Taught Me About the Taliban
You Say You Want A Revolution: Memories and Lessons from Taksim Square, Tahrir Square, and the streets of Yangon
And much more. Subscribe here: