James Barr
James Barr is a historian and author. Follow him at @James_Barr
A stirring tale of delicious complexity
From the Mongols’ conquest of Persia to their defeat by the Mamluks
The roots of U.S. support for Israel
Walter Russell Mead offers a counterblast to claims of a pro-Israel lobby influencing US politics
Egypt’s secret Nazi brains trust
After a humiliating defeat in the war over Israel, the Egyptians wanted revenge
Timely reminder of the true price of oil
‘Disorder’ argues convincingly that world history now hinges on the price of oil
Is Georgia approaching its Euromaidan?
New attempts to curb the activities of NGOs have stirred pro-EU feeling
High praise for low standards
Why intellectual life needs more, and more systematic, criticism
Where the Tories must go from here
The Conservative Party must set aside backbiting in favour of building a radical political project that can appeal to young and old alike
You can’t beat the left at its own game
Conservative attempts to reverse leftist victimology are doomed to fail
45 seconds to midnight
Say what you will of nuclear war but at least, unlike this election, it’s mercifully brief
Socialism with Starmerite characteristics
The coming-out party of the Labour moderates had distinctly totalitarian vibes
Women can have short hair, too
Pseudo-progressives are resurrecting gender stereotypes
Are the grown ups really back in charge?
Centrist commentators are wallowing in limp clichés instead of asking serious questions about policy
My police stalker
What do you do when you are being targeted by someone within law enforcement?
Lucia di Lammermoor, Royal Opera House
It’s an amazing paradox that something as tawdry as opera can produce such a pure expression of what it is to be human
Making art of the Holocaust
As dramatic opera, The Passenger inhabits a grey zone of guard–prisoner relations