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Ian Buruma

Ian Buruma

Writing for PS since 2001
211 commentaries

Ian Buruma is the author of numerous books, including Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo Van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance, Year Zero: A History of 1945, A Tokyo Romance: A Memoir, The Churchill Complex: The Curse of Being Special, From Winston and FDR to Trump and Brexit, The Collaborators: Three Stories of Deception and Survival in World War II, and, most recently, Spinoza: Freedom’s Messiah (Yale University Press, 2024).

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  1. The Privileged Gaza Protesters
    buruma213_Stephanie KeithGetty Images_palestine college Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

    The Privileged Gaza Protesters

    May 7, 2024 Ian Buruma argues that fear of losing rank could be driving students to demonstrate their intersectional bona fides.

  2. The Case for Israel Remains Valid
    buruma212_Sean GallupGetty Images_israelflaggermany Sean Gallup/Getty Images

    The Case for Israel Remains Valid

    Apr 1, 2024 Ian Buruma explains why the country’s founding principle as a safe haven for Jews still appeals to many people.

  3. Alexei Navalny Did Not Die for Nothing
    buruma211_VANO SHLAMOVAFP via Getty Image_navalny Vano Shlamov/AFP via Getty Images

    Alexei Navalny Did Not Die for Nothing

    Mar 1, 2024 Ian Buruma highlights the crucial role of political martyrs in inspiring resistance to oppressive regimes.

  4. The Threat of Messianic Politics
    buruma210_Imtiyaz KhanAnadolu via Getty Images_modiram Imtiyaz Khan/Anadolu via Getty Images

    The Threat of Messianic Politics

    Jan 29, 2024 Ian Buruma explains why political leaders and contenders worldwide are embracing the role of religious savior.

  5. The Culture War at Harvard and Beyond
    buruma209_Kevin DietschGetty Images_claudine gay Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

    The Culture War at Harvard and Beyond

    Jan 8, 2024 Ian Buruma thinks Claudine Gay’s downfall reveals something important about changed perceptions of Jews.

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  1. spence173_ Joe RaedleGetty Images_power Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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    Crunch Time for the Power Sector

    Michael Spence

    Making the power sector fit for the twenty-first century requires a “banker” that finances and coordinates relevant long-term investments, and an “architect” that guides the development of a complex, interconnected smart-grid system. National governments need to fill both roles.

     argues that developing flexible, stable, and resilient smart grids requires an expanded industrial policy.
  2. op_janeway16_SAUL LOEBAFP via Getty Images_bidenchips Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
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    The Rise of Mesoeconomics

    William H. Janeway

    A growing body of literature focusing on the domain between the microeconomic and the macroeconomic has become increasingly relevant in a world beset by supply shocks. Armed with such insights, those designing industrial policies will have a better chance of achieving their overlapping economic- and national-security goals.

     details how a long-neglected field of economic study can be applied to today's most pressing policy challenges.
  3. strain27_Philipp von Ditfurthpicture alliance via Getty Images_AIeducation Philipp von Ditfurth/picture alliance via Getty Images
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    What the AI Pessimists Are Missing

    Michael R. Strain points out that the technology will help to address many of the risks it creates.
  4. ito37_Spencer PlattGetty Images_columbiaprotests Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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    The Innocent Bystanders of College Protests

    Takatoshi Ito laments that a radical minority can disrupt the lives of so many in the broader university community.
  5. lacamera1_Wang DongzhenXinhua via Getty Images_COP28 Wang Dongzhen/Xinhua via Getty Images
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    Only Public-Private Cooperation Can Accelerate Decarbonization

    Francesco La Camera & Bruce Douglas explain how to translate political commitments into actual wind turbines and solar panels.
  6. haass167_ANATOLII STEPANOVAFP via Getty Images_ukrainesoldiers Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images
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    Defining Success in Ukraine

    Richard Haass calls for a shift to a defensive posture and efforts to bring about a long-term ceasefire.
  7. aslund75_Pierre CromGetty Images_ukraineconflict Pierre Crom/Getty Images
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    A Unified Western Strategy for Ukraine

    Anders Åslund proposes a maximalist approach to military aid to replace the current piecemeal injections of old weapons.
  8. khrushcheva180_ContributorGetty Images_shoiguputin Contributor/Getty Images
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    Russia’s Battle of the Ministries

    Nina L. Khrushcheva sees a high-ranking official's recent arrest as a sign of declining confidence in Vladimir Putin's leadership.
  9. ghosh77_MANDEL NGANAFP via Getty Images_ajaybanga Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
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    The “Billions to Trillions” Charade

    Jayati Ghosh explains why using development banks' resources to incentivize private-sector finance is unlikely to succeed.

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