Last chances in the Middle East have been two a dirham since the 1950s. Each year the enmities are more profound, the despots more bloodthirsty and clownish, the violence more extreme, and the conditions of ordinary existence more ghastly. James Buchan 1950sbloodthirstychance share on social
Suicidal violence is not the exclusive property of the Muslim world. Suicide bombings were a tactic of nationalist struggles in 19th-century Europe and Russia, the far east during the second world war and the Vietnam war, and in modern Sri Lanka. James Buchan 19thbombingcentury share on social
Bulls don't read. Bears read financial history. As markets fall to bits, the bears dust off the Dutch tulip mania of 1637, the Banque Royale of 1719-20, the railway speculation of the 1840s, the great crash of 1929. James Buchan 1840sbanquebear share on social
Saudi Arabia is a puritanical state that claims a monopoly of wisdom and virtue. James Buchan arabiaclaimmonopoly Change image and share on social
The west has a great deal to answer for in the Middle East, from Britain's belated empire-building after the First World War to the US and British policy that condemns modern Iraq to the material and social squalor of a half-century ago. James Buchan agoanswerbelated share on social
Any new financial order for the world must tackle the three chief challenges of our age. James Buchan agechallengechief Change image and share on social
By pouring money and goods into devastated regions, foreign aid workers sometimes compound the disruption and debauch the survivors. James Buchan aidcompounddebauch Change image and share on social
The great disadvantage of getting older is to be obliged to relive the salient economic events of one's youth, with nothing learned and nothing forgotten. James Buchan disadvantageeconomicevent Change image and share on social
