One of the immutable patterns of history is the rise and fall of great powers. Those that survive are the ones that adapt as the world changes. Stephen Kinzer adaptfallgreat Change image and share on social
Without Ataturk's vision, without his ambition and energy, without his astonishing boldness in sweeping away traditions accumulated over centuries, today's Turkey would not exist, and the world would be much poorer. Stephen Kinzer accumulateambitionastonish share on social
As recently as the 1970s, some Pashtun leaders in Afghanistan were pushing to create a new state, Pashtunistan, by joining with Pashtuns in Pakistan. Stephen Kinzer 1970safghanistancreate Change image and share on social
Only one American has given his life for Iranian democracy. He was a young idealist from Nebraska named Howard Baskerville. In 1907, fresh out of Princeton, Baskerville went to Iran as a schoolteacher. He found himself in the midst of a revolution against tyranny, and was carried away with passion for the democratic cause. Stephen Kinzer americanbaskervillecarry share on social
Guerrilla leaders win wars by being paranoid and ruthless. Once they take power, they are expected to abandon those qualities and embrace opposite ones: tolerance, compromise and humility. Almost none manages to do so. Stephen Kinzer abandoncompromiseembrace share on social
Want to depose the government of a poor country with resources? Want to bash Muslims? Want to build support for American military interventions around the world? Want to undermine governments that are raising their people up from poverty because they don't conform to the tastes of Upper West Side intellectuals? Use human rights as your excuse! Stephen Kinzer americanbashbuild share on social
Chechens are not ethnically or culturally Russian, and have now been fighting for generations to free themselves from Russian rule. Stephen Kinzer chechenculturallyethnically Change image and share on social
'Operation Ajax' presents history in an entirely new way. It takes a true story and uses cutting-edge technology, never before used in this way, to bring it to spectacular life. Stephen Kinzer ajaxbringcut Change image and share on social
Hostility toward Iran may not be the silliest of all American foreign policies - that would probably be the continuing trade embargo of Cuba - but it is undoubtedly the most self-defeating. Stephen Kinzer americancontinuecuba Change image and share on social
If a leader comes to office in a seemingly fair election and tolerates dissent, he or she qualifies for our seal of approval. Stephen Kinzer approvaldissentelection Change image and share on social