From NYRB, who is Sarkozy? William Pfaff wants to know. A review of The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography From the Revolution to the First World War by Graham Robb. From Sign and Sight, Margalith Kleijwegt talked to immigrant parents in the Amsterdam neighbourhood of Mohammed B., and found them in deep denial about their children. Protracted difficulty in forming a government points to a widening rift between an affluent Flanders and the francophone south, which benefits from the funds it transfers. The Tories find their inner liberal: In Britain, as the Labor Party seeks extended detentions, Conservatives wave the Magna Carta. No Security: A look at how Britain is failing in its most basic duty to its citizens. From 3:AM, an interview with Dan Kieran, author of I Fought The Law: Laws are Made to be Broken — Aren't They? We seldom get the culture we really, really want: Has there been anything so repellent in British cultural life as the new song and video by the Spice Girls? A review of Gomorrah: A Personal Journey Into the Violent International Empire of Naples' Organized Crime Syndictate by Roberto Saviano (and more). Romanovs and reindeer: Finland’s capital, Helsinki, combines modernity with rich Russian history. The Russian Parliament's intellectual giants: Peculiar doctoral theses have supposedly helped Russian politicians improve their images — a paper by President Putin raises questions.
