Political

Revolution in the Air: Iran

Disillusionment with Iran’s secular king brought the Islamists to power in 1979. Will the population now oust the ruling theocracy, asks Baqer Moin?

Haunted by Stalin's Ghost

Catherine Merridale examines competing versions of Russia's troubled past in the light of present politics.

Signposts: Returning to War

Richard Overy examines recent analyses of how Europe became embroiled in major conflict just two decades after the trauma of the Great War and we look at events and broadcasts commemorating September 1939. 

Conflicting Truths: The Bosnian War

With the trial of the former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic due to begin, Nick Hawton reflects on his time reporting in a region where history is still used to justify war.

A Loss of Face-to-Face: MPs Expenses

In the wake of the parliamentary expenses scandal, some MPs have met their constituents to explain themselves, with bruising consequences. Jon Lawrence looks back to when such holdings-to-account were commonplace and benefited democracy.

Who Won the Thirty Years War?

Peter H. Wilson unravels one of the most notoriously bloody and complex conflicts in European history to answer the question.

John Wilkes’ Way

Secrecy shrouded the ways of politicians until the 18th century. Then John Wilkes came along, writes David Horspool.

Austria’s Diminutive Dictator: Engelbert Dollfuss

A right-wing Catholic who crushed all his rivals, Engelbert Dollfuss fought hard to maintain his young republic’s independence. A.D. Harvey looks at the life of the tiny patriot of peasant stock who stood up to Hitler.