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From TSAI Chih Xhung (1992): Zhuangzi speaks. The music of nature. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
In a recent blog[1]I commented on an op-ed by Mr. LI in the NYT. I sent the op-ed to an acquaintance of mine in Shanghai, asking whether he knew the author. I also remarked on what I perceived as provocative, even polemical resonances in the text – so the title, claiming “superiority” for the Chinese “political model”, or the...
Emotions have been left out of social theories for the last 40 years. They had no part to play in attempts to make scientific disciplines out of economics, sociology, and international relations. Emotions cannot be quantified and fit into theories that should be verified. Abandoning real people – who are inevitable emotional – the academics went into other direction trying to...
Like everything else, confidentiality is affected by the law of inflation. The multiplication of the inflated object (usually money) reduces its value. There are various reasons behind the growing number of confidential documents in diplomatic services. Aside from the fact that the sheer volume of one’s reporting is very often a major career ‘barometer’, diplomats often assign...
Probably the only positive impact WikiLeaks will have is that it will demystify diplomacy. Many people see diplomacy as an exclusive and mysterious profession. While diplomacy is perceived as glamour, black limousines, receptions, and the comfortable life, the reality is significantly different. Basically, diplomacy is a profession like any other. There is a lot of...