Author Archives: bernardporter2013

Next week I’m addressing a Stockholm law firm on the question of ‘Brexit’. They profess themselves puzzled. They invited me as a historian; and also asked for some comments on Sweden. Here are my rough notes for the talk. I’m … Continue reading →

I’ve been busy this last week reading and reviewing Ian Cobain, The History Thieves. Secrets, Lies and the Shaping of a Modern Nation (Portobello, 2016). Hence the lack of posts here. Nothing to do with the Election. I’ve not committed … Continue reading →

The European Parliament is debating a measure allowing disappointed British Remainers to apply for ‘associate’ citizenship of the EU, with certain privileges, as individuals. That seems a great idea. The Brexit vote robbed me of one of my proudest ‘identities’, … Continue reading →

If I can strike a discordant note here… Might there not be something to be said for having a US President who – amongst other, far less admirable things – can get on with Putin, doesn’t want to invade the … Continue reading →

In Stockholm we live very near Skogskyrkogården, a wonderfully designed and landscaped ‘World Heritage Site’ woodland cemetery. Every year, on the dark evening of All Saints’ Day, people go there to put candles on the graves of their departed loved … Continue reading →

One of the Brexiters’ original demands was that Britain should be subject to British (or English) laws alone, and to no-one else’s: that is, not to the EU’s. The decision of the three High Court judges last week, that Article … Continue reading →

I was in America in 2008 when Obama was elected president. I was there on a university lecture tour, in Lexington Kentucky, a deep-red city in a deep-red state, so not a very sympathetic milieu. But my academic hosts were … Continue reading →

The iconic Grand Hotel in Stockholm – where the Nobel laureates stay – is hosting a gathering today in order to confer what are called ‘European Freedom Awards’ on some lucky people. It has been organized by the far-Right Sweden … Continue reading →

This is a review I originally wrote for the LRB, but which was crowded out by Brexit pieces. The Literary Review, however, took a shortened version, which appears there this month: https://literaryreview.co.uk/no-man-is-an-island-2. Here is the original (3000-word) article, if anyone’s … Continue reading →

Michael Fallon, the new Defence Secretary, plans to institute military cadet corps in schools. The idea, apparently, is not only to provide future recruits for the British Army, but also to instil discipline and ‘British values’ in our youth. Yes; that … Continue reading →