Stories about History
Desi Bouterse's post-conviction disappearance leaves Suriname in turmoil
The shocking turn of events has stirred reactions of disbelief, anger and concern, as well as loss of faith in the judicial system.
In Georgia, controversy over a Stalin icon makes headlines at home and abroad
Georgia was thrown into controversy when worshipers found a painting of Saint Matrona of Moscow, a 20th-century Russian Orthodox Church saint, with a man who appears to be Joseph Stalin.
The descendants of Buryat migrants in Mongolia have no feelings towards Russia
The Buryats left the Soviet Union for Mongolia in three waves in the beginning of the 20th century.
Kazakhstan’s national identity is deeply connected to its food culture
Kazakhstan's modern cuisine has been significantly influenced by the eating habits of the peoples who were deported or moved to Kazakhstan.
Is the Bouterse verdict a symbol of justice in Suriname's turbulent past?
Bouterse's conviction on December 20, 2023 raised questions on national identity. Divided reactions reflect Suriname's struggle with its Dutch colonial past and its quest for a future balancing justice with reconciliation.
What did Central Asian presidents talk about in their New Year's addresses?
These New Year's addresses provided a glimpse into Central Asian governments' perspectives on their countries' achievements and challenges.
On the first day of 2024, former Trinidad & Tobago prime minister Basdeo Panday dies
Panday "[created] labour and political history and [became] one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most compelling post-independence figures.”
The Sniper Alley Project: Testimony to the resilience of Sarajevo siege survivors
Džemil Hodžić established the Sniper Alley Project in 2019, with the aim of collecting photographs, particularly those of children who lived through the siege of Sarajevo (1992–1996).
Will organized crime survive the government onslaught in Central Asia?
Organized crime groups in the region are retreating, but the question remains whether the government onslaught will succeed in eliminating their influence.
Do you condemn?
The question "Do you condemn?" serves to delegitimize the Palestinian struggle for rights and justice, deflecting attention from the root causes of the conflict by encouraging blanket condemnations.
Retelling the history of Nepal's Gurkha fighters
Nepali Artist Suzana Thapa Shris’s recent exhibition focuses on retelling the stories of the famous Gurkha soldiers from the perspective of their wives.
How Caribbean ‘Black Cake’ can help the region transcend its traumatic past
"Black Cake" (the book and series) naturally brings to mind the Caribbean Christmas dessert, but the linkages the delicacy shares with the literacies of enslaved Africans are often obscured.
Kyrgyzstan’s parliament approves changing the national flag
The president has provided eyebrow raising explanations for changing the flag.
Battle of survival and expression in Jerusalem's Armenian Community
The Armenian community in Jerusalem, rooted in the fourth century, faces a dire battle for survival, grappling with challenges that threaten not only their freedom of expression but their very existence.
Kazakhstan’s ex-president releases a controversial memoir
Nazarbayev confirmed the long-stading rumors and admitted having an extramarital affair with Asel Isabayeva.
Uzbekistan celebrates reformist Jadid movement in the new documentary
It seems the Jadids' return to the public space will be long-term with the government using their legacy as means of inspiration.
Religious minorities in Iran face cultural violence
Over the last 45 years, the Islamic Republic has weaponized textbooks, religious debates, movies, city walls, and even cemeteries to impose cultural violence, particularly over religious minorities, but it faced resistance.
As Venezuela postures on reclamation of the Essequibo region, Guyana prepares for ‘worst case scenario’
Prior to the referendum, Venezuela had only alluded to its intention to annexe the Essequibo; by December 5, Maduro's social media showed him holding up a new “official” map of Venezuela.
A movement is growing across Africa and diaspora demanding reparations for the impacts of slavery and colonialism
"The demand for reparations is not an attempt to rewrite history or to continue the cycle of victimization. It's a call to recognize the undeniable truth and rewrite the wrongs ..."
As Nepali villages modernize, mokha art is on the verge of disappearing
Nepal’s village landscapes were once dominated by bamboo and mud-walled houses and Tharu homes were decorated with beautiful mokha art. However, modernisation is killing this artform.
The closer Venezuela gets to voting on annexation of the Essequibo, the more tense the border dispute with Guyana becomes
Venezuela will hold a referendum to gauge support for the annexation of the Essequibo region, and Guyana has petitioned the International Court of Justice to stop the vote.
