Ukraine invasion suggests Putin is more Vladimir the Reactionary than Peter the Great

By Olivia Durand, Postdoctoral associate in history, University of Oxford

Vladimir Putin’s recent evocation of the military successes of 18th-century tsar Peter the Great against Sweden is just the latest example of his distinctive cherry-picking of imperial predecessors, Soviet rulers and religious icons to justify his invasion of Ukraine. It’s all part of the imperial nostalgia that the Russian president has enthusiastically embraced since the mid-2000s.

In a meeting with young entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists in St Petersburg in early June, Putin recalled Peter the Great…

Read complete article

~	Do implicit bias trainings on race improve health care? Not yet – but incorporating the latest science can help hospitals treat all patients equitably

~	Nearsightedness is at epidemic levels – and the problem begins in childhood

~	Gender-nonconforming ancient Romans found refuge in community dedicated to goddess Cybele

~	For millions of Americans, high-speed internet is unavailable or unaffordable − a telecommunications expert explains how to bring broadband to the places that need it the most

~	What is ‘techno-optimism’? 2 technology scholars explain the ideology that says technology is the answer to every problem

~	How trains linked rival port cities along the US East Coast into a cultural and economic megalopolis

~	From shrimp Jesus to fake self-portraits, AI-generated images have become the latest form of social media spam

~	The Mattei Plan: why Giorgia Meloni is looking to Africa

~	Impact investing in Paris suburban ‘banlieue’ neighbourhoods: untapped social and economic potential

~	Rwanda’s post-genocide model prioritises security over freedom and equality – a risk to future stability