Author Archives

• Confronted by a fate that restricts their lives

  By Michael A. Innes on 05.03.2017

  I know nothing of Korea, other than having a general sense of the roles its politically divided geographies play vis-a-vis US and global security, two subjects that I follow closely.  Occasionally a blockbluster headline will focus the mind. The past… Read More ›

• A signed statement on the failure of language

  By Michael A. Innes on 14.02.2017

  I’ve stayed away from commenting publicly on the new US administration. There’s so much fodder, so much grist, that it could easily overwhelm. It does overwhelm. Daily news feeds are prefaced and filled with coverage of Trump, his family, his… Read More ›

• A brief foray into distraction’s history

  By Michael A. Innes on 03.01.2017

  This looks interesting: A Crisis of Short Attention Spans, 250 Years Ago By Natalie M. Phillips | January 01, 2017 When most people think of distraction, they think of flooded inboxes, cellphone beeps, Twitter feeds. An ever-present and unavoidable consequence… Read More ›

• What “post-factual news” means for researchers

  By Michael A. Innes on 14.12.2016

  Some semi-random thoughts, as headlines continue to focus on “post-factual” news: There is a lot in common between what we’re seeing now in Britain and the US, and  researchable “news” in fragile and conflict affected states. The recent Brexit referendum… Read More ›

• Terraforming Diplomacy: Beijing, Manila and the Scarborough Shoal

  By Michael A. Innes on 08.11.2016

  Over the last eight years I’ve commissioned, edited or led a dozen or more research studies and analytical pieces on the South China Sea disputes.   China’s assertiveness in the region, and especially the way that it has operationalized its diplomatic… Read More ›