The Guangxi Massacre was the largest documented case of mass cannibalism in human history. The Guangxi culinary abomination took place between 1967 and 1968 in Guangxi, China, a province located directly to the north of North Vietnam. Accordingly, the cannibalistic incident illustrates basic concepts of geopolitics and the way geography, lines of communication, and strategy… Continue reading Cannibal Holocaust: The Guangxi Massacre /// 106
Tag: war
The Definitive Military History of Monaco and Monte Carlo
Monaco is a nation smaller than one square mile but filled with more wealth per capita than almost any other country in the world. According to one historian, the tiny principality has zero natural resources. However, there is one resource Monaco does possess: The Rock – an impregnable natural fortress jutting into the azure water… Continue reading The Definitive Military History of Monaco and Monte Carlo
The Horrible Spectacle: The Definitive Account of the Massacre of Otranto, 1480
By Vito Bianchi Excerpted from the book Otranto 1480: Il sultano, la strage, la conquista by Vito Bianchi. Editori Laterza. 2023. Sixth edition. Bari. pages 125-131. Translated by: Luke Wolf Translator’s note: In 1480, the large port of Otranto, a city inhabited by thousands, was destroyed by a Turkish naval expedition. Tens of thousands were… Continue reading The Horrible Spectacle: The Definitive Account of the Massacre of Otranto, 1480
What is Geopolitics?
Aymeric Chauprade (Professor of Geopolitics; Collège Interarmées de Défense) Translated by Luke Wolf How can we define Geopolitics? The study of political relations between states, intra-state movements such as rebellions and trans-state powers such as criminal networks and multinational corporations is based on geographic criteria, the study of geopolitics highlights the importance of geographical criteria… Continue reading What is Geopolitics?
A History of Torture in America /// 100
This is a history of torture on the North American continent, including Native American, Canadian and United States torture practices. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. This is part six of an ongoing series on torture. You can find part five… Continue reading A History of Torture in America /// 100
Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98
The Soviet punitive system was the heir of literally hundreds of years of secret police interrogation. For centuries, the Czar’s secret police had tortured, refined, and perfected the art of interrogation – all of it based on practice – not theory. That is why American researchers were so amazed at the Soviet interrogation success rate.… Continue reading Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98
The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94
The Battle of Takur Ghar, also known as the Battle of Robert’s Ridge, was one of the bloodiest engagements in the history of the United States’ war in Afghanistan. Dozens of men died in the hills and mountains of the Shahi-Kot Valley. Scores more were wounded. The battle also featured one of the first documented… Continue reading The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Military History /// 93
Thousands of drone strikes have killed tens of thousands of targets since the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicle warfare in the early 2000s. This is the story of that warfare. It’s all free and it’s all here on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. Download episode 93 here: download… Continue reading Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Military History /// 93
The Battle of Hamburger Hill part 3 /// 91
The Battle of Hamburger Hill was one of the most famous battles of the Vietnam War. Almost immediately after the conclusion of the battle, dumbfounded American journalists described the horrific assault of Hill 937 – and the inexplicable American withdrawal from the hill just a few days later. To journalists, and their well-fed, luxuriating readers… Continue reading The Battle of Hamburger Hill part 3 /// 91
A Short Introduction to Geopolitics
Gérard Chaliand and Jean-Pierre Rageau Editor’s Introduction: This short selection from Gérard Chaliand and Jean-Pierre Rageaus’ excellent introduction to the field of geopolitics (1993) provides a succinct and comprehensive overview of the key thinkers and ideas in geopolitical thinking. Anyone interested in geopolitics would do well to begin their inquiry with Chaliand and Rageaus’ atlas. … Continue reading A Short Introduction to Geopolitics
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