History

History articles provide critical analysis of historical context in relation to censorship, policy, technology, media, economics, social life, public health, and individual liberty.

We explore recurring themes such as pandemic profit motives, medical thinking collapse, ignored warnings, industry capture of regulation, government restrictions on freedom, societal cowardice in crises, addiction politics, plus pathways to restore truth, wisdom, and human-centered systems.

All history articles from Brownstone Institute are translated into multiple languages to enable global access, encourage international dialogue on historical lessons, and support readers worldwide in applying past insights to defend liberty and challenge overreach.

The Sorrows of Empire

The Sorrows of Empire

SHARE | PRINT | EMAIL

There is no such thing as fully objective history, and that’s for a simple reason. History is generated in narrative form, and the creation of every narrative—as Hayden White made clear four decades ago—necessarily involves the selection and discarding, as well the foregrounding and relative camouflaging, of items within the panoply of “facts” at the disposal of the historian.

The Sorrows of Empire Read Journal Article

Bird Flu, Fear, and Perverse Incentives

Bird Flu, Fear, and Perverse Incentives

SHARE | PRINT | EMAIL

Outbreaks do occur and we should monitor and prepare for them. However, we have allowed the development of a system where outbreaks are almost all that matter. Perceptions of risk, and resultant funding, have become grossly disproportionate to reality. The perverse incentives driving this are obvious, as are the harms. The world will be increasingly unequal and impoverished, and sick, building on the outcomes of the Covid response. Fear promotes profit better than calmness and context. It is on us to remain calm and continually educate ourselves regarding context. No one will sell these to us.

Bird Flu, Fear, and Perverse Incentives Read Journal Article

Without Community and Boundaries, They Win

Without Community and Boundaries, They Win

SHARE | PRINT | EMAIL

If we are to survive as a civilization, that is precisely the kind of community and support structure that we need to form, especially on the local level. For that reason alone, I warmly invite you to the 2024 Brownstone Institute Conference and Gala in my hometown of Pittsburgh, where we will seek to experience a community of collegiality and friendship in service of “The New Resistance.”

Without Community and Boundaries, They Win Read Journal Article

'Teflon Tony' Survives the Hot Seat

‘Teflon Tony’ Survives the Hot Seat

SHARE | PRINT | EMAIL

Although random hatchets were thrown at Fauci during the hearing, he managed to garner a fair bit of support from the subcommittee and seemed to come out relatively unscathed, earning him the title of ‘Teflon Tony.’ The subcommittee will release a final report by the end of 2024, with its findings and recommendations from its two-year investigation.

‘Teflon Tony’ Survives the Hot Seat Read Journal Article

2020 Pushed Minnesota Toward the Third World

2020 Pushed Minnesota Toward the Third World

SHARE | PRINT | EMAIL

When government takes on core tenets of civilized life, such as the right to associate, and presumes the right to manage the whole of private and public life including all civic institutions, under whatever excuse, what you end up with is something other than civilized life. Minnesota is just one case in point but the same afflicts many other places in the country and world, as the fallout from the disaster cascades through our lives.

2020 Pushed Minnesota Toward the Third World Read Journal Article

The WHO Takes Another Step Towards the Pit

The WHO Takes Another Step Towards the Pit

SHARE | PRINT | EMAIL

Last week, amid fanfare from both advocates and opponents of centralization of future pandemic management, the world continued its unfortunate stumble back to old-fashioned public health fascism. The World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted the package of amendments to the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR), apparently just hours after a final text had been agreed by its IHR working group.

The WHO Takes Another Step Towards the Pit Read Journal Article

Pain is the Prompt

Pain is the Prompt

SHARE | PRINT | EMAIL

What would happen if we all vowed to adopt an honor code to guide every moment in our lives? What if we vowed to speak the truth, to act ethically, and to hold others accountable when they violate the codes of society? What if we also vowed to pursue this ethos in a decent, respectful manner, seeking to expose dishonesty not to shame and humiliate the offenders, but to strengthen the social fabric of our communities? Wouldn’t we make clear that this conduct will be given no quarter in our communities?

Pain is the Prompt Read Journal Article

Join the Brownstone Community
Get our FREE Journal Newsletter