At the death of Stephen F. Cohen: Keep reading and listening to this wise man

At the death of Stephen F. Cohen: Keep reading and listening to this wise man

Collected by Jan Oberg October 6, 2020 Stephen Frand Cohen was an American scholar of Russian studies. His academic work concentrated on modern Russian history since the Bolshevik Revolution and Russia’s relationship with the United States. Cohen was a contributing editor to The Nation magazine, published and partially owned by his wife Katrina vanden Heuvel. […]

ObergComment: Illiteracy or knowledge? Now an existential choice

ObergComment: Illiteracy or knowledge? Now an existential choice

📌 We know that many of our readers would like to see some short, pointed posts here. So, in contrast to the longer, more analytical articles we usually publish – normal for an academic institution – an Oberg Comment is a short text by the editor of The Transnational, Jan Oberg, which alerts you to […]

Toward a global ethics of nonviolence

Toward a global ethics of nonviolence

Human nature, Gandhi said, “will only find itself when it fully realises that to be human it has to cease to be beastly or brutal”. (Illustration: C R Sasikumar) Charles P. Webel with Sofia Khaydari July 28, 2020 The UN’s peacekeeping mission is premised on the Declaration of Universal Human Rights, based on the assumptions […]

Respecting international law: A practical argument

Respecting international law: A practical argument

Illustration by Shenuka Corea By Richard Falk, TFF Associate March 12, 2020 Prefatory Note International law – as so much else of value – has fallen on hard times, violated and ignored, where applicable and needed. Although this is a deplorable state of affairs as the planet burns and vulnerable people suffer from ecological hazards […]

📌 Welcome to Bootprint – TFF’s online magazine on militarism and environment

📌 Welcome to Bootprint – TFF’s online magazine on militarism and environment

By Jan Oberg February 14, 2020 Today TFF launches “Bootprint – Militarism and Environment” – a curated, free-of-charge online magazine that brings you quality knowledge about the connections between the two most urgent problems that humanity faces. These two main clusters of problems which, if not solved, threaten to destroy humanity, our Earth and all […]

Peace research at Lund University closed down in 1989: Why and how?

Peace research at Lund University closed down in 1989: Why and how?

The main building of Lund University, situated next to the Lund Cathedral in the centre of town And why I lived happily ever after Albeit small, this is a piece of Nordic academic history that deserves to be shared. It’s an early example of the destruction of Nordic peace and conflict research and education that […]

Leaving the Cold War Behind

Leaving the Cold War Behind

Introduction This is the digitalized version of a TFF Statement published by TFF’s Board almost 31 years ago. Could that be of any interest today?First, it reflects the situation and the issues discussed at the time as well as the hopes for a better future – now sadly lost. Secondly, it is one example of […]

One On One With Johan Galtung

One On One With Johan Galtung

March 26, 2010, and July 3, 2019 Why Johan Galtung (born 1930) decided to devote his life to waging peace through research and action. Galtung who is one of the world’s most prolific and innovative social scientists – for instance, the author of more than 160 books and a global lecturer, mediator and professor – […]

How about a peace race instead of an arms race?

How about a peace race instead of an arms race?

By Dr. Lawrence Wittner June 5, 2019 In late April, the highly-respected Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported that, in 2018, world military expenditures rose to a record $1.82 trillion. The biggest military spender by far was the United States, which increased its military budget by nearly 5 percent to $649 billion (36 percent of […]

A Guide to Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Guide to Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Jan Oberg January 21, 2019 – Martin Luther King Day Since The Transnational is also a public education site, we believe a handy, comprehensive guide to materials about Martin Luther King, Jr. should be found here: For his indisputable greatness as a human being, thinker and activist and for you to see just how […]