John Iduh Blog

“Neoliberalism” is among the most contested political and economic concepts of the modern era, emblematic of a broader proliferation of ideological “isms” that have emerged alongside globalization. The term itself did not originate as a polemical weapon, but rather as a modest intellectual project. It was first coined in post–World War I Germany by economists and legal scholars associated with the Freiburg School, who sought to revive classical liberalism in a moderated form—one that acknowledged the need for a regulatory framework to preserve market competition. The concept re-emerged in a very different context during the 1970s, when Latin American economists employed neoliberalismo to describe a set of pro-market reforms emphasizing privatization, deregulation, and fiscal discipline. By the early 1990s, however, the term had undergone a decisive semantic shift. Critics of market-oriented reform, particularly in the global South, infused “neoliberalism” with sharply pejorative conno...

Sandro Botticelli (c. 1445–1510) occupies a distinctive place in the cultural and political history of the Italian Renaissance. To understand Botticelli is not merely to study an individual artist, but to examine the social forces, religious tensions, and power structures of late fifteenth-century Florence. His work reflects a society poised between humanist optimism and profound spiritual anxiety, a tension that defined the age. Born Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi, Botticelli was trained in the workshop of Fra Filippo Lippi, from whom he inherited a refined linear style and an emphasis on graceful, expressive figures. Unlike later High Renaissance artists such as Leonardo or Michelangelo, Botticelli showed limited interest in anatomical realism or mathematical perspective. Instead, his paintings privilege line, rhythm, and symbolic meaning—qualities that align closely with the intellectual climate of Medici Florence. Botticelli’s rise was closely tied to the patronage of the Medici fa...

In the early decades of the twenty-first century, the international system has come to be defined by an unprecedented level of interdependence. Processes of globalization have not merely widened the scope of social interaction but have intensified and accelerated connections across both time and space. Advances in digital technology have acted as a powerful catalyst, generating dense networks of information and communication that bind individuals, states, and economic actors into a single, highly integrated global arena. This interconnectedness has also produced new and complex security challenges. Transnational terrorist networks, operating beyond the constraints of territorial borders, have demonstrated the capacity to strike across regions and continents. Their actions, particularly against symbols of secular and state authority, have led Western governments to frame security policy within the discourse of a “global war on terror,” thereby reshaping domestic and international politi...

Fear has always been a powerful instrument in shaping human behavior, and when fused with religion, it can become especially destructive. From a philosophical perspective, religious fear—fear of divine punishment, eternal damnation, curses, or supernatural surveillance—often undermines human flourishing rather than promoting moral excellence. Instead of guiding individuals toward wisdom and virtue, it can imprison the mind and diminish human dignity. At its core, religious fear replaces understanding with submission. Rather than encouraging people to ask why something is right or wrong, fear-based religion demands obedience without reasoning. This is profoundly damaging to intellectual development. As Immanuel Kant argued, enlightenment begins when human beings dare to use their own reason. A religion rooted in fear discourages this courage, training adherents to distrust their own moral judgment and surrender autonomy to authority figures who claim divine backing. Psychologically, re...

A Philosophical Reflection on Self-Sufficiency From the standpoint of philosophy, the question of whether the universe requires gods to function is not a provocation against belief, but an inquiry into explanation. Philosophy asks: What kind of account best explains the order, motion, and persistence of reality? Across much of intellectual history, many philosophers have argued that the universe can be understood as operating through its own internal principles—without appealing to divine intervention. The earliest natural philosophers, long before modern science, already gestured in this direction. Thinkers such as Democritus and Epicurus proposed that the universe consists of atoms and void, governed by necessity and chance rather than by the will of gods. For them, the gods—if they existed at all—were spectators, not managers. Nature, they argued, follows its own logic. This idea matured dramatically with the rise of modern science. The laws of motion described by Galileo and Newto...

A politician’s relationship with the press is often a reliable indicator of their democratic temperament. Early in my career, wrote the Deputy editor at Economist, Robert Guest, I interviewed Sweden’s current prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, when he was still leader of the opposition. He arrived alone at a café, without aides or security, responded thoughtfully to every question in impeccable English, and, after an hour, excused himself courteously for his next engagement. That experience stands in stark contrast to another interview I conducted with a Sudanese minister, who berated me, jabbed a finger inches from my face, denied me access to Darfur, and demanded that I report his government was guilty of no human-rights violations. I declined—choosing accuracy over obedience. Such contrasts illustrate a central lesson of journalism: power that fears scrutiny seeks to silence it. As we argue this week in our European and Asian cover package, the suppression of the media creates fertile...

Golden Penny Spaghetti is a familiar and reliable food product in many Nigerian households. Known for its quality and affordability, it has become a go-to option for quick meals, family lunches, and everyday cooking, making it a strong presence in local kitchens. The appeal of Golden Penny Spaghetti lies in its versatility and ease of preparation. It can be cooked simply and paired with stew, vegetables, or sauces, or adapted into more elaborate dishes. This flexibility makes it suitable for both home cooks and food vendors. Over the years, Golden Penny Spaghetti has earned consumer trust through consistent quality and local relevance. Its strong distribution network ensures availability across markets and stores, reinforcing its position as a dependable staple that meets the daily food needs of Nigerian families.