Rogerio Rot

WWI entusiast and researcher; amateur Historian; compulsive reader; more than ff5.000 books. Yoga/Tai Chi practitioner. Rock drumer. Instagram: @RogerioRot

[Rogerio Rot @RogerioRot]

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“Se houvesse apenas homens ruins fazendo coisas ruins, seria fácil se livrar deles. Mas a verdade é que o bem e o mal vivem no coração de todos os homens. E vai depender de cada um fazer a escolha certa.” Eve Lasch

[Rogerio Rot @RogerioRot]

@luizcl_souza 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[Capitán General de los Tercios @capTercio]

Los virus aprovechan las bajas defensas para propagarse.
El socialismo aprovecha la baja cultura para lo mismo.

[RadioGenoa @RadioGenoa]

New trend in Europe.

[BielConn 🇧🇷 @bielconn]

Forte... o mundo precisa mais de Jesus.. 🥹

O mundo precisa mais de gente de verdade que se coloca no lugar do próximo ❤

[Humble Flow @HumbleFlow]

What’s the best history book you’ve read?

[ShadowsOfConstantinople @RomeInTheEast]

The Pantheon is arguably the greatest intact temple of Ancient Rome today.

The Hagia Sophia is the greatest church ever constructed in Constantinople (“New Rome”)

Both are splendid domed places of worship, converted from their original purpose to be used by another religion.

[𝕏 Dogs @_XDogs]

It’s my 18th Birthday. Mama adopted me 12 years ago and I’m the best girl.🎂❤

[UKRAINIAN SQUAD🇺🇦 @ukrainiansquad]

Ukrainian soldiers still moving to the front lines. Don’t forget to wish them safety & victory 🙏

[Rachel Block @rachel_blo9944]

Com os gritos da população de abaixo o comunismo, Keiko Fujimore se elege no Peru.

[Giga Based Dad @GigaBasedDad]

Excellent point

[N Ecc 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 @Neccccy]

😂😂😂😂

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Why is it only pushed in the West?

[Peter Vlahos @petervlahos64]

Critical Book Review: The Coming Storm: Power, Conflict, and Warnings from History by Odd Arne Westad

Odd Arne Westad’s The Coming Storm: Power, Conflict, and Warnings from History offers a sweeping historical analysis of global power competition and the recurring patterns that shape geopolitical conflict. Known for his scholarship on the Cold War and international history, Westad approaches the contemporary world through a long historical lens, arguing that the tensions emerging today—especially between major powers—are neither unprecedented nor inevitable but deeply rooted in historical cycles of rivalry, ideology, and shifting power balances.

At the core of the book is Westad’s attempt to contextualize present geopolitical anxieties within centuries of historical precedent. Drawing from examples ranging from European imperial rivalries to the Cold War, he illustrates how competition among states often escalates when economic transformation, ideological confrontation, and technological change intersect. Westad repeatedly emphasizes that periods of rapid global change tend to produce instability, a theme that resonates strongly with today’s international environment.

One of the book’s strengths lies in its accessibility. Westad manages to synthesize complex historical narratives into a coherent argument that general readers can follow while still offering insights valuable to scholars. His comparative approach—linking past rivalries with emerging tensions between major powers such as the United States and China—adds depth to his analysis. By highlighting structural similarities across historical eras, he encourages readers to recognize patterns that policymakers might otherwise ignore.

However, the book is not without limitations. At times, Westad’s broad historical sweep sacrifices analytical depth for narrative clarity. While he convincingly demonstrates recurring patterns of competition, his argument occasionally feels deterministic, implying that major power rivalry follows an almost predictable trajectory. Critics might argue that this perspective underestimates the role of agency, diplomacy, and institutions in shaping outcomes. Additionally, while the book discusses Western and Asian historical experiences, some regions receive relatively limited attention, which narrows the scope of what is presented as “global” history.

Another noteworthy aspect of Westad’s argument is his cautionary tone. The title itself—The Coming Storm—suggests looming instability, yet Westad does not claim conflict is unavoidable. Instead, he presents history as a warning system. By examining how earlier rivalries spiraled into wars, he implicitly urges contemporary leaders to recognize early signals of escalation and pursue cooperation where possible. In this sense, the book functions as both a historical study and a subtle policy critique.

Overall, The Coming Storm succeeds as a thoughtful contribution to discussions about global order and geopolitical competition. Westad’s central message—that history provides critical lessons for navigating modern power struggles—remains compelling. While the book occasionally trades nuance for breadth, it nevertheless offers a valuable framework for understanding how historical patterns continue to influence the present and may shape the future.

Reference

Westad, O. A. (2024). The Coming Storm: Power, Conflict, and Warnings from History. Basic Books.

#TheComingStorm #OddArneWestad #BookReview #HistoryBooks #Geopolitics #PowerAndConflict #InternationalRelations #PoliticalHistory #GlobalPolitics #HistoricalAnalysis #HistoryLessons #ReadingHistory

[Peter Vlahos @petervlahos64]

It Started in Damascus by Rime Allaf is a sharp, reflective account of the Syrian uprising and its far-reaching consequences. Rather than presenting a purely chronological history, Allaf frames the revolution as a deeply human story—one driven by hope, fractured by geopolitics, and ultimately reshaped by forces far beyond Syria’s borders.

The book’s greatest strength lies in its clarity. Allaf writes with the authority of someone who understands both the regional context and the international dynamics at play, yet she avoids drowning the reader in jargon. She carefully explains how local protests in Damascus evolved into a prolonged and devastating conflict, while also unpacking the roles of global powers whose interventions complicated any path to resolution. This balance makes the book accessible without oversimplifying a highly complex subject.

What stands out is her insistence on centering Syrian voices. While many analyses of the conflict focus heavily on strategy and diplomacy, Allaf brings attention back to the civilians, activists, and ordinary people whose lives were upended. This grounding gives the narrative emotional weight and prevents it from becoming a detached political overview. At the same time, she doesn’t shy away from difficult truths—particularly the fragmentation of opposition groups and the harsh realities that undermined early optimism.

The pacing is deliberate rather than dramatic. Readers expecting a fast-moving narrative may find parts of the book dense, especially where Allaf dives into policy decisions and international relations. However, this depth is also what gives the work credibility. She is less interested in telling a sensational story than in helping the reader understand why events unfolded the way they did—and why the consequences still matter globally.

One limitation is that the book occasionally assumes a baseline familiarity with Middle Eastern politics, which might challenge newcomers. Still, even without prior knowledge, the core arguments remain clear: the Syrian revolution was not an isolated event, and its ripple effects continue to shape global politics today.

Overall, It Started in Damascus is a thoughtful, well-argued contribution to understanding one of the most defining conflicts of the 21st century. It rewards patient readers with insight, nuance, and a sobering perspective on how revolutions can evolve in ways no one initially expects.

[The Sir Charles Tupper Society @PMCharlesTupper]

Churchill Defiant (2010)

[Carlo Martin @Liberfach0]

@LuzNodalvsWorld Así tiene que ser, respeto al Señor Jesucristo ante todo 🤝🏼