The Top 5 articles for your week:
“Genetic Mapping” (Maison Neuve)
Because DNA tests are so popular now, but for some, the emotional, mental, and social situations they stir up are consequential for how we think about our origins and identity.
“No Escape from Online Memories” (Longreads)
Because social media has been around long enough for people’s past words and stances to matter and to affect employment, relationships, and social standing.
“A Different Way of Thinking About Cancel Culture” (NYT)
Because relatedly, here is an op-ed on cancel culture from Ezra Klein, and how companies are trying to posture and protect themselves when someone gets caught up in a firestorm.
“When Democracies Lose Their Loveliness” (Wisdom of Crowds)
Because we like this debate between Samuel Kimbriel and Damir Marusic on “why is democracy legitimate?” (and is that legitimacy at stake?) I (Michael) especially appreciated this quote from American historian Edmund Morgan:
Government requires make-believe. Make believe that the king is divine, make believe that he can do no wrong or make believe that the voice of the people is the voice of God. Make believe that the people have a voice or make believe that the representatives of the people are the people. Make believe that governors are the servants of the people. Make believe that all men are equal or make believe that they are not.
“From Moral Responsibility to Magical Thinking: How Biden Changed His Mind on Afghanistan” (Foreign Policy Magazine)
Because this is a great, comprehensive piece on the evolution of President Biden’s thinking and stances towards troops in Afghanistan — how he could go from supporting both the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq, to being the president who will end the war in Afghanistan over his generals’ objections. (n.b. the paywall on FP Magazine is very strict and pricey, so if you cannot access it on one device, try another!)
Bonus: “Present at the Re-creation?” (Foreign Affairs)
Because the entire March/April issue of Foreign Affairs is absolutely worth the time as it has multiple “big idea” essays on foreign policy, including this one which posits that Trump foreign policy was an aberration and that a Biden foreign policy must take a new trajectory. (But that thesis assumes American foreign policy can change at all!)