Eugene Finkel
@efinkel.bsky.social
Professor, Johns Hopkins SAIS. Study horrible things that happen to OK people, write books, overuse sarcasm. Lviv-Haifa-Jerusalem-Madison-New Haven-Washington-Bologna.
Pinned
The only downside of having already canceled my WaPo subscription a while back is that I can't do it now.
A publisher who lays off a reporter whose pen is freezing because she's covering a frigid war zone while dodging missiles is not an editor you want to work for, in a more perfect world
February 4, 2026 at 6:29 PM
The only downside of having already canceled my WaPo subscription a while back is that I can't do it now.
Things keep getting weirder. The author of this email, the "woman named Masha" is a former Putin's Nashi youth movement top activist with quite likely connection to sanctions evasion and other shady stuff.
February 1, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Things keep getting weirder. The author of this email, the "woman named Masha" is a former Putin's Nashi youth movement top activist with quite likely connection to sanctions evasion and other shady stuff.
Reposted by Eugene Finkel
A stunning statement by former head of the IDF, Bogie Ya'alon.
He references the words of Y. Leibowitz, who stated in 1967 that the end result of the occupation will be the fostering of 'judeo-nazis'. Settlers who believe in Jewish supremacy.
“Prof. Yeshayahu Leibowitz was right and I was wrong.
He references the words of Y. Leibowitz, who stated in 1967 that the end result of the occupation will be the fostering of 'judeo-nazis'. Settlers who believe in Jewish supremacy.
“Prof. Yeshayahu Leibowitz was right and I was wrong.
January 31, 2026 at 4:25 AM
A stunning statement by former head of the IDF, Bogie Ya'alon.
He references the words of Y. Leibowitz, who stated in 1967 that the end result of the occupation will be the fostering of 'judeo-nazis'. Settlers who believe in Jewish supremacy.
“Prof. Yeshayahu Leibowitz was right and I was wrong.
He references the words of Y. Leibowitz, who stated in 1967 that the end result of the occupation will be the fostering of 'judeo-nazis'. Settlers who believe in Jewish supremacy.
“Prof. Yeshayahu Leibowitz was right and I was wrong.
2026 being the Year of the Fire Horse means that horshoes are going to be on fire
January 31, 2026 at 6:41 PM
2026 being the Year of the Fire Horse means that horshoes are going to be on fire
Years ago I did a liberation of Auschwitz thread on the other platform. Time to redo
Jan. 27, 1945 Soviet troops liberate Auschwitz. What happened? How? The Western Front is studied minute by minute, the East a black hole. The strange thing, though is that many documents are declassified and online
Jan. 27, 1945 Soviet troops liberate Auschwitz. What happened? How? The Western Front is studied minute by minute, the East a black hole. The strange thing, though is that many documents are declassified and online
January 27, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Years ago I did a liberation of Auschwitz thread on the other platform. Time to redo
Jan. 27, 1945 Soviet troops liberate Auschwitz. What happened? How? The Western Front is studied minute by minute, the East a black hole. The strange thing, though is that many documents are declassified and online
Jan. 27, 1945 Soviet troops liberate Auschwitz. What happened? How? The Western Front is studied minute by minute, the East a black hole. The strange thing, though is that many documents are declassified and online
Reposted by Eugene Finkel
Amid everything else, a brief note to announce the CFP for the 2026 Summer Workshop in the Economic History and Historical Political Economy of Eurasia.
If you are an economist, historian, or political scientist working on Imperial Russia or the USSR, please consider applying.
July 17–18, Paris.
If you are an economist, historian, or political scientist working on Imperial Russia or the USSR, please consider applying.
July 17–18, Paris.
Scott Gehlbach - 2026 Summer Workshop in the Economic History and
Call for papers We invite submissions to a workshop on the economic history and historical political economy of Eurasia. The workshop will take place at th...
scottgehlbach.net
January 25, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Amid everything else, a brief note to announce the CFP for the 2026 Summer Workshop in the Economic History and Historical Political Economy of Eurasia.
If you are an economist, historian, or political scientist working on Imperial Russia or the USSR, please consider applying.
July 17–18, Paris.
If you are an economist, historian, or political scientist working on Imperial Russia or the USSR, please consider applying.
July 17–18, Paris.
Well, it's interesting times to be teaching at a place that sees transatlantic relationships as its core focus
January 21, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Well, it's interesting times to be teaching at a place that sees transatlantic relationships as its core focus
Trump is not a "mad king" and we shouldn't be calling him that. He didn't come to power because of inheritance or conquest, we as a country elected him. The "mad king" language leaves us off the hook when this is on us all, and we should own it.
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Trump is not a "mad king" and we shouldn't be calling him that. He didn't come to power because of inheritance or conquest, we as a country elected him. The "mad king" language leaves us off the hook when this is on us all, and we should own it.
Reposted by Eugene Finkel
I review @efinkel.bsky.social’s Intent to Destroy: Russia’s Two-Hundred-Year Quest to Dominate Ukraine (Basic Books, 2024), a timely and compelling contribution to the scholarship on the historical roots of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
📄 Read the review here: doi.org/10.1093/psqu...
📄 Read the review here: doi.org/10.1093/psqu...
January 19, 2026 at 10:58 AM
I review @efinkel.bsky.social’s Intent to Destroy: Russia’s Two-Hundred-Year Quest to Dominate Ukraine (Basic Books, 2024), a timely and compelling contribution to the scholarship on the historical roots of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
📄 Read the review here: doi.org/10.1093/psqu...
📄 Read the review here: doi.org/10.1093/psqu...
2026 is going to kill sarcasm
Putin Invited to Join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ - The Moscow Times
The White House has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join a “Board of Peace” for resolving global conflicts, the Kremlin said Monday. “President Putin received an invitation through diploma...
www.themoscowtimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:36 AM
2026 is going to kill sarcasm
An EU Territorial Integrity Best Keeper Prize is as good idea as any, just sayin.
January 19, 2026 at 10:21 AM
An EU Territorial Integrity Best Keeper Prize is as good idea as any, just sayin.
Reposted by Eugene Finkel
Somehow this "controlling Venezuela's natural resources helps an average American logic" reminds me of an old Soviet joke.
A Jew phones an anti-Semitic organization:
- Is it true that Jews have sold Russia?
- Yes.
- Could you please tell me where I can get my share?
A Jew phones an anti-Semitic organization:
- Is it true that Jews have sold Russia?
- Yes.
- Could you please tell me where I can get my share?
WATTERS: Taking out a dictator in Venezuela -- how does that help the average American?
JD VANCE: First of all, what it means is we're gonna be able to control the incredible natural resources of Venezuela
JD VANCE: First of all, what it means is we're gonna be able to control the incredible natural resources of Venezuela
January 8, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Somehow this "controlling Venezuela's natural resources helps an average American logic" reminds me of an old Soviet joke.
A Jew phones an anti-Semitic organization:
- Is it true that Jews have sold Russia?
- Yes.
- Could you please tell me where I can get my share?
A Jew phones an anti-Semitic organization:
- Is it true that Jews have sold Russia?
- Yes.
- Could you please tell me where I can get my share?
I know nothing about municipal services in Berlin. But something like that would be rare, indeed almost unthinkable in Ukrainian cities whose old, underfunded infrastructure is being bombed, shelled, targeted by drones and hit by missiles on a daily basis. State capacity has many faces, here's one
Incredible how little attention this is getting outside Germany. "In its third full day, a ... power failure in Berlin resulting from an arson attack...tens of thousands...making do without heat, electricity, cellphone service & warm food or drinks." www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/w...
Thousands in Berlin Go Days Without Power and Cell Service After Cables Are Set on Fire
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:40 PM
I know nothing about municipal services in Berlin. But something like that would be rare, indeed almost unthinkable in Ukrainian cities whose old, underfunded infrastructure is being bombed, shelled, targeted by drones and hit by missiles on a daily basis. State capacity has many faces, here's one
The "willing" of this coalition are not even sure if they are willing (let alone capable) to guarantee their own security, so who the hell are we kidding here
President Zelensky has arrived in Paris for today’s “Coalition of the Willing” summit, where Kyiv’s allies will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Zelensky arrives in Paris for ‘Coalition of the Willing’ summit on security guarantees for Ukraine — Meduza
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Paris on Tuesday for a meeting of Kyiv’s allies to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. Around 35 countries are…
meduza.io
January 6, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The "willing" of this coalition are not even sure if they are willing (let alone capable) to guarantee their own security, so who the hell are we kidding here
One of the uncomfortable lessons of the last years is that when politicians say scary things, they usually mean it. They aren't being cynical, just make stuff up as they go or simply engage in coercive diplomacy. We would love them to do this all, but we aren't that lucky. It's likely gonna happen
TAPPER: Can you rule out the US is going to take Greenland by force?
MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO
T: So force is on the table?
M: Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over future of Greenland
MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO
T: So force is on the table?
M: Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over future of Greenland
January 6, 2026 at 9:11 AM
One of the uncomfortable lessons of the last years is that when politicians say scary things, they usually mean it. They aren't being cynical, just make stuff up as they go or simply engage in coercive diplomacy. We would love them to do this all, but we aren't that lucky. It's likely gonna happen
It went unnoticed given everything that is going on, but as of last week Russia officially legislated April 19 as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Genocide of the Soviet People by the Nazis and Their Collaborators. It was a day of commemoration before, now it is officially a genocide by law
January 5, 2026 at 6:41 PM
It went unnoticed given everything that is going on, but as of last week Russia officially legislated April 19 as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Genocide of the Soviet People by the Nazis and Their Collaborators. It was a day of commemoration before, now it is officially a genocide by law
So, as of January 2026, how many divisions does the Rules-Based International Order have?
January 4, 2026 at 2:05 PM
So, as of January 2026, how many divisions does the Rules-Based International Order have?
Can we please stop these naive arguments about drugs vs. oil. It is absolutely obvious that BRICS expansion is the real cause
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
January 3, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Can we please stop these naive arguments about drugs vs. oil. It is absolutely obvious that BRICS expansion is the real cause
Just imagine being an IR Realist this morning
January 3, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Just imagine being an IR Realist this morning
Reposted by Eugene Finkel
And then ICE will capture and deport Maduro
January 3, 2026 at 10:08 AM
And then ICE will capture and deport Maduro
And then what?
Maduro has been captured by the U.S. according to Trump
January 3, 2026 at 9:41 AM
And then what?
No matter how it ends, the biggest winner of this is Putin.
January 3, 2026 at 7:27 AM
No matter how it ends, the biggest winner of this is Putin.
Wow, those perfidious drug boats managed to drag themselves quite far inland
January 3, 2026 at 7:13 AM
Wow, those perfidious drug boats managed to drag themselves quite far inland
Reposted by Eugene Finkel
