Wisdom Without a Country
An encounter with a famous sculpture by Constantin Brâncuși raises questions about family, nationalism, and belonging; the role and refuge of art; and whether a country can ever recover from authoritarianism.
Wisdom Without a Country
Culture
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For African Asylum-Seekers, a Treacherous Journey Is Only the Beginning
Every year, tens of thousands of sub-Saharan Africans risk their lives for the chance to gain official refugee status in Europe. Of the few who make it to European soil, most are deported.
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Reconsidering How We Honor Those Lost to War
War monuments and memorials are a source of contention in the United States. It’s time to reimagine the ways we memorialize the heroes and victims of war.
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The Moral Code of Chinese Sex Workers
A researcher immersed herself in the "sisterhood" of China’s female sex trade—and came away with an appreciation of its rules of conduct.
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How Our Modern Lifestyles Perpetuate Slavery
“Human trafficking” brings to mind sex slavery and extreme human rights abuses. But an equally pernicious, lesser-known form of slavery persists in the U.S. and elsewhere.
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How and Why Hazing Evolved
Some researchers have claimed there’s an evolutionary explanation for hazing. If they’re correct, should we accept—or even encourage—the ongoing use of this type of initiation ritual?