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Jan Dehn's Blog
Commentary on the world
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William Powell
William Powell was vilified in the wake of the Columbine High School massacre for his book "The Anarchist Cookbook". However, he is not the man he was made out to be. He was the best teacher I ever had.

Jan Dehn
3 days ago8 min read
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Tabora's dark past
Livingstone was one of history’s devious little shits, not a hero. He portrayed himself as a self-sacrificing slavery-fighting moral authority, but in reality he was obsessed with greed and Empire.

Jan Dehn
Jul 28 min read
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Suriname's upcoming election
Suriname heads to the polls on 25 May, 2025. Will it plunge back into populism or has Suriname turned a corner after the death of Bouterse?

Jan Dehn
Mar 108 min read
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French Guiana’s struggle to populate: Lessons for us all
French Guiana's population dynamics are - don't laugh - really interesting! They hold important lessons for Western economies.

Jan Dehn
Mar 87 min read
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Algerian path dependence
Algeria's post-1962 governments have relied more on the past than than reaching for the future. Only a drop in oil prices changes this...

Jan Dehn
Sep 29, 202420 min read
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The Battle of Belchite
The Battle of Belchite was the Republican victory that lost the war against Fascism.

Jan Dehn
Mar 25, 20248 min read
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The Hemingway Ronda controversy
Was one of the most distressing chapter in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" set in the Spanish town of Ronda?

Jan Dehn
Mar 10, 20244 min read
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The life and fate of S/V Elinor
This is the story of the life and final fate of S/V Elinor, a fine wooden sailing ship that sadly no longer graces our oceans.

Jan Dehn
Jan 24, 20245 min read
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Unwanted babies and Barcelona’s foundling wheel
An inconspicuous hole in a city wall in Barcelona conceals a dark history.

Jan Dehn
Nov 4, 20234 min read
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Hotel Colón, Buenaventura Durruti, and the birth of the Spanish Revolution
The fascinating tory of a hotel on Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona.

Jan Dehn
Oct 28, 20235 min read
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Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, Barcelona
Shrapnel marks on the walls surrounding a little square in Barcelona remind us of what happens when fascism is not stopped in time.

Jan Dehn
Sep 28, 20232 min read
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FLASHBACK: Gabon's 2016 election
Celebrating my 50th birthday on a train in Gabon....during a coup!

Jan Dehn
Aug 30, 20232 min read
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The Channel Islands: Uncomfortable questions
The UK government has bowed to pressure to hold an inquiry into Nazi concentration camps on British soil. What will it find?

Jan Dehn
Jul 22, 20235 min read
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The Hotel Yamato incident - Surabaya, Indonesia
Majapahit Hotel headquartered the Japanese during WWII. After the war, the Netherlands flag was raised on the hotel’s flagpole, causing outrage among nationalist Indonesians.

Jan Dehn
Apr 10, 20233 min read
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Nepal's twin curses: the Shahs and the Ranas
Nepal has struggled to transition to democracy. Many of the difficulties were due to just two families, the Shahs and the Ranas.

Jan Dehn
Mar 28, 20237 min read
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Tea for two and two for tea!
Sri Lanka is the second-largest tea exporter in the world. Put the kettle on and learn more about Sri Lankan tea!

Jan Dehn
Feb 23, 20233 min read
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Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Sigiriya is a beautiful site with great views and a rich history.

Jan Dehn
Feb 22, 20233 min read
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Sardar Patel and the death of Indian feudalism
Udaipur evokes many thoughts about India's history - and James Bond.

Jan Dehn
Feb 20, 20235 min read
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Hue Imperial City, Vietnam
Bao Dai was one of history's losers, but he lived in a cool palace!

Jan Dehn
Feb 3, 20231 min read
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Hue 55 years after the Tet Offensive
The Hue Citadel still bears the scars of a major battle during the Vietnam War some 55 years ago.

Jan Dehn
Feb 2, 20232 min read
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