It is not uncommon to see sharply divided reactions to films like The King’s Man. Some viewers dismiss it as chaotic or historically confusing, while others appreciate its deeper narrative structure and references. The difference, more often than not, lies not in the film itself, but in the viewer’s familiarity with history—particularly the complex web of European political relations before and during the First World War.
Continue readingIncentives, Burden-Sharing, and the Reconfiguration of the International Security Order
In the current international security landscape, one can observe a phenomenon that deserves careful and dispassionate analysis. The pressure exerted by Donald Trump on NATO allies—particularly regarding defense spending and strategic responsibility—has, in the short term, led several member states to reassess their own security obligations. One visible consequence has been a renewed European attention to strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy flows.
This development has attracted criticism. Some argue that such pressure undermines the so-called “postwar international order.” Yet this criticism often rests on an insufficiently examined premise: that the existing order is both neutral and self-sustaining. A closer look at the historical evolution of that order suggests otherwise.
Continue readingArtificial Intelligence, the Knowledge Problem, and Why Universities Will Become More Important, Not Less
Every technological breakthrough produces two kinds of reactions. The first is excitement—often exaggerated. The second is fear—almost always misplaced. Artificial intelligence is no exception. As large language models and memory-augmented systems advance, a familiar claim resurfaces: that university teaching and research will soon be automated away, and that professors will become obsolete. This argument misunderstands both artificial intelligence and universities. More importantly, it misunderstands knowledge itself.
Continue readingWhy Western Europe Is Falling Behind: Welfare States, Interventionism, and the Loss of Economic Vitality
To say that Western Europe is “poor” would be inaccurate and intellectually dishonest. Compared with developing countries, Western Europe remains wealthy. But that is not the correct benchmark. The real question is whether Western Europe has reached the level of dynamism, innovation, and economic vitality that its history, institutions, and human capital should allow. On this standard, the answer is increasingly no.
Continue readingEntrepreneurs, Not the State, Are the Driving Force of the Market Economy
In Human Action, Ludwig von Mises made a claim that remains deeply unsettling to statist thinking even today: the true driving force of the market economy is not the state, not bureaucratic planning, and not public authority—but entrepreneurs. This assertion is not rhetorical. It is a theoretical conclusion rooted in the logic of human action, the functioning of the price system, and the irreducible uncertainty of the future.
Continue readingBurden Sharing, Welfare States, and the Structural Tensions Within the Transatlantic Alliance
From time to time, strong emotional reactions emerge in transatlantic political discourse. These reactions are often framed in terms of “betrayal,” “pressure,” or “coercion.” While such language may resonate rhetorically, it obscures a more fundamental issue: the long-standing imbalance in security provision within the NATO alliance.
To understand why these tensions recur, one must move beyond rhetoric and examine incentives, fiscal realities, and institutional structures.
Continue readingEducation as Commitment: Methodology, Professional Ethics, and the Responsibility to Guide
In my approach to education, I have long held myself to a simple rule: respond to every student within forty-eight hours if I am not overloaded. No matter how demanding a week becomes, I refuse to allow a student’s question to disappear into silence. Education is not merely the act of lecturing or delivering content; it is the practice of showing presence, of demonstrating through action that every concern, every confusion, and every step forward truly matters.
Continue readingWhy Milei Won Argentina’s 2025 Legislative Election
Argentina’s legislative election of 26 October 2025 was not merely a midterm. It was a referendum on whether the country would continue along Javier Milei’s path of fiscal stabilization, deregulation, and market reform, or drift back toward the Peronist cycle of inflation, controls, subsidies, and policy reversals. The electorate chose continuity. Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) won about 40.8% of the national vote, became the fastest-growing force in Congress, and secured the one-third threshold in the lower house needed to help sustain presidential vetoes and strengthen his bargaining position for the second half of his term.
That result was not an accident, nor can it be reduced to charisma or media theater. It reflected a harder political fact: by late 2025, enough Argentines concluded that Milei’s policies, however painful, were producing visible macroeconomic improvement, while the opposition still represented the memory of chronic inflation, fiscal disorder, and repeated policy whiplash. Some analysts tied Milei’s stronger-than-expected result to fear of renewed turmoil if austerity and reform were abandoned; polling analysts likewise said many voters were willing to give the government more time precisely because they did not want to relive earlier crises.
Continue readingAttitude, Curiosity, and the Formation of Serious Scholars
In many situations, attitude is decisive. This is not a motivational cliché, but a structural fact about intellectual life. Over the years, when I speak with younger scholars in the Austrian School—particularly in Spain—I repeatedly observe a striking pattern. Those who listen attentively, reflect carefully, and actually put suggestions into practice tend to achieve excellent results. Their academic trajectories advance more quickly, but more importantly, they grow as individuals. Their confidence deepens, their intellectual independence strengthens, and their capacity for judgment matures.
Continue readingThe Perils of Secondhand Knowledge: Socialism, State Intervention, and Intellectual Responsibility
In every field of human endeavor—religion, economics, politics, and scholarship—there is a temptation to rely on secondhand knowledge. It feels safe, it feels convenient, but it is profoundly dangerous. Secondhand commentary not only distorts the truth; it also blinds us to reality and opens the door to errors with consequences that stretch across nations and generations. From theology to international policy, from economic reform to ideological conflict, the lesson is clear: nothing can replace firsthand study, serious engagement, and intellectual humility.
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William Wang 