Verbal Notes Newlsetter # 6
The Twenty-First-Century General, Islamic Enlightenment, Credibility Gaps, and more
Verbal Notes Newlsetter # 6
Our Webpage continues to grow, including links to articles on current events and Notes on books on International Relations and related topics.
Recent additions include:
· The Islamic Enlightenment, (Books & More) a reflective book about modern Islam and its relation to modernity by C. de Bellaigue, a former correspondent for The Economist in Teheran. According to the author, “for the past two centuries Islam has been going through a pained yet exhilarating transformation–a Reformation, an Enlightenment and an Industrial Revolution all at once”, although social and political events gave birth to a “Counter-Enlightenment” in the last decades.
· Command: The Twenty-First-Century General (Books & More). Considering the Division (around 20.000 individuals) as the more relevant Military Unit for current conflicts, this book analyses the need to define the general objectives of the operation (the “Commander’s Intent”), communicate them clearly, and delegate most of the decisions at lower echelons closer to events. This military approach can provide lessons to the management of large organizations.
· Links to articles on the Global Credibility Gap (“The US has not lost significant power in recent years, but its credibility has diminished, whereas China has gained significant power but not the credibility to match it.”), the use of the Term ‘Genocide’ in Gaza, or changing US public opinion on the Middle East. All of them as part of Verbal Notes Digest.
You can also check posts from all sections by tags, including on Israel, Strategy, Management or Jihadism, among many others.
Please feel free to reach out and comment.
Happy reading!!



