Throughout history, people have resisted what they saw as unjust and oppressive systems. This book examines the legacy of that opposition in the Netherlands, from the Patriot uprisings of the 18th century to contemporary concerns about anti-institutional extremism. The goal is to understand how and why people resist established powers and what the consequences have been.

My personal connection to this topic is deeply rooted in my own family history. My ancestor, Jacob Arnold Clignett, was a f...

The Temple of Delphi features the inscription "Know Thyself." This encouragement can still be found in every Masonic lodge. In order to penetrate the fast scheme of things, a man must first learn to know himself. The experience of undergoing the rituals of Freemasonry can be of service to the man who seeks new perspectives. In addition to insights derived from philosophy, psychology, and esoteric movements, it is essential to have knowledge of history and culture. This culture dictates an ide...

Any democracy perishes by itself. After all, all power-structures are part of boom-and-bust cycles.

Q. Why, then, didn't our democracy collapse already?

A. Because our dying democracy is anxiously kept in a vegetative state.

Q. By whom?

A. By the wealth- & power holders, the top 0.01 percent, the dominant class who, in fact, have always held power. Indeed, democracy, in the end, always amounts to an elite (Robert Michels' Iron Law of Oligarchy, 1911). For when an interest group seizes po...

Kurds, known to many to be fearless people with history and cultural heritage going way beyond the borders of a land, are often badly or minimally represented in the media. So, who are these people, and what is their deal?