Haley KynefininPower LinesCivilization on Steroids: Inside the Mind-Logic of the Devouring EmpireThe beast of empire is the “city-state” turned cancerous. Its hunger for growth is eternal, and its logic has changed the world forever.Feb 29, 20201Feb 29, 20201
Haley KynefininPower LinesA Beginner’s Geography LessonMaps are more than simply mirrors reflecting the world as it is. They are also stories about power. Learn to see the world through new…Oct 17, 2019Oct 17, 2019
Haley KynefininPower LinesBorder Walls, Alliances and Blurry Identities: Nomadic Peoples and the Early EmpireThe first border walls were built to draw a line between nomads and the newly-”civilized”. But were they really such polarized identities?Sep 26, 20191Sep 26, 20191
Haley KynefininThe StartupAn Introduction to Indie Social Media, Part One: The diaspora* OverviewSocial media behemoths have conquered our data and our the landscapes of our attention. How can we start to diversify our digital networks?Aug 22, 2019Aug 22, 2019
Haley KynefinVagrant Hearts: The Illegal History of the Nomadic LifeSince the dawn of civilization, nations have tried to contain and strangle the free heart of the wanderer.Jul 11, 20191Jul 11, 20191
Haley KynefininPower LinesFuel of the First Kingdoms: The Grain and Manpower ModuleEvery system needs “food” — or energy — to function. On what did the first state institutions feed?Jun 19, 2019Jun 19, 2019
Haley KynefininPower LinesPower in Hand: How Trade, the Temple, and War Gave the First States ControlHow did the first states gain control over their people? I discuss it in three stages based on Michael Mann’s sociology.May 23, 20192May 23, 20192
Haley KynefininPower LinesMyth vs. Fact in the State of Nature: Hunter-Gatherers and Life Before the StateWhat was life like before government? We examine whether the Hobbesian “state of nature” is fact or fiction. What does the evidence say?Apr 26, 20193Apr 26, 20193
Haley KynefininPower LinesA Perfect Recipe for a State: How Rivers and Cages Birthed CivilizationSociologist Michael Mann upends traditional narratives on civilization’s origins, arguing the state was the rare result of unique…Mar 27, 2019Mar 27, 2019
Haley KynefininPower LinesWhat Forms Does Government Take? Merchant, Soldier, SageLast time we examined common oppositions to the idea of direct democracy, and where those oppositions come from. Later on, we’ll ask…Mar 1, 20191Mar 1, 20191