Dear Tobias,

thank you for sharing your interesting and provoking thoughts. I dont agree that the destructive wheel of history is unstoppable, as you obviously think, but your case — that these terrible things might happen — is scary. Fortunately, the checks and balances of modern societies make it harder to repeat the events that lead to WWI. As a proof, I dare you to follow the actual course of the coming Brexit. Contrary to what many “leavers” may expect, I believe that the real-life Brexit will turn out to be a “remain” in disguise, alternative powerstructures equal in force to the political system (like the internatnional financial markets) will ensure that this silly and selfdestructive democratic decision is modified significantly before it is carried out.

A final comment: I know that Mugabe is frequently referred to as the “African Hitler”, but the comparison is unfair and not worthy of a historian like yourself. Rightfully, you should blame Tony Blair — not Mugabe - for the failed attempts to forge a peaceful solution to the land-issue in Zim.