Why?

Hello. This is Greg Bates. I’m working with Stephen to post his writings.

The flood of news threatens to drown our hopes and paralyze us. These dire times make me excited to curate Stephen’s Substack. He offers the long view backed by a deep understanding based on decades spent analyzing and teaching US, Middle Eastern and global politics. These posts of old and new articles illuminate both the essential continuities and jarring disconnects, providing a lifeline of comprehension.

Reading Stephen feels like coming up for air.

—Greg
May, 2025