The best longreads of 2014 on world affairs

2014/12/20 1:00:01

The Dying Russians

The New York Review Of Books

 

What it's about

Why are so many Russians dying so young?

 

Excerpt

Sometime in 1993, after several trips to Russia, I noticed something bizarre and disturbing people kept dying. I was used to losing friends to AIDS in the United States, but this was different. People in Russia were dying suddenly and violently, and their own friends and colleagues did not find these deaths shocking. 


By Nick Robins-Early for The Huffington Post, Dec 18, 2014

 

The year 2014 was a tumultuous one, with more than its fair share of world-changing events. The media has covered the chaos using all the methods at its disposal Live blogs, images and rapid on-the-ground reporting have allowed journalists to disseminate the news in real time, giving a visceral reaction to unfolding events.

 

But another type of journalism -- long-form -- has offered readers an invaluable opportunity to better understand the world. In 2014, journalists devoted themselves to delving into the globe's most pressing problems, giving voice to the stories that matter. It's hard to overstate the amount of time, skill and effort put into writing and reporting long-form features like these, let alone what it takes to achieve this level of quality work as a result.

 

At a moment when the model of media is often to find the quickest, hottest take on an issue, these stories are evidence of the important work that can be accomplished taking a different tack. Though this list is by no means exhaustive, here is some of the best long-form writing of 2014 on global affairs

 

Russia

 

Watching The Eclipse

David Remnick -- The New Yorker

 

What it's about

The rise and fall of Ambassador Michael McFaul and the hope for a democratic Russia.

 

Excerpt

“McFaul was nervous, but an intermediary from Yeltsin’s team told him, “You are better off going than not going.” He called his wife, who was in Palo Alto, and told her, “If I am not back by the end of the day, tell the Embassy.”

 

The Dying Russians

Masha Gessen -- The New York Review Of Books

 

What it's about

Why are so many Russians dying so young

 

Excerpt

Sometime in 1993, after several trips to Russia, I noticed something bizarre and disturbing people kept dying. I was used to losing friends to AIDS in the United States, but this was different. People in Russia were dying suddenly and violently, and their own friends and colleagues did not find these deaths shocking.

 

Inside the Iron Closet What It's Like to Be Gay in Putin's Russia

Jeff Sharlet -- GQ

 

What it's about

Personal accounts show the horrible reality of living under homophobia and persecution in today's Russia.

 

Excerpt

The new law explicitly forbids any suggestion that queer love is equal to that of heterosexuals, but what constitutes such a suggestion One man was charged for holding up a sign that said being gay is ok. Pride parades are out of the question, a pink triangle enough to get you arrested, if not beaten.

 

The Loneliness of Vladimir Putin

Julia Ioffe -- The New Republic

 

What it's about

A wide-ranging look at Putin's Russia, and those who oppose it.

 

Excerpt

After the economic collapse and chaos of the 1990s, Putin and the Russians had entered a tacit social compact. The government would provide stability and wealth, and the people would stay out of the government’s business.

 

For the complete text including lists on Syria and other hot spots, link below:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12 ... reads-2014_n_6337908.html

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