The Outpost

The Outpost is an investigative platform delving into complex global issues, including geopolitics, militarization, cultural shifts, and economic paradigms. It analyzes contemporary and historical events, technological impacts, and societal transformations, often exploring underreported aspects and offering nuanced perspectives on power dynamics, resource conflicts, and the human condition.

Geopolitics Military and Warfare Cultural and Societal Analysis Economic Paradigms and Conflicts Technological Impacts on Society Human Rights and Trafficking Historical Events and Perspectives Globalization and Its Discontents Propaganda and Media Influence

The hottest Substack posts of The Outpost

And their main takeaways

Mercenaries as lean recruitment: lessons from the Toyota Production System

98 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
💾 History Military
  1. The Toyota Production System focused on Just In Time (JIT) manufacturing to match production with demand and reduce waste.
  2. Japan's mid-century economic challenges led to innovations in manufacturing practices and efficiency.
  3. Using mercenaries for military functions can promote efficiency and control of power, akin to the transition to 'lean recruitment' in industries like Toyota.
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Bandung a Sea of Fire: un-aligning the periphery

98 implied HN points • 06 May 23
💾 History Decolonization Independence Cold War
  1. Bandung, Indonesia has a rich history as a colonial resort city favored by the Dutch.
  2. Bandung's significance continued post-independence, with leaders like Sukarno shaping its political and architectural identity.
  3. The Bandung Conference and Non-Aligned Movement were pivotal in uniting newly independent nations and shaping global geopolitics.

War and Mass human sacrifice

137 implied HN points • 29 Jun 22
  1. Early military life focuses on cultivating virtues like punctuality and tidiness.
  2. Understanding the difference between cause and justification is crucial in a study of violence.
  3. Modern resource wars can be seen as a form of mass human sacrifice, with responsibility diluted in the collective.

Vaccine incentive calculator

235 implied HN points • 12 Aug 21
  1. The response to Covid has consequences beyond the virus itself.
  2. Mandatory vaccination sets a precedent for control over individuals' bodies.
  3. Vaccines are designed to protect populations, not just individuals.

Short note: Circuit Diversion.

117 implied HN points • 29 Apr 22
  1. Europe heavily relies on Russian gas, posing a strategic challenge.
  2. US promotes LNG as a solution, requiring significant infrastructure investment.
  3. Russia aims to control and manage gas supply to Europe for power and profit.

Playing chicken in Africa

78 implied HN points • 31 Jul 22
  1. Signs of change are visible in European politics.
  2. African countries face challenges in their poultry production.
  3. Russia's influence in Africa impacts European politics and migration.

Central phenomenons of war and Technoeconomic Evolution

98 implied HN points • 02 May 22
  1. Wars have deep impacts beyond immediate historical context
  2. Global conflicts can lead to significant technological advancements
  3. War can force progress against the preferences of capital owners

Vodka & Petrol Martini, stirred not shaken

98 implied HN points • 16 Feb 22
  1. Kazakhstan's strategic importance lies in its location, holding key infrastructure like the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
  2. Nursultan Nazarbayev's political legacy includes nuclear disarmament efforts and a focus on diversity.
  3. Recent events in Kazakhstan reveal a complex web of political, economic, and strategic interests involving global powers like Russia and the US.

Guest column available at Covidian Aesthetics

98 implied HN points • 02 Feb 22
  1. Guest column by Cornelius Stahlblau available at Covidian Aesthetics.
  2. Friendly substack recommendation: Covidian Aesthetics by Mónica Belevan and Alonso Toledo.
  3. Check out the guest column 'The Communicating Vessels' by Stahlblau.

In the news (09/07/2022): cannibalism as an answer to food insecurity

58 implied HN points • 10 Jul 22
  1. 350 years ago, Johan de Witt's story involved his murder, mutilation, and cannibalism, revealing the dark side of Dutch political violence.
  2. Amsterdam's history as a powerful city and its connection to world events like the Eighty Years War showcase its influence and role in shaping global power dynamics.
  3. Recent protests in the Netherlands due to new regulations on farmland reveal tensions between the government, farmers, and the potential impact on food security.

Making sense of a weird war

78 implied HN points • 02 Mar 22
  1. Last week's events highlight the uncertainty and weirdness of the ongoing conflict.
  2. NATO countries are hesitant to commit to Ukraine due to lack of ownership and citizen support.
  3. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine may involve intricate strategic plans and calculated moves by both sides.

In the news (23/5/2022): Kazakhstan revisited.

58 implied HN points • 24 May 22
  1. The President of Kazakhstan emphasized the importance of maintaining and increasing investments from various countries
  2. President Tokayev highlighted the significance of trade relationships, particularly with Turkey and Central Asia
  3. The Foreign Investment Council, established to promote dialogue between the government and foreign investors, includes heavyweights from the Kazakh establishment and represents diverse international interests

Join me on Notes

19 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Substack Connection Community
  1. Notes provides a new space on Substack for sharing links, posts, quotes, photos, and more.
  2. Subscribers to The Outpost can automatically access the author's notes and engage with them.
  3. Readers can also share their own notes, creating a community space for exchanging thoughts and ideas.

Q&A with Tundranaut

39 implied HN points • 31 Mar 22
  1. Tundranaut interviewed someone recently.
  2. They talked about topics like Afghanistan and feeling like jaded astronauts.
  3. The interviewer recommended a newsletter called Second Power.

September 11th and the humiliation of Empires

58 implied HN points • 24 Sep 21
  1. September 11th holds significant historical connotations for the humiliation of empires.
  2. Key events like the Battle of Teutoburg Forest highlight pivotal moments in European history.
  3. The Catalan separatist movement faces challenges in navigating global geopolitics and history.

Faustian bearers of the White Man's Burden, with a Castilian lisp

58 implied HN points • 06 Sep 21
  1. Spanish rule in the New World was not based on indirect rule like British or French colonies.
  2. Protestant propaganda from the 16th century still impacts perceptions of Spain and the conquistadors.
  3. The narrative around the conquistadors as modernist figures challenges established views and ownership of Modernity.

Spenglerian moments, borders, and the rise and fall of kingdoms

39 implied HN points • 14 Dec 21
  1. Civilizations rise and fall, facing challenges like war, plague, death, and conquest.
  2. International relationships and politics are constantly evolving, shaped by leaders and shifting priorities.
  3. Changes in power dynamics can drastically impact nations, as seen in the case of Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Spain.

Otto Weininger, Red Pill Prophet of the Biopolitical Age

39 implied HN points • 29 Nov 20
  1. Otto Weininger did not believe in women's emancipation.
  2. Weininger theorized that all sexual attraction was homosexual.
  3. Weininger viewed feminization of society as negative and tied it to degradation of art and politics.

Catabolic Woke Capitalism

19 implied HN points • 10 Sep 21
  1. A new TV show blends activism with social media gamification to create online engagement and metrics for measuring success.
  2. The G20, originally a forum for financial leaders, evolved into a platform for discussing global issues at a head of state level.
  3. The concept of virtue signaling is taken to a new level with the commoditization of activism and the temptation of capitalizing on social causes.

The Leviathan in the Room

19 implied HN points • 23 Jul 21
  1. The Cold War era had clear alliances, unlike the current uncertain global scenario.
  2. The dichotomy between the USA and China is a marketable narrative for today's news consumers.
  3. There is a convergence between China and the West, showing early signs of a global system.

Plague and the City: of Rats and Men

19 implied HN points • 25 Jun 21
  1. Yersinia pestis is a dangerous bacterium responsible for the plague which has caused various pandemics throughout history.
  2. Plague pandemics like the Plague of Justinian and the Black Death led to significant social, economic, and political changes in Europe.
  3. Plague historically spread through rats and impacted urban centers more severely, leading to power shifts and highlighting inequalities between different regions.

Cybernetics of migration in the Covidian Age

19 implied HN points • 22 Mar 21
  1. Record numbers of illegal immigrant arrivals have overwhelmed systems in places like the Canary Islands.
  2. Increased security at EU borders due to COVID has altered immigration flow dynamics.
  3. Migration routes have become a complex cybernetic system that can be regulated and controlled.

Diesel, gas, and paradox

19 implied HN points • 01 Mar 21
  1. Germany was involved in the Dieselgate scandal, where car manufacturers presented fraudulent emission measurements.
  2. Diesel's decline led to changes in policies like France's diesel tax and the rise of electric car makers.
  3. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline project caused controversy due to Germany's offer to the US in exchange for importing American LNG, potentially altering Germany's energy landscape.

Caviar, marketing, and competition on the Russian Far East

19 implied HN points • 23 Feb 21
  1. Chinese sturgeon farming has revolutionized the caviar industry, with China now producing 60% of the world's caviar
  2. International collaboration in the Russian Far East, especially involving India and Japan, is shaping geopolitics and economic development
  3. The control of resources in untapped regions like the Arctic is intertwined with geopolitical strategies and influences global power dynamics

Neo Proletarian Technolords and Dei ex machina

19 implied HN points • 27 Jan 21
  1. Criticism of 'Rule by Experts' is becoming common, especially during the pandemic.
  2. Technology is often seen as a thing of the past until it's needed in desperate situations.
  3. Belief in technology as a neutral force can lead to misplaced hopes for moral progress.

Tsunamis, pranks and uprisings

19 implied HN points • 19 Jan 21
  1. Sedition is a serious offense with historical roots from the Civil War Era
  2. Virtual consumption of entertainment can impact decision-making in real-world scenarios
  3. Decentralized movements like Tsunami Democràtic can leverage technology for effective protests

Trumpist Crypto-insurrections and pet Hydras

19 implied HN points • 12 Jan 21
  1. Internet regulation and censorship have been a norm since the 90s in cyberspace.
  2. Decentralization push could be intensified under the Biden administration.
  3. Decentralized networks like the Hydra can be challenging to eliminate but may struggle with complex goals.

Rise and fall of Hispanity: a memetic history

19 implied HN points • 18 Dec 20
  1. Charles V and his descendants ruled the first global empire.
  2. The Protestant Reformation spawned from a memetic mutation of Catholic teaching.
  3. The War of Succession signaled a shift from religious universalism to raison d'État.

Based Poland

19 implied HN points • 07 Dec 20
  1. Poland's political landscape is divided between Open Society liberals and Neo-Westphalian National Populists.
  2. Poland has ambitious plans to shift its geopolitical position by challenging Germany's role in Europe through infrastructure projects and military cooperation with the US.
  3. The outcome of Poland's political direction may depend on global events such as the US election results and alliances with countries like Russia and the US.

Serving two lords in the Third Rome: a quick note on the Nagorno-Karabakh

19 implied HN points • 22 Nov 20
  1. Cultural differences often lead to conflicts in regions where civilizations meet.
  2. The Nagorno-Karabakh armistice involving Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia has strategic significance.
  3. Perceptions of alliances based on civilizational background may not always reflect the true relationships between countries.

China, Outer Space and the Arctic's melting point

19 implied HN points • 15 Nov 20
  1. The Arctic is often compared to Outer Space as a remote, barren land reliant on advanced technology.
  2. Advances in the Arctic depend on satellites from Outer Space for communication and technology.
  3. Cooperation between major powers in the Arctic has remained steady despite tensions, with the entry of new players like China raising questions about the delicate balance.

The Law and the Algorithm: Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Curzio Malaparte

19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 20
  1. Curzio Malaparte analyzed the technical aspects of seizing power in his book 'Technique du coup d'État'.
  2. Malaparte emphasized the importance of controlling vital state resources for a successful rise to power.
  3. The current power struggle is between those who believe in traditional voting and those who control the attention economy online.

Post-election ripples: Trump's friends and foes accross the Atlantic

19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 20
  1. The US presidential election aftermath led to increased polarization and justifying political violence has also escalated.
  2. Political divisions and crises in Spain mirror the situation in the US, with Vox emerging as the 'Trumpist' party in the country.
  3. European politics are influenced by alliances and rivalries, as seen through Spain's People's Party and Citizens showing alignment with Brussels over Trump's geopolitical goals.