The Roots of Terrorist Motivation: Shame,Rage, and Violence in The Brothers Karamazov

Abstract

Dostoevsky's most famous novel dealing with terrorism is his work The Demons. In this first-ever novel about terrorism, he carefully analyzed the various factors that contributed to the rise of modern terrorism. This article argues that Dostoevsky's subsequent novel, The Brothers Karamazov, is equally important in understanding the motivations of individual terrorists. The author argues that The Brothers Karamazov is fundamentally a novel about the rage and violence that are the byproducts of shame and humiliation. If modern counterterrorism policymakers, analysts, and operatives are serious about understanding the fundamental motivations of modern terrorists, it may benefit them to read (or reread) The Brothers Karazamov in this light.     

The Knightly Brothers of Bernard of Clairvaux and the Twelfth-Century Cistercian Lay Monk*

Abbot Bernard of Clairvaux (r. 1115–1153) was a prominent twelfth-century religious leader whose knightly family collectively converted to monastic life with him in adulthood around 1113. Following Clairvaux's foundation in 1115, Bernard's brothers held roles of significant estate seniority despite their own professional limitations as newly converted and apparently illiterate knights. This study discusses their professional backgrounds and contexts as “lay monks” or monachi laici, converts who possessed no prior church grade or formally recognised Latin competence. The careers of Bernard's brothers and other Benedictines across the eleventh to early thirteenth centuries illuminate a number of the ways in which secular converts could contribute to their abbeys as culturally mixed and prosperous religious estate communities.     

Spending the Lunar New Year's DayWith Han Brothers and Sisters

ＳｐｅｎｄｉｎｇｔｈｅＬｕｎａｒＮｅｗＹｅａｒ＇ｓＤａｙＷｉｔｈＨａｎＢｒｏｔｈｅｒｓａｎｄＳｉｓｔｅｒｓ￥ＰｈｏｔｏｓｂｙＴａｎｇＺｈａｏｍｉｎｇＨａｎＳｉｓｔｅｒＬｉＸｉａｏｆｅｎｇｇｒｅｅｔｉｎｇｈｅｒＴｉｂｅｔａｎＳｉｓｔｅｒＤａｗａＬｈａｍ...     

潘柽章、潘耒兄弟之明史学成就考述

明末清初史学家潘柽章、潘耒兄弟二人一生致力于明史的撰述工作。柽章撰《国史考异》、《明史记》,考证精审;《今乐府》为史诗性著作,保存了大量历史资料。潘耒应诏入明史馆,参与《明史》纂修,提出多项修史建议,堪为后世典范。二人毕生致力于明史研究的学术精神成就了中国文化史上的一段佳话。     

The Tomb of the Three Brothers in Palmyra: The Use of Mimetite,A Rare Yellow Pigment,in A Rich Decoration

The wall paintings of the Tomb of the Three Brothers in Palmyra display a very rich Greco‐Roman iconography. The study of the painting reveals the use of a great variety of pigments, including Egyptian blue and an extremely rare bright yellow pigment, mimetite, of which no other traces are known for this period. This pigment was identified through the combined use of two methods of analysis, scanning electron microscopy associated with X‐ray microanalysis (SEM–EDS) and X‐ray micro‐diffraction (XRD). The varied chromatic palette used underlines the refinement and the particular care given to these decorations. Notable differences have been found between the pigments of the decorations of the arch and those used for the rest of the chamber.     

契丹"盐池宴"、"诸弟之乱"与夷离堇任期问题

中原史料关于契丹"盐池宴"的记载,始终是学界产生困惑的疑端;但经过南、北史料系统(即《辽史》等代表的北方史料和《新五代史》等代表的中原史料)的分析与研究,可以清晰地辨别出"盐池宴"与"诸弟之乱"存在的史料类同关系,还可发现大夷离堇职务与部落首领世选与任期问题存在的疑端,从而解决辽初史料整理中的一些基本问题。