Mitch Bernard
@mkbernard.bsky.social
Political economist, retired Japan specialist, inveterate language learner, cinephile & traveller
I'm no booster of NAFTA or its successor agreement but this is how it will die, not with huge rhetorical bluster but from dozens of defaulted contracts by executives afraid of Donald Trump. Let's hope Stellantis never sells another vehicle in Canada!
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/w...
Canada Declares Stellantis in Default for Moving Jeep Production to U.S.
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I'm no booster of NAFTA or its successor agreement but this is how it will die, not with huge rhetorical bluster but from dozens of defaulted contracts by executives afraid of Donald Trump. Let's hope Stellantis never sells another vehicle in Canada!
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/w...
This is the standard that we can increasingly expect from the NY Times beyond its obsession with Donald Trump; a completely trivial piece about the style of Japan's new far-right prime minister as part of what it refers to as "critic's notebook"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
The Most Impactful Political Handbag Since Mrs. Thatcher’s
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
This is the standard that we can increasingly expect from the NY Times beyond its obsession with Donald Trump; a completely trivial piece about the style of Japan's new far-right prime minister as part of what it refers to as "critic's notebook"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
The very thing is happening here in Kyoto that has devastated the restaurant scene in those areas in Italian towns and cities overrun by tourism. But away from the hoards, in ordinary neighbourhoods and non-touristy locales, normal gastronomic life persists.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/w...
The Spritzes and Carbonaras That Ate Italy
www.nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The very thing is happening here in Kyoto that has devastated the restaurant scene in those areas in Italian towns and cities overrun by tourism. But away from the hoards, in ordinary neighbourhoods and non-touristy locales, normal gastronomic life persists.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/w...
In a China-obsessed US, Dan Wong’s new book Breakneck is making waves. It echoes the 1980s wave of books on Japan’s rise, warning of threats & lessons for America. The parallels are striking, contrasting “ideal-type” societies — engineering vs. legalistic — to feed the same old American anxieties.
September 23, 2025 at 5:51 PM
In a China-obsessed US, Dan Wong’s new book Breakneck is making waves. It echoes the 1980s wave of books on Japan’s rise, warning of threats & lessons for America. The parallels are striking, contrasting “ideal-type” societies — engineering vs. legalistic — to feed the same old American anxieties.
The country with the most contentious language politics is undoubtedly India where the BJP's attempt to entrench Hindi as the national language is an element of its Hindu nationalist agenda which is being resisted in India's many non-Hindi speaking regions
globalpressjournal.com/asia/india/w...
globalpressjournal.com/asia/india/w...
What India’s Battle Over Hindi Really Means
The clash over language teaching is less about classrooms and more about who gets to define what it means to be Indian.
globalpressjournal.com
September 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The country with the most contentious language politics is undoubtedly India where the BJP's attempt to entrench Hindi as the national language is an element of its Hindu nationalist agenda which is being resisted in India's many non-Hindi speaking regions
globalpressjournal.com/asia/india/w...
globalpressjournal.com/asia/india/w...
Ever since Abegglen & Stark's book on Japanese production in 1988, Americans have been getting E Asia's political economy wrong, fixating on cutting edge innovation rather than innovative production ecosystems. Here we see this yet again re China's Biotech sector
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
Opinion | China’s Biotech Is Cheaper and Faster
www.nytimes.com
August 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Ever since Abegglen & Stark's book on Japanese production in 1988, Americans have been getting E Asia's political economy wrong, fixating on cutting edge innovation rather than innovative production ecosystems. Here we see this yet again re China's Biotech sector
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
N. American ICE vehicle manufacturing may be too integrated to unwind, but tariffs will discourage EV and component production in Canada, despite major public incentives. The Canadian government may eventually need to reconsider its stance on Chinese EV makers.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/w...
Tariffs Drive Honda to Move S.U.V. Production From Canada to U.S.
www.nytimes.com
May 14, 2025 at 1:16 AM
N. American ICE vehicle manufacturing may be too integrated to unwind, but tariffs will discourage EV and component production in Canada, despite major public incentives. The Canadian government may eventually need to reconsider its stance on Chinese EV makers.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/w...
This is the 88th anniversary of Picasso's Guernica, a powerful tribute to the victims of Nazi bombardment during the Spanish Civil War. It's heartbreaking how 21st-century Guernicas remain an almost daily occurrence all over the world
www.diario-red.com/articulo/mem...
www.diario-red.com/articulo/mem...
Gernika recuerda con una ofrenda floral a las víctimas del bombardeo de en su 88 aniversario
Durante el acto se ha recordado que "el diablo de la guerra y de la sinrazón no descansa" y la solidaridad con "otros Gernika del siglo XXI"
www.diario-red.com
April 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
This is the 88th anniversary of Picasso's Guernica, a powerful tribute to the victims of Nazi bombardment during the Spanish Civil War. It's heartbreaking how 21st-century Guernicas remain an almost daily occurrence all over the world
www.diario-red.com/articulo/mem...
www.diario-red.com/articulo/mem...
Pour les amoureux de littérature, la sortie du troisième tome de la trilogie de Leïla Slimani, c’est de la lecture idéale pour profiter des beaux jours !
April 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Pour les amoureux de littérature, la sortie du troisième tome de la trilogie de Leïla Slimani, c’est de la lecture idéale pour profiter des beaux jours !
Who could possibly better represent the interests of indigenous people worldwide than a representative the white, christian-nationalist American far right?
www.lemonde.fr/videos/video...
www.lemonde.fr/videos/video...
Vidéo. En images : J. D. Vance : « Notre message au Danemark est très simple : vous n’avez pas fait du bon travail pour le peuple du Groenland »
Vidéo - Lors de sa visite vendredi de la seule base militaire américaine de l’île, le vice-président américain a violemment critiqué l’inaction supposée du Danemark au Groenland, dont Donald Trump a r...
www.lemonde.fr
March 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Who could possibly better represent the interests of indigenous people worldwide than a representative the white, christian-nationalist American far right?
www.lemonde.fr/videos/video...
www.lemonde.fr/videos/video...
Pour une partie de l’extrême droite américaine, le Canada a toujours été perçu comme une réserve de ressources naturelles auxquelles ils estiment avoir droit. Les attaques répétées de Trump contre le Canada s’inscrivent dans cette logique qui ne date pas d’hier.
www.lemonde.fr/planete/arti...
www.lemonde.fr/planete/arti...
Donald Trump convoite l’eau du Canada pour lutter contre les pénuries aux Etats-Unis
Washington a suspendu les négociations sur le traité du fleuve Columbia, qui serpente sur près de 2 000 kilomètres entre les deux pays.
www.lemonde.fr
March 18, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Pour une partie de l’extrême droite américaine, le Canada a toujours été perçu comme une réserve de ressources naturelles auxquelles ils estiment avoir droit. Les attaques répétées de Trump contre le Canada s’inscrivent dans cette logique qui ne date pas d’hier.
www.lemonde.fr/planete/arti...
www.lemonde.fr/planete/arti...
Brasil does what American was unable to do on.ft.com/413zlXC
Brazil charges former president Jair Bolsonaro over alleged coup plot
Attorney-general accuses hard-right politician in connection with plan to assassinate rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
on.ft.com
February 19, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Brasil does what American was unable to do on.ft.com/413zlXC
In other parts of the world spaces without any state control have proven ideal for jihadists. In Myanmar it's ideal for Chinese criminals enabled by various anti-governmental regional/ethnic forces www.bbc.com/thai/article...
จีนเทา: มาตรการตัดตอนสแกมเมอร์ของไทยได้ผลแค่ไหน และพวกเขาจะย้ายฐานไปที่ใดต่อ - BBC News ไทย
บีบีซีไทยพูดคุยกับผู้เชี่ยวชาญเพื่อวิเคราะห์ว่ามาตรการต่าง ๆ ของไทยได้ผลแค่ไหน และเดินมาถูกทางแล้วหรือไม่
www.bbc.com
February 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In other parts of the world spaces without any state control have proven ideal for jihadists. In Myanmar it's ideal for Chinese criminals enabled by various anti-governmental regional/ethnic forces www.bbc.com/thai/article...
South Koreans are handling insurrection the way Americans should have, but can't! www.nytimes.com/2025/01/26/w...
South Korea’s President Yoon Is Indicted
President Yoon Suk Yeol will stand trial along with his former defense minister and others who participated in his short-lived imposition of martial law.
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2025 at 3:32 PM
South Koreans are handling insurrection the way Americans should have, but can't! www.nytimes.com/2025/01/26/w...
It's Oscar time. 'Htis' of dubious merit win prizes & most of the world's films are shoe-horned into a ridiculous category called "foreign". In contrast Hollywood's self-referential trade show, it's nice to see appreciation for the important work of Alice Rohrwacher. www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
Real Misfits in Real Gardens | Jé Wilson
The Italian director Alice Rohrwacher’s films often focus on incongruous moments of enchantment within communities living at the margins of society.
www.nybooks.com
January 23, 2025 at 7:13 PM
It's Oscar time. 'Htis' of dubious merit win prizes & most of the world's films are shoe-horned into a ridiculous category called "foreign". In contrast Hollywood's self-referential trade show, it's nice to see appreciation for the important work of Alice Rohrwacher. www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
Congratulations to the Thai people on the coming into force of กฎหมายสมรสเท่าเทียม, its marriage equality law. While Thailand is not without its problems, Thais should be proud of this. Now pressure should be increasingly on the Japanese government, to be bold enough to adopt a similar measure
January 23, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Congratulations to the Thai people on the coming into force of กฎหมายสมรสเท่าเทียม, its marriage equality law. While Thailand is not without its problems, Thais should be proud of this. Now pressure should be increasingly on the Japanese government, to be bold enough to adopt a similar measure
Reposted by Mitch Bernard
Il faut arrêter de parler de catastrophes naturelles. Les lourds dégâts humains et économiques liés aux aléas sont dus à des choix de politiques publiques. Et chaque catastrophe est alimentée ou causée par le dérèglement climatique d'origine humaine. Mon analyse : www.lemonde.fr/idees/articl...
Les incendies de Los Angeles ne sont pas une catastrophe naturelle
ANALYSE. Ce qualificatif est un leurre qui déresponsabilise l’humanité, évoquant des colères de la planète face auxquelles nous serions impuissants. L’exposition et la vulnérabilité découlent en réali...
www.lemonde.fr
January 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Il faut arrêter de parler de catastrophes naturelles. Les lourds dégâts humains et économiques liés aux aléas sont dus à des choix de politiques publiques. Et chaque catastrophe est alimentée ou causée par le dérèglement climatique d'origine humaine. Mon analyse : www.lemonde.fr/idees/articl...
Es lamentable que La Vanguardia considere los blockbusters más comerciales de Hollywood como "las películas más esperadas" en lugar de destacar el cine increíble de todo el mundo que explora la condición humana y las posibilidades del arte cinematográfico.
www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/2024...
www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/2024...
Las películas más esperadas del 2025
Este 2025 vendrá cargado de mucho cine, sobre todo de blockbusters y secuelas como la octava parte de Misión imposible, la nueva Blancanieves con Rachel Zegler y Gal
www.lavanguardia.com
December 31, 2024 at 5:35 PM
Es lamentable que La Vanguardia considere los blockbusters más comerciales de Hollywood como "las películas más esperadas" en lugar de destacar el cine increíble de todo el mundo que explora la condición humana y las posibilidades del arte cinematográfico.
www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/2024...
www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/2024...
The world, fixated on wars in Ukraine, the Middle East & tension across the Taiwan Straight, has ignored 5 years of civil war in Myanmar. But like other failed states, Myanmar is now a haven for illegal activity, mostly from PRC. It's time to pay attention
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/31/w...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/31/w...
Myanmar’s War Has Made It the Global Crime Capital
The chaotic country is now a magnet for criminal syndicates, particularly from China, destabilizing law enforcement across much of Asia.
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2024 at 12:45 PM
The world, fixated on wars in Ukraine, the Middle East & tension across the Taiwan Straight, has ignored 5 years of civil war in Myanmar. But like other failed states, Myanmar is now a haven for illegal activity, mostly from PRC. It's time to pay attention
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/31/w...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/31/w...
2024 has been good though not great year for world cinema. Now we'll enter the period where the American film establishment unilaterally gets to put their imprimatur on what we've all seen. Whatever they decide, to me, director Payal Kapadia's complex gem was clearly the year's best
December 26, 2024 at 11:18 PM
2024 has been good though not great year for world cinema. Now we'll enter the period where the American film establishment unilaterally gets to put their imprimatur on what we've all seen. Whatever they decide, to me, director Payal Kapadia's complex gem was clearly the year's best
In no other country than India, the world's most multi-lingual country, can a movie be made that uses more than 5 languages, 3 of which (Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi) are central to the film, without breaking a sweat! All We Imagine as Light, brilliant on so many levels, is also a multilingual gem!
November 29, 2024 at 6:18 PM
In no other country than India, the world's most multi-lingual country, can a movie be made that uses more than 5 languages, 3 of which (Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi) are central to the film, without breaking a sweat! All We Imagine as Light, brilliant on so many levels, is also a multilingual gem!
One challenge learning a North-Indian language, in my case Bengali, is appreciating the importance of whether the origin of a word is Sanskrit or Farsi/Arabic. A good example, the 2 words for 'place', the farsi-derived জায়গা (jayga) & স্থানে (ssthani) from Sanskrit
November 26, 2024 at 9:35 PM
One challenge learning a North-Indian language, in my case Bengali, is appreciating the importance of whether the origin of a word is Sanskrit or Farsi/Arabic. A good example, the 2 words for 'place', the farsi-derived জায়গা (jayga) & স্থানে (ssthani) from Sanskrit