“What Can I Do?” [1951]

Mademoiselle was started in 1935 by Street and Smith and prospered for most of the next sixty-six years of continuous publication. Russell included some harsh anti-Soviet rhetoric, redolent of what he said about the psychological burdens of living through the Cold War. One of the unfortunate effects of large modern states is to give to individuals a quite mistaken sense of impotence. Certain things are essential to the formation of a wise judgment of international affairs. One of the dangers that result from the domination of fear is fanaticism. Asia, Africa and many parts of Central and South America still have populations of which the immense majority are at the lowest level compatible with subsistence. Wars occur because among large bodies of men evil passions cause blindness not only to what is right but to the plain dictates of self-interest.