If the events in Ukraine are to appear as more than a series of disconnected events, you really must take the long view. So if you want to understand why it looked last night as though war was about to break out in the Crimea, perhaps take a look at this piece of analysis by Stratfor. It's a company that focuses on geography and history to explain what is happening in the world. Stratfor makes its money by signing up paying subscribers, but makes some of its work freely available. The book from which this is taken, The next hundred years, is also worth reading.
Where journalists have greatness thrust upon them
BBC News
The latest stories from the Home section of the BBC News web site.
Updated: 36 min 41 sec ago
Prince's letters secrecy 'unlawful'
47 min 49 sec agoThe attorney general's decision to block publication of letters written by the Prince of Wales to government ministers is ruled unlawful.
Turkey braced for coma boy's funeral
51 min 11 sec agoThousands of people gather in Istanbul for the funeral of a boy who died nine months after being injured during Turkish anti-government protests.
Tagging company G4S takes £386m hit
51 min 18 sec agoTroubled security firm G4S sets aside £386m to cover restructuring costs after what the company said had been "an extremely challenging year".
Scots tax and spend figures released
51 min 28 sec agoThe balance between spending and taxation in Scotland shifts deeper into the red, according to the latest Scottish government figures.
Missing plane: Last message revealed
55 min 7 sec agoMalaysia says the last message from a Malaysia Airlines plane suggests everything was normal on board before it vanished over the South China Sea.
Patient has pioneering 3D face op
57 min 23 sec agoA survivor of a serious motorbike accident has pioneering surgery to reconstruct his face using a series of 3D printed parts.
NI has first smoke-free health trust
59 min 3 sec agoA complete ban on smoking comes into force on all the Western Health Trust's sites, including the grounds of Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.
E-borders scheme is 'terminated'
59 min 17 sec agoThe E-borders system to count everyone in and out of the UK has been "terminated", the UK Border Force's chief says.
Pistorius 'bashed door' on stumps
1 hour 15 sec agoOscar Pistorius was not wearing his prostheses when he broke down a door to reach his girlfriend after he shot her, his murder trial has heard.
VIDEO: Shanghai teachers flown in for maths
1 hour 1 min agoUp to 60 Shanghai maths teachers are to be brought to England to raise standards, in an exchange arranged by the Department for Education.
Labour and Europe - is that clear now?
1 hour 7 min agoLabour and Europe - is that clear now?
Glastonbury given 10-year licence
1 hour 12 min agoGlastonbury Festival is granted a new 10-year licence by Mendip District Council.
West Brom's Brunt out for six weeks
1 hour 17 min agoWest Brom captain Chris Brunt is ruled out of action for up to six weeks with a knee injury, the club announces.
GB's Etherington wins slalom silver
1 hour 21 min agoBritish skier Jade Etherington wins her third medal of the Winter Paralympics with silver in the visually impaired slalom.
Labour 'won't guarantee EU poll'
1 hour 28 min agoA future Labour government would not call an in/out referendum on the UK's membership of the EU unless it was being asked to transfer more powers to Brussels, Ed Miliband has said.
AUDIO: EU 'may not survive' euro crisis
1 hour 56 min agoBillionaire investor George Soros discusses the eurozone economy, and Germany's involvement
Soldier charged over barracks murder
2 hours 16 min agoA 23-year-old soldier is charged with murdering a corporal found dead at an army barracks in Shropshire.
VIDEO: My fight to be a woman priest
2 hours 43 min agoThe day the first woman priest was ordained
New rules to squeeze payday lenders
2 hours 44 min agoA quarter of payday lenders could be forced out of the market as the Financial Conduct Authority investigates the way they treat borrowers struggling to repay their loans.
'Encouraging signs' for Schumacher
2 hours 53 min agoThe family of former F1 racer Michael Schumacher says he is showing "small, encouraging signs" in his fight for recovery after a skiing accident.
