The New School and former ICI fellow Professor L.H.M Ling published “Learning From the Silk Roads: Spices and the Demos,” a continuation of articles centering onThe Silk Road, for The Huffington Post. In this latest piece she continues her discussion on the comparison between spices and democracy with her colleague, Professor Rao. Here is an excerpt:

A focus on spices – or food, more generally – changes our perspective on politics, generally, and world politics, especially. Rather than centering all attention on the palace, we shift to the kitchen. After all, isn’t that where the spices turn into objects of desire? Without the artistry of cooks and their co-workers fashioning nutmeg into an exquisite flavor, for example, how would we know the value, not just the cost, of nutmeg? It would remain an ingredient only.

You can read the rest of the article on the The World Post / Huffington Post website.