The Viking Observer
Welcome to The Viking Observer, an independent commentary blog covering international politics, society, culture, sport and observations from around the world.
The site is written primarily by The Nomadic Viking, a Swedish writer whose years of living and travelling internationally have shaped the perspective behind many of the articles published here.
The Viking Observer is not intended to present itself as a neutral news agency. Much of what appears on this site is commentary, analysis, personal opinion or speculation. Where articles discuss factual events, statistics or claims made by other people, we aim to provide links to the sources on which those statements are based.
The subjects covered here can vary considerably. One article might deal with international politics or war, while another might focus on technology, sport, social behavior, travel or an observation from everyday life. What connects them is an interest in questioning accepted narratives and looking at events from more than one perspective.
Independent opinions
The views expressed on The Viking Observer are those of the individual author.
We do not claim to possess a universal truth about politics or society, and readers are encouraged to disagree. In fact, disagreement is an important part of meaningful public debate.
At the same time, there is a distinction between disagreement and hostility. The Viking Observer supports open, robust and civil discussion in which arguments can be challenged without automatically treating the person making them as an enemy. If you think that you are incapable of debating in this manner, then this is not the right site for you.
Opinion and factual claims
Because many articles concern controversial subjects, we believe it is important to distinguish between different kinds of statements.
Some passages represent the author’s personal opinion or interpretation. Others refer to documented events, published statistics, public statements or reporting by outside organisations. Most of the time it should be pretty obvious however whether an author is arguing for his beliefs or whether he is just using certain sources to support his claims regarding various topics. Wherever practical, links are provided so readers can examine the underlying sources themselves. In other words, the more sources listed, the better, since it raises the credibility of the various arguments.
Some articles also explore theories or unanswered questions. When that is the case, they should be understood as speculation rather than established fact.
Why the name “The Viking Observer”?
The name The Viking Observer reflects the background of the site’s main writer: Swedish by origin, but nomadic by lifestyle for more than 15 years of his life, even though the travelling is currently on paus. Hopefully the author will soon be able to head out to experience new adventures though, whether it be in old favorites visited before or new countries that he’s unfamiliar with.
Living and travelling in different countries has provided opportunities for the author to see political and social questions from outside a single national perspective. Those experiences, together with a strong interest in current affairs, form much of the basis for The Viking Observer.
The same goes for the author’s interest in meeting and getting to know people from other countries and cultures. During his travels, he has therefore made deliberate attempts to mix as much with the locals as possible, not barricade himself inside of some foreign compound or hotel where he has barely had to experience the real countries.
The Viking Observer is ultimately a personal publication: independent, opinionated and open to debate. If anyone find my opinions unacceptable for some reason, then feel free to debate me. Just do it in a civilized manner, otherwise you might likely be banned.
If that sounds interesting to you, welcome aboard.
For a first-hand travel story, read Memoirs of a Wandering Viking: Stranded in the Sundarbans.