ABOUT

Welcome to Braintree! My name is Laurence Claussen. I am German-American and I have a background in history and political science. This blog, perhaps unsurprisingly, is a place where I can write about those two subjects. And given my dual nationalities, my focus is inevitably split between Europe and North America. The Transatlantic relationship will be a central theme of my writing on this page. I feel that my third-culture perspective allows me to explain things about each side of the pond to people on either side. I certainly hope that you enjoy my essays, even if you are unfamiliar with American or European politics.

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I see this blog as a place to hone my writing and thinking, so I invite all my readers to join in the conversation. I am happy you're here, and I look forward to reading your reactions or comments on anything I post. The world feels increasingly complicated and, to many, unfamiliar. So if nothing else, I hope my posts serve as a intellectual whetstone for the curious and optimistic. If Braintree builds bridges of mutual understanding, it will have succeeded.

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If you have any questions about my sourcing or about any post in particular, please email me at thebraintreecontact@gmail.com.