Bad Examples
As they collapse, colonial empires usually show us what they are really made of. For proof, look no further than the miserable example of Portugal.
Jonathan Weisman, author of the new novel No.4 Imperial Lane, is a Washington-based economic policy reporter for The New York Times. In his 25-year journalism career, he has covered the White House, national politics, and defense for the Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, and The Baltimore Sun, among other publications.