Analysis

Ethnic Uigur women look through a security fence as Chinese soldiers stand guard in Urumqi, in China's far west Xinjiang region, on July 9, 2009. (Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images)

For Them, Afghanistan Is Safer Than China

Persecution in Xinjiang is pushing Uighurs over the border.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabi, on Oct. 23. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images)

Mohammed bin Salman Isn’t Saudi Arabia’s First Fake Reformer

The United States has a long history of getting duped by Saudi leaders promising to change their country for the better.

Jair Bolsonaro, the president-elect of Brazil, casts his vote in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 28. (Ricardo Moraes-Pool/Getty Images)

Bolsonaro Can’t Destroy Brazilian Democracy

Brazil’s new president is a throwback to its authoritarian past—but the country is more resilient than it used to be.

U.S. President Donald Trump waves to reporters as he and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly (R) leave the weekly Senate Republican Policy Committee luncheon in the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 28, 2017.

When Fighting Domestic Terrorism, You Get What You Pay For

The Trump administration has gutted the budget for fighting far-right extremists, making it harder to stop attacks like the Pittsburgh massacre.

A woman walks behind a campaign posters of the far-right Swiss People's Party depicting a woman wearing a burqa against a background of a Swiss flag on Nov. 23, 2009 in Corseaux near Vevey. (Fabrice Cofrini/AFP/Getty Images)

The Prophet Mohammed Doesn’t Need Courts to Protect Him

European courts are trying to support Muslims—but will only stoke Islamophobia.

An estimated 4,000 people gather to march for solidarity during President Donald Trump's visit to Pittsburgh in the wake of a mass shooting at a synagogue on Oct. 30. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Trump’s Divisive Speech Puts the First Amendment at Risk

Americans’ commitment to unfettered free speech is starting to fray. If Trump can’t control his words, those around him have a responsibility to keep hate speech in check.

European Council President Donald Tusk (from left), British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and U.S. President Donald Trump prepare for a photo at the G-7 summit in La Malbaie, Canada, on June 7. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

The Economic Crisis Is Over. Populism Is Forever.

From the United States to Germany, the West is booming—but the public hasn’t regained an appetite for liberalism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stands in a courtyard after the weekly government cabinet meeting in Berlin on Oct. 31.

Angela Merkel Failed

The German chancellor survived by avoiding politics whenever possible—and history won't judge her kindly for it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, right, and Vladimir Korolev, the commander in chief of the Navy, examine a globe in St. Petersburg on July 30, 2017. (Alexey Nikolsky/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump Is Pushing the United States Toward Nuclear Anarchy

The White House wants to leave the INF Treaty. New START could be next. The death of these agreements would fuel a new arms race.

A man reads newspaper headlines announcing Jair Bolsonaro’s victory in the Brazil’s presidential election in São Paulo on Oct. 29. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)

Brazil’s Military Is Not the Problem

Democracy will depend on whether civilians can exploit rifts between Bolsonaro and his base while regaining voter trust.

A woman holds a Japanese flag as she listens to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaking during a rally in Tokyo on Sept. 19. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

The Fate of the World Order Rests on Tokyo’s Shoulders

Japan was one of the system’s biggest winners, and it is one of the few countries that can save it now.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan shaking hands with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at the Kremlin Place prior to their last summit meeting on June 1, 1988.

What Would Reagan Do on Iran?

If Washington wants to pressure Tehran, the White House should stop alienating allies, empowering hard-liners, and harming regular Iranians.

A single tree stands in a deforested area of Pará on Oct. 14. (Raphael Alves/AFP/Getty Images)

To Gut the Amazon, Bolsonaro Needs Local Help

The Brazilian president-elect can’t pursue his environmental policies on his own. After this weekend’s state elections, he’ll have the backing he needs.

Sri Lanka's newly appointed prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, waves to supporters in Colombo on Oct. 29. (Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images)

Sri Lanka’s Political Shake-Up Is a Win for China

Former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resurgence shows the limitations of U.S. economic diplomacy.

A woman votes in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 2013. (NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Tel Aviv’s One-State Reality

Palestinians running in municipal elections offer a glimpse of a shared future.

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