Diamond-rich Botswana avoided the dreaded resource curse and established a prosperous, stable democracy. But political turmoil has begun to roil the traditionally placid society.
To End North Korea’s Nuclear Program, End the Korean War
Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test may be a last-ditch effort to get on the U.S. agenda before Obama leaves office and a hawkish new president comes in.
The Geopolitics of Cheap Oil
Economists said the market would save the planet. It didn’t.
The Ultimate Blowback from U.S. Foreign Policy? Donald Trump.
How the CIA, bad trade deals, and wanton military intervention caused the social crises that gave us the Donald. (Really.)
Republican Candidates Defend Killing Civilians to Fight Terrorism—and So Do Democrats
There’s a bipartisan effort to justify the killing of civilians in the “war on terrorism.”
Obama: The Fairy-Tale President?
Obama’s made a lot of Faustian bargains over the last seven years. But given his likely successors, what we got over the last two terms may be as good as it gets.
So Why Did Turkey Shoot Down That Russian Plane?
Powerful forces are maneuvering to torpedo any Syrian peace process that could leave room for Bashar al-Assad.
Trump, the Islamic State, and the Cliché of Civilizations
A few politicians and intellectuals decry “Islamofascists,” but the real target of Islamophobia is the mainstream Islam of mosques, moderate imams, and your friendly Muslim neighbors.
No Climate Deal Is Better Than a Bad One
Without concrete, enforceable emissions targets and transition financing, the Paris climate talks will only deepen our climate crisis.
Syria: Mission Possible
There’s no grand, exciting solution to the war in Syria. It’s going to take an endless parade of meetings where people sit and talk. And talk. And talk.