Democracy has become more about bureaucratic procedure and less about the people.
Obama and the Gordian Knot of Politics
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World Beat
Asia Smiles for the Cameras
Today, Asia is like the Kardashian clan: wealthy, contentious, and all up in the public’s face.
The Wall
Few images from the last days of the Cold War are as enduring in the West as the fall of the Berlin Wall. But in Central and Eastern Europe, a more complex picture emerges.
South Korea and the Politics of Patience
In the “fast-fast” political culture of South Korea, some leaders are patiently—and effectively—making strides for democracy, clean energy, and maybe even peace.
NATO: Rebellion in the Ranks?
The countries of the former Warsaw Pact are not knuckling under to pressure from Russia. They’re trying to avoid a new cold war.
The Sum of Our Fears
What we see on our screens has primed us to make the obvious mistake of worrying overmuch about improbable threats and worrying undermuch about the more probable ones.
Recognizing Palestine
As more European governments line up to recognize a Palestinian state, Israel (and the U.S.) look more isolated than ever.
Hong Kong: The Future of People Power?
Hong Kong’s “Occupy Central” movement is neither revolutionary nor subversive: It’s a basic demand for a more responsive and accountable government.
Barack Obama and the Will to Fight
Obama is more than willing to stand up against the Islamic State. Too bad he wasn’t willing to stand up to his hawkish critics.
Menu for a Hot Planet
It’s not just about oil: To support the world’s burgeoning billions in a warming climate, the human race needs to drastically rethink its approach to agriculture.