World Politics ReviewStoryboardIs the Crisis in Syria Really Over?Curated byWorld Politics ReviewThe Syrian civil war that has decimated the country for more than decade, provoking a regional humanitarian crisis and drawing in actors ranging from the United States to Russia, has been drawing inexorably to a conclusion for years now. President Bashar al-Assad, with the backing of Iran and Russia, has emerged militarily victorious from the conflict, which began after his government violently repressed civilian protests in 2011. But is the crisis really over?
World Politics ReviewStoryboardThe Trends Shaping AsiaCurated byWorld Politics ReviewChina has begun to challenge America's role as the key economic and political actor in Asia. But while China’s rise often makes headlines, it is not the only trend shaping events in Asia.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardGlobal Migration Isn't Subsiding. Neither Is the Backlash Against It.Curated byWorld Politics ReviewAround the world, far-right populist parties continue to stoke the popular backlash against global migration, driving some centrist governments to adopt a tougher line on immigration. But with short-term strategies dominating the debate, many of the persistent drivers of migration go unaddressed, even as efforts to craft a global consensus on migration are hobbled by demands for quick solutions.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardThe Promise and Perils of Big TechCurated byWorld Politics ReviewDespite the challenges that technological innovations like artificial intelligence and autonomous drones pose to governance and society, they will continue to emerge. In the absence of any global agreement, there is still an opportunity for governments to seize on the benefits these advances might bring, while encouraging their ethical and democratic use.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardCan Turkey’s Erdogan Rebuild the Bridges He Has Burned?Curated byWorld Politics ReviewSince his sweeping overhaul of Turkey’s political system in 2017, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cemented his near-total control over the country. Simultaneously he pursued an adventurous and bellicose foreign policy across the Mediterranean region, putting Ankara at odds with its NATO allies and the U.S. But amid regional shifts and the war in Ukraine, can Erdogan now rebuild the bridges he has burned?
World Politics ReviewStoryboardUS Security Policy Under BidenCurated byWorld Politics ReviewPresident Joe Biden’s first priority upon taking office was to reassure U.S. allies of America’s ongoing security commitments, promising that “America is back.” Despite some missteps along the way, that effort has paid off during the current standoff with Russia over Ukraine. But Biden still has a lot of work to do when it comes to shoring up America’s security partnerships to deal with a rising China.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardCan AMLO Deliver on His Vision for Mexico’s Future?Curated byWorld Politics ReviewThe election of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or AMLO, in July 2018 was supposed to result in a radical transformation for Mexico. But since taking office in December 2018, the Mexican president has struggled to deliver on his campaign promises, while playing catchup to Donald Trump's quixotic threats linking trade and immigration. Now he will have to reboot relations with the U.S. under President Joe Biden.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardWith a Resurgent Left, What’s Next for South America?Curated byWorld Politics ReviewThe "pink tide" of leftist governments that swept across South America in the early 2000s is making a comeback, after having been overtaken by a wave of conservative governments. Meanwhile, major advances in the region are also in danger, and Russia and China are deepening trade ties across the region. What's next for the continent?
World Politics ReviewStoryboardThe Backlash Against Globalized Trade Is Changing, Not SubsidingCurated byWorld Politics ReviewFormer US President Donald Trump upended what was once a relatively staid global economic and trade system. For all the upheaval he created, though, Trump left office with only one clear-cut accomplishment: an updated NAFTA deal. And even as Trump sowed chaos in America's trade relationships, most of the world reinforced its commitment to trade liberalization.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardThe Age of Global ProtestCurated byWorld Politics ReviewPopular protests are on the rise, and they are increasingly going global. Over the past three years, popular movements demonstrating against fiscal austerity and corruption have brought down governments—in democracies and authoritarian regimes alike—from Europe and Latin America to Africa and Asia. And with the advent of new communication technologies and media platforms, what happens anywhere can be seen everywhere.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardUS Foreign Policy Under BidenCurated byWorld Politics ReviewPresident Joe Biden took office with an ambitious foreign policy agenda summed up by his favorite campaign tagline: “America is back.” Above all, that means repairing the damage done to the United States' global standing by his predecessor.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardModi’s Hindu Nationalist Agenda Is Corroding India’s DemocracyCurated byWorld Politics ReviewSince his overwhelming victory in India’s May 2019 elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has doubled down on Hindu nationalism and illiberalism. Meanwhile, the country faces foreign policy challenges, including its relationship with Pakistan and competition for regional influence with China. What will the rest of Modi's second term bring?
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: How the Coronavirus Pandemic Upended Life as We Know ItCurated byWorld Politics ReviewFor over two years, the coronavirus pandemic upended life as we know it with its devastating effects not only on health, but on domestic economies and multilateral trade, cooperation and aid. Nor has the lasting damage of COVID-19 spared the multilateral system that helped to ensure peace and coordinate global responses to challenges that cut across borders.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: A Persistent Crisis in Central AmericaCurated byWorld Politics ReviewViolence and corruption in Central America is causing a wave of outward migration. The Trump administration's restrictive measures and pressure on regional governments did nothing to address the root causes of the problem, which the Biden administration has now pledged to tackle. Meanwhile, efforts at reform across the region face opposition from entrenched interests that benefit from the status quo.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: Oil, Energy and Mining in International PoliticsCurated byWorld Politics ReviewResource extraction continues to be a major source of revenue for developing countries and wealthier nations alike. But the windfalls don’t come without risks. Meanwhile, the environmental impact of fossil fuels is driving the development of renewable energy sources. But the transition is slow to develop.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: As Challenges Mount, Can Europe Correct Its Course?Curated byWorld Politics ReviewThe liberal European order has been under attack from within and without in recent years. The EU became a convenient punching bag for opportunistic politicians in many of its member countries, and although the populist wave that once seemed like an existential threat to the union has since subsided, vestiges of it remain. The work to rebuild trans-Atlantic ties with the US under President Biden has begun, even as Russia's attempts to destabilize the European order have not abated.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: The Uneven Global Response to Climate ChangeCurated byWorld Politics ReviewThe impacts of climate change are advancing faster than experts had previously predicted, and they are increasingly irreversible. But persistent climate skepticism from key global figures, motivated in part by national economic interests, is slowing diplomatic efforts to systematically address the drivers of climate change.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: Iran and Saudi Arabia Battle for Supremacy in the Middle EastCurated byWorld Politics ReviewThe struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia has insinuated itself into nearly every regional issue, fracturing international alliances and sustaining wars across the region, while raising fears of a direct conflict between the two powers. Meanwhile, the region is rife with ongoing conflicts, and the long-simmering dispute between Israel and Palestine continues to flare up periodically.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: Despite Advances, Gender Equality Lags Around the WorldCurated byWorld Politics ReviewWhile women's rights have become a mainstream issue, societal change when it comes to gender equality has lagged. And in many countries where legal protections of women have made gains, women have faced a backlash. Meanwhile, gender-based violence remains a scourge, despite the emergence of the #MeToo movement.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: Africa Is a Continent of ContradictionsCurated byWorld Politics ReviewIt makes sense that a continent that is home to 54 countries and 1.2 billion people would also house many contradictory developments. Africa features several of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a burgeoning middle class. But much of the continent remains mired in debt, burdened by conflict and beset by elites clinging to power.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: Human Rights Are Under Attack. Who Will Protect Them?Curated byWorld Politics ReviewGlobally, human rights remain under assault, whether by populist movements seeking to gain power or authoritarian governments eager to maintain it. At the same time, the populist rise has invigorated civil society efforts to protect historically marginalized communities.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: What Comes Next in the Standoff Between the US and Iran?Curated byWorld Politics ReviewPresident Biden entered office promising to return the US to the Iran nuclear deal. But doing so has proven to be tricky.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: The Syrian Civil War’s Never-Ending EndgameCurated byWorld Politics ReviewThe Syrian civil war that has decimated the country for more than decade, provoking a regional humanitarian crisis and drawing in actors ranging from the United States to Russia, has been drawing inexorably to a conclusion for years now. President Bashar al-Assad, with the backing of Iran and Russia, has emerged militarily victorious from the conflict, which began after his government violently repressed civilian protests in 2011. But is the crisis in Syria really over?
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: How a Rising China Has Remade Global PoliticsCurated byWorld Politics ReviewAs much as any other single development, China’s rise over the past two decades has remade the landscape of global politics.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: The Challenge of a Nuclear North KoreaCurated byWorld Politics ReviewThough North Korea's nuclearization efforts have faded from the headlines, the country has continued to improve its capabilities and can now plausibly reach any location in the continental United States with a nuclear weapon. In the absence of a deal to curb its nuclear and missile programs, North Korea's arsenal will only grow more lethal.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: The Pandemic and Global Health GovernanceCurated byWorld Politics ReviewThe novel coronavirus caught many world leaders unprepared, despite consistent warnings that a global pandemic was inevitable. And it has revealed the flaws in a global health architecture headed by the World Health Organization. Will there be an overhaul of the WHO when the pandemic is over?
World Politics ReviewStoryboardCan Putin Change Russia’s Role From Spoiler to Global Power?Curated byWorld Politics ReviewUnder President Vladimir Putin, Moscow has repeatedly demonstrated that it has the capacity to destabilize the international order, most recently with its brutal invasion of Ukraine. But for all its ability to upend power dynamics in places like the Middle East and now Europe, Moscow has so far not demonstrated the capacity to fill the vacuums it exploits—or creates.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardInsight: Who Will Intervene in the World’s Hot Spots?Curated byWorld Politics ReviewThe international order is fraying, generating uncertainty about who will intervene to resolve persistent conflicts, and who will fund humanitarian responses to human-made and natural disasters. Meanwhile, emerging crises, proxy wars and multiple hot spots pose new risks, even as the nature of transnational terrorism is evolving.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardFrench Presidential Election PreviewCurated byWorld Politics ReviewFrench President Emmanuel Macron is comfortably ahead in the polls for the first round of France’s presidential election, which takes place Sunday. With far-right candidate Marine Le Pen likely to finish second, the second-round runoff is shaping up to be a repeat of 2017. This time, though, the gap is much narrower, with less than 10 percent separating Macron and Le Pen in opinion polls.
World Politics ReviewStoryboardWhy Tackling Corruption Is So Urgent—and So DifficultCurated byWorld Politics ReviewCorruption knows no geographic boundaries, and its impact is devastating, particularly for developing countries. While recent revelations of massive corruption have made the issue a high priority for voters, the obstacles to effectively tackling corruption can prove to be persistent. That, in turn, can lead to popular disenchantment with leaders and democratic processes.
