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Trump is shown from below, mid-speech, wearing a navy blue suit and a thick red tie. An American flag is hanging behind him.
Trump is shown from below, mid-speech, wearing a navy blue suit and a thick red tie. An American flag is hanging behind him.

The Problem With Invoking the ‘Third World’ Slur

The Trump verdict is the latest prompt for deploying a meaningless comparison. All that does is reflect poorly on the United States.

Analysis
Howard W. French
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on May 31 in Washington, DC.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on May 31 in Washington, DC.

Is Biden Blowing It in Gaza and Ukraine?

Washington seems to keep moving the goalposts—but it isn’t bringing stability in either conflict, or electoral benefits at home.

It's Debatable
Emma Ashford, Matthew Kroenig
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

The South China Sea Risks a Military Crisis

The Philippine president drew a red line this week, but mutual restraint from Manila and Beijing can calm tensions.

Analysis
Sarang Shidore
A main in a suit and helmet holds a British flags in each hand as he hangs from a zipline in front of a ferris wheel.
A main in a suit and helmet holds a British flags in each hand as he hangs from a zipline in front of a ferris wheel.

Is Britain All That Special?

British politics may be bad, but they’re not unusual.

Review
Marie Le Conte

Recent

NATO Members Allow Ukraine to Use Their Weapons Inside Russia
World Brief
Alexandra Sharp

Biden Outlines Israeli Proposal For Gaza Cease-Fire Deal
Report
Amy Mackinnon

What in the World?
Quiz
Drew Gorman

Trump’s Conviction Could Help End Elite Impunity
Argument
Paul Musgrave

Asia & the Pacific

A span of dozens of folding seats of a stadium are seen beneath a mostly clear blue sky. The camera is tilted upward, showing the back wall of the stadium and the roof that hangs over the highest seats.
A span of dozens of folding seats of a stadium are seen beneath a mostly clear blue sky. The camera is tilted upward, showing the back wall of the stadium and the roof that hangs over the highest seats.

The U.S. Tries Its Hand at Cricket
South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman

How to Respond to China’s Tactics in the South China Sea

Modi’s Campaign Rhetoric Is Dangerous

The Philippines Needs Butter, Not Just Guns

China

Electric cars are waiting to be loaded onto a cargo ship for export at a port facility in Yantai, China, on Jan. 10.
Electric cars are waiting to be loaded onto a cargo ship for export at a port facility in Yantai, China, on Jan. 10.

Biden’s New Tariffs Should Raise Alarm Bells in Beijing
Analysis
Agathe Demarais

Is Biden Deferring the Green Transition to Contain China?

Can a U.S.-China Military Hotline Stop the Downward Spiral?

Are U.S.-China Talks Accomplishing Anything?

Middle East & Africa

A satellite view of Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands in the Chagos Archipelago, in the Indian Ocean.
A satellite view of Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands in the Chagos Archipelago, in the Indian Ocean.

Why Diego Garcia Matters
Explainer
Nitya Labh

The Mood From Tehran

The U.S.-Saudi Agreement Is a Fool’s Errand

The World’s Refugee Relief Is Utterly Broken

Europe

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas wears a military helmet and sunglasses as she leans in to speak with a British military commander in camouflage fatigues beneath the green canopy of trees that line a roadway in Estonia. The British ambassador to Estonia stands beside them, taking off his own helmet as he watches.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas wears a military helmet and sunglasses as she leans in to speak with a British military commander in camouflage fatigues beneath the green canopy of trees that line a roadway in Estonia. The British ambassador to Estonia stands beside them, taking off his own helmet as he watches.

Putin’s Baltic Provocations Are Raising Western Hackles
Analysis
Keith Johnson

The Invisible Warriors of Ukraine’s Refugee Crisis

How Germany Lost the Middle East

The U.S. Still Has a Lend-Leash Act for Ukraine

Americas

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, seen from behind, wearing a dark suit raises his fist as he walks away.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, seen from behind, wearing a dark suit raises his fist as he walks away.

A Nation of Alternative Realities
Analysis
Michael Hirsh

Caribbean Summit Showcases the Power of Island Politics

Campus Protests Reflect Impatience With U.S. Foreign Policy

When Knowledge Stops at the Water’s Edge

Mexico’s Election

An employee of Mexcio's National Electoral Institute oversees early voting for Mexico's general election.
An employee of Mexcio's National Electoral Institute oversees early voting for Mexico's general election.

Why Mexico’s Election Matters

A vote for continuity could see further erosion of democratic institutions—with consequences for the rest of the world.

Insider
Ravi Agrawal
The sun against a gray sky over an oil refinery
The sun against a gray sky over an oil refinery

Mexico’s Next Leader Has an Energy Problem
Argument
Isidro Morales
Claudia Sheinbaum greets supporters during her presidential campaign launch event in Mexico City.
Claudia Sheinbaum greets supporters during her presidential campaign launch event in Mexico City.

The Woman Inheriting AMLO’s Revolution
Profile
Ana Sofía Rodríguez Everaert
A woman holds a microphone and waves a large Mexican flag as confetti falls from the ceiling.
A woman holds a microphone and waves a large Mexican flag as confetti falls from the ceiling.

Mexico’s Historic Elections, Explained
Explainer
Christina Lu

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A man displays a newspaper article on the attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia.
A man displays a newspaper article on the attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia.

Why Political Assassinations Often Succeed
Insider
Cameron Abadi, Adam Tooze
Counter protesters (L) argue with supporters of US President Donald Trump during dual rallies with the "America First" group in Laguna Beach, California, on August 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Counter protesters (L) argue with supporters of US President Donald Trump during dual rallies with the "America First" group in Laguna Beach, California, on August 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)

The End of Left Versus Right
Insider
Ravi Agrawal
American singer Beyoncé performs onstage at an arena in Sweden, surrounded by background dancers. Beyoncé wears large earrings and a short dress and elaborate jacket made out of the same holographic, silvery fabric. Two backup dancers kneel in bridge poses, and Beyoncé sits on top of them with her microphone as she looks out at the audience with a small smile.
American singer Beyoncé performs onstage at an arena in Sweden, surrounded by background dancers. Beyoncé wears large earrings and a short dress and elaborate jacket made out of the same holographic, silvery fabric. Two backup dancers kneel in bridge poses, and Beyoncé sits on top of them with her microphone as she looks out at the audience with a small smile.

How the Beyoncé Bump Affected Sweden
Insider
Cameron Abadi, Adam Tooze

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TOPSHOT - Women stand in a queue outside a polling station to cast their ballot during the first phase of voting for the India's general elections in Parbatsar in Rajasthan, on April 19, 2024. (Photo by HIMANSHU SHARMA / AFP) (Photo by HIMANSHU SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Women stand in a queue outside a polling station to cast their ballot during the first phase of voting for the India's general elections in Parbatsar in Rajasthan, on April 19, 2024. (Photo by HIMANSHU SHARMA / AFP) (Photo by HIMANSHU SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)

Analyzing India’s Election Results

Ballots from the world’s largest election will be counted on June 4, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi widely expected to win a third... READ MORE

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What to Expect From Mexico’s Elections
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Fareed Zakaria on an Age of Revolutions
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Iran After Raisi
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Reimagining Globalization

In the Magazine

Current Issue: Spring 2024 Archives
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Spring-2024-print-foreign-policy-magazine-cover
A photo illustration shows a crowd of people filling the face of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A photo illustration shows a crowd of people filling the face of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The New Idea of India

Narendra Modi’s reign is producing a less liberal but more assured nation.

Essay
Ravi Agrawal
An illustration shows a tiger chasing a dragon up an economic indicator line against a graph paper background. The dragon is turning to snarl at the tiger.
An illustration shows a tiger chasing a dragon up an economic indicator line against a graph paper background. The dragon is turning to snarl at the tiger.

Is India Really the Next China?

The case for its economic ascent is strong, but government policies still stand in the way.

Analysis
Josh Felman, Arvind Subramanian

Modi’s Messenger to the World
Profile
Rishi Iyengar

Meet India’s Generation Z
Essay
Snigdha Poonam

Becoming Indian
Essay
Amitava Kumar

4 Books to Understand Modern India
Review
Mukul Kesavan

Weekend Reads

Many characters from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga in the desert on a motorcycles.
Many characters from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga in the desert on a motorcycles.

The New ‘Mad Max’ Makes the End of the World Fun Again

The fifth film in George Miller’s franchise deserves to be the blockbuster of the northern summer.

Review
Jordan Hoffman
A Uyghur family gathers for a meal during the Corban Festival in Xinjiang province, China.
A Uyghur family gathers for a meal during the Corban Festival in Xinjiang province, China.

China Is Trying to Remake Uyghur Kitchens
Argument
Timothy Grose
People look at their phones as they stand in line at an Apple store.
People look at their phones as they stand in line at an Apple store.

Immediacy Ruined Our Politics
Review
Gregory Jones-Katz
A man wears a Canadian flag with a marijuana leaf in place of a maple leaf during the annual 4/20 rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 20, 2018.
A man wears a Canadian flag with a marijuana leaf in place of a maple leaf during the annual 4/20 rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 20, 2018.

Where Canada’s Weed Legalization Went Wrong
Analysis
John Last

In Case You Missed It

An illustration shows piles of shipping containers and symbols of industry as protectionist islands in a sea.
An illustration shows piles of shipping containers and symbols of industry as protectionist islands in a sea.

America’s Zero-Sum Economics Doesn’t Add Up

Industrial policy and subsidies are nothing new and can be useful. But shutting off from the world will have consequences.

Essay
Adam Posen
An illustration shows the Statue of Liberty holding a torch with other hands alongside hers as she lifts the flame, also resembling laurel, into place on the edge of the United Nations laurel logo.
An illustration shows the Statue of Liberty holding a torch with other hands alongside hers as she lifts the flame, also resembling laurel, into place on the edge of the United Nations laurel logo.

A New Multilateralism
Essay
Gordon Brown
A fireball erupts behind a turreted building as smoke fills the sky after an Israeli strike over Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
A fireball erupts behind a turreted building as smoke fills the sky after an Israeli strike over Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

10 Conflicts to Watch
Analysis
Comfort Ero, Richard Atwood
A globe with blocks and chunks missing from it sits atop the shoulders of a person looking into a dystopian horizon.
A globe with blocks and chunks missing from it sits atop the shoulders of a person looking into a dystopian horizon.

The Global Credibility Gap
Essay
Jared Cohen, Ian Bremmer
China-military-readiness-war-us-taiwan-Doug-Chayka-illustration
China-military-readiness-war-us-taiwan-Doug-Chayka-illustration

How Primed for War Is China?
Essay
Michael Beckley, Hal Brands
A photo illustration shows Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden posing on pedestals atop the bipolar world order, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Russian President Vladamir Putin standing below on a gridded floor.
A photo illustration shows Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden posing on pedestals atop the bipolar world order, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Russian President Vladamir Putin standing below on a gridded floor.

No, the World Is Not Multipolar
Essay
Jo Inge Bekkevold
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greet each other at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 27, 2018.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greet each other at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 27, 2018.

6 Swing States Will Decide the Future of Geopolitics
Analysis
Cliff Kupchan

Subscribers’ Picks

An illustration of a blooming plum branch shows a statue of Chairman Mao at left with workers walking across a bridge before the scene turns into one of growth and modernity with city skyline plane and construction cranes.
An illustration of a blooming plum branch shows a statue of Chairman Mao at left with workers walking across a bridge before the scene turns into one of growth and modernity with city skyline plane and construction cranes.

What Produced the China Miracle?

A powerful new book challenges conventional wisdom about the role of the state in Beijing’s rise.

Review
Howard W. French
An Israeli soldier rests his head on the gun barrel of a self-propelled artillery howitzer as Israeli soldiers take positions near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 9, 2023.
An Israeli soldier rests his head on the gun barrel of a self-propelled artillery howitzer as Israeli soldiers take positions near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 9, 2023.

Why Realists Oppose the War in Gaza

If you’re surprised by the movement’s position, you never really understood it.

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
A sign for the U.S.-based McKinsey & Company management consulting firm is seen on a wall in Geneva, carved in a serif font in an expanse of gray stone.
A sign for the U.S.-based McKinsey & Company management consulting firm is seen on a wall in Geneva, carved in a serif font in an expanse of gray stone.

Consulting Firms Have Stumbled Into a Geopolitical Minefield

The era of free-flowing information is over.

Argument
Henry Farrell, Abraham Newman
A pencil-drawn portrait of Robert Lighthizer seen in profile, wearing glasses and looking to the right.
A pencil-drawn portrait of Robert Lighthizer seen in profile, wearing glasses and looking to the right.

The Man Who Would Help Trump Upend the Global Economy

As a potential U.S. Treasury secretary, Robert Lighthizer has more than trade policy to revolutionize.

Profile
Edward Alden

Books

A photo collage of historic black-and-white images of Soviet leaders: Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, and Mikhail Gorbachev, are toward the front, and a larger cutout of Joseph Stalin looms over them in the background. Behind that is a textured red background with the yellow hammer and sickle symbol of the Soviet Union.
A photo collage of historic black-and-white images of Soviet leaders: Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, and Mikhail Gorbachev, are toward the front, and a larger cutout of Joseph Stalin looms over them in the background. Behind that is a textured red background with the yellow hammer and sickle symbol of the Soviet Union.

Putting the Cold War on the Couch

A new psychological analysis of Soviet leaders fundamentally alters 20th-century history.

Review
Casey Michel
The book cover for the The Struggle for Taiwan by Sulmaan Wasif Khan.
The book cover for the The Struggle for Taiwan by Sulmaan Wasif Khan.

China and the U.S. Are Numb to the Real Risk of War
Excerpt
Sulmaan Wasif Khan
Fat Leonard: How One Man Bribed, Bilked, and Seduced the U.S. Navy, Craig Whitlock, Simon & Schuster, 480 pp., $32.50, May 2024
Fat Leonard: How One Man Bribed, Bilked, and Seduced the U.S. Navy, Craig Whitlock, Simon & Schuster, 480 pp., $32.50, May 2024

‘Fat Leonard’ Was a Crook U.S. Admirals Called Bro
Review
James Palmer
This article is adapted from The Divine Economy: How Religions Compete for Wealth, Power, and People, Paul Seabright, Princeton University Press, 504 pp., $35, May 2024
This article is adapted from The Divine Economy: How Religions Compete for Wealth, Power, and People, Paul Seabright, Princeton University Press, 504 pp., $35, May 2024

The Divine Marketplace Is Pretty Crowded
Excerpt
Paul Seabright
The book cover for The Jazzmen by Larry Tye.
The book cover for The Jazzmen by Larry Tye.

Duke Ellington, the Jazz Legend Who Became a Diplomat
Excerpt
Larry Tye
Smoke and Ashes: Opium’s Hidden Histories, Amitav Ghosh, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 416 pp., $32, February 2024 Empireworld: How British Imperialism Shaped the Globe, Sathnam Sanghera, PublicAffairs, 464 pp., $35, May 2024
Smoke and Ashes: Opium’s Hidden Histories, Amitav Ghosh, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 416 pp., $32, February 2024 Empireworld: How British Imperialism Shaped the Globe, Sathnam Sanghera, PublicAffairs, 464 pp., $35, May 2024

The Opioid High of Empire
Review
Nikhil Kumar
This essay is adapted from the book The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society by Joseph E. Stiglitz, W.W. Norton, 384 pp., $29.99, April 2024
This essay is adapted from the book The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society by Joseph E. Stiglitz, W.W. Norton, 384 pp., $29.99, April 2024

Where Global Governance Went Wrong—and How to Fix It
Essay
Joseph E. Stiglitz

Trending

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    Analysis
    Howard W. French

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    Analysis
    Sarang Shidore

  4. The World Reacts to Trump's Guilty Verdict
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  6. Putin’s Baltic Provocations Are Raising Western Hackles
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  7. The Mood From Tehran
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  8. The Normalizing of Assad Has Been a Disaster
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  9. The U.S.-Saudi Agreement Is a Fool’s Errand
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Visual Stories

A woman wearing mittens, a coat, and a winter hat touches a flag with a soldier's face on it to her face. Behind her is a snowy graveyard scene with flowers and Ukrainian flags.
A woman wearing mittens, a coat, and a winter hat touches a flag with a soldier's face on it to her face. Behind her is a snowy graveyard scene with flowers and Ukrainian flags.

The Resilience of Ukraine’s War Widows

Perhaps tens of thousands of Ukrainian women have lost their partners in the conflict with Russia. They look to rebuild amid precarity and uncertainty.

Dispatch
Liz Cookman, Paula Bronstein
A man fishes at a port near the Lungmen, a nuclear power plant that has suspended its construction, in New Taipei City.
A man fishes at a port near the Lungmen, a nuclear power plant that has suspended its construction, in New Taipei City.

Taiwan Can’t Shake Its Nuclear Ghosts

The island’s resistance to a dependable—and desperately needed—source of energy has been shaped by a covert history.

Analysis
Jane Darby Menton, Andrew W. Reddie

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