The “Lost Decade(s)” that have beleaguered the Japanese economy are rarely lost on anyone. In 1985, the Plaza Accord strengthened the Japanese yen. This, alongside overzealous financial deregulation, fueled an asset bubble that eventually burst i...
Note: This piece was written between October-November 2025. Politics are constantly evolving, and so there may have been multiple developments by the time of publication. Most notably, Andrej Babiš was sworn in as Czechia’s prime minister on Decem...
Albania’s newest cabinet member is pregnant…with 83 babies. But do not worry, she is not human. Meet Diella, Albania’s “AI minister.” Diella was “born” on January 19, 2025, with the job of managing Albania’s ‘e-Albania’ platform, ...
Since taking office in 2019, Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s charismatic young autocratic leader, has transformed El Salvador from the world’s murder capital into the safest country in Latin America. Despite its efficacy, Bukele’s anti-gang crackdo...
Since taking office in 2019, Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s charismatic young autocratic leader, has transformed El Salvador from the world’s murder capital into the safest country in Latin America. Despite its efficacy, Bukele’s anti-gang crackdo...
When you type “Xinjiang” into the search bar on Weibo, a Chinese social media site, the first posts to pop up include a short blurb praising the Xinjiang Free Trade Zone, travel vlogs from the region, and Uyghur cuisine recipes. Do the same on In...
When you type “Xinjiang” into the search bar on Weibo, a Chinese social media site, the first posts to pop up include a short blurb praising the Xinjiang Free Trade Zone, travel vlogs from the region, and Uyghur cuisine recipes. Do the same on In...
While most of the world looked to Eastern Europe as the next frontier of democratic development in the late 20th century, a simultaneous—albeit far less renowned—promise of freedom was generating excitement across West Africa. In the decades foll...
While most of the world looked to Eastern Europe as the next frontier of democratic development in the late 20th century, a simultaneous—albeit far less renowned—promise of freedom was generating excitement across West Africa. In the decades foll...
At the crux of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is a story of greatness and growth out of suffering and shame. From 1839 until 1949, China was subjected to defeat, intervention, and exploitation by foreign powers in what is known as the Century...
At the crux of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is a story of greatness and growth out of suffering and shame. From 1839 until 1949, China was subjected to defeat, intervention, and exploitation by foreign powers in what is known as the Century...
In May 2018, the Trump administration implemented a ‘maximum pressure’ policy on Iran, aimed at limiting the development of the nation’s nuclear program. This policy involved intensifying economic sanctions, especially on the international bank...
In May 2018, the Trump administration implemented a ‘maximum pressure’ policy on Iran, aimed at limiting the development of the nation’s nuclear program. This policy involved intensifying economic sanctions, especially on the international bank...
In October, China celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with a global forum of partnered countries. The mood was triumphant, with China reporting that the initiative has resulted in as much as $1 trillion in financial ...
In October, China celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with a global forum of partnered countries. The mood was triumphant, with China reporting that the initiative has resulted in as much as $1 trillion in financial ...
Discussions about historical injustices in South Africa often gravitate towards apartheid, the policy of rigid racial segregation that held sway from 1948 to 1994. While this focus is historically warranted, it often overlooks the extensive land disp...
Discussions about historical injustices in South Africa often gravitate towards apartheid, the policy of rigid racial segregation that held sway from 1948 to 1994. While this focus is historically warranted, it often overlooks the extensive land disp...
First Evergrande, and now Country Garden: Massive Chinese developers are beginning to buckle under the pressure of 7 billion square feet of unsold homes. In the last 40 years, the country’s robust real estate market has been lauded for propelling C...
First Evergrande, and now Country Garden: Massive Chinese developers are beginning to buckle under the pressure of 7 billion square feet of unsold homes. In the last 40 years, the country’s robust real estate market has been lauded for propelling C...
In the past few years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have had the world’s biggest democracy under their thumb. The BJP’s main opposition, the Indian National Congress (INC), has performed poorly in recent elect...
In the past few years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have had the world’s biggest democracy under their thumb. The BJP’s main opposition, the Indian National Congress (INC), has performed poorly in recent elect...
After being elected president of the 19-year-old, centro-leftist political party Syriza, called the Progressive Alliance, in September, Stefanos Kasselakis became the subject of heated conversation in Greece. While the party historically represents s...
After being elected president of the 19-year-old, centro-leftist political party Syriza, called the Progressive Alliance, in September, Stefanos Kasselakis became the subject of heated conversation in Greece. While the party historically represents s...
Since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, major news outlets have agonized over whether regional actors—namely Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran—will be dragged into the war on Gaza. Popular publications have scoured every front for the scent ...
Since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, major news outlets have agonized over whether regional actors—namely Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran—will be dragged into the war on Gaza. Popular publications have scoured every front for the scent ...
A wave of conservatism has pummeled Europe for the last decade. First, it swept Viktor Orbán to power in Hungary. Then, Greece and Italy got caught in the riptide. Spain buoyed itself with Alberto Núñez Feijóo. And alas, Mateusz Morawiecki surfed...
A wave of conservatism has pummeled Europe for the last decade. First, it swept Viktor Orbán to power in Hungary. Then, Greece and Italy got caught in the riptide. Spain buoyed itself with Alberto Núñez Feijóo. And alas, Mateusz Morawiecki surfed...