Analysis – Foreign Policy

Analysis

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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 global history.

Review
Casey Michel
A woman in a futuristic suit lifts her hand above her head as she looks into the distance. Behind her is a robot soldier with a human head and a Western vigilante in cowboy hat and long coat, with a hole where his nose should be.
A woman in a futuristic suit lifts her hand above her head as she looks into the distance. Behind her is a robot soldier with a human head and a Western vigilante in cowboy hat and long coat, with a hole where his nose should be.

The True Horseman of the ‘Fallout’ Apocalypse

Amazon’s adaptation of the video game knows what Americans should really be afraid of.

Review
Syrus Solo Jin
A demonstrator holds up the flags of Israel and the United States during a rally in support of Israel outside the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver on Oct. 15, 2023.
A demonstrator holds up the flags of Israel and the United States during a rally in support of Israel outside the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver on Oct. 15, 2023.

Rift or Rupture?

What the war in Gaza is doing to U.S.-Israeli relations.

Analysis
Aaron David Miller, Daniel C. Kurtzer
A U.S. Army staff sergeant salutes as U.S. Navy sailors stand on the flight deck of the USS Bataan during Fleet Week in New York City on May 25, 2022.
A U.S. Army staff sergeant salutes as U.S. Navy sailors stand on the flight deck of the USS Bataan during Fleet Week in New York City on May 25, 2022.

The U.S. Navy Can’t Build Ships

Decades of deindustrialization and downsizing have left America without shipyards to build and maintain a fleet.

Argument
Gil Barndollar, Matthew C. Mai
Ukrainian servicemen fire artillery during an anti-drone drill in Chernigiv oblast, Ukraine, on Nov. 11, 2023.
Ukrainian servicemen fire artillery during an anti-drone drill in Chernigiv oblast, Ukraine, on Nov. 11, 2023.

Biden’s Catch-22 in Ukraine

Washington’s backing for Kyiv and avoidance of risk are increasingly at odds.

Analysis
Raphael S. Cohen, Gian Gentile
Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni welcomes President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen before the Italy-Africa international conference 'A bridge for common growth’ at the Italian Senate in Rome on January 29, 2024.
Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni welcomes President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen before the Italy-Africa international conference 'A bridge for common growth’ at the Italian Senate in Rome on January 29, 2024.

Giorgia Meloni Is Europe’s New Kingmaker

Italy’s far-right prime minister has quickly gone from fringe player to EU power broker.

Analysis
Anchal Vohra
U.S. President Joe Biden announces increased tariffs on Chinese products in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on May 14.
U.S. President Joe Biden announces increased tariffs on Chinese products in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on May 14.

The U.S. Should Stop Playing the Victim Over China Trade

Washington can accept reality and shift strategies.

Argument
Tom Moerenhout
An overview of the court during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague on Apr. 8.
An overview of the court during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague on Apr. 8.

Genocide Allegations Are Not a Political Football

Why Turkey’s application to join South Africa’s ICJ case trivializes the charges against Israel.

Argument
Stephan Pechdimaldji
The logo of the CIA is seen in shades of gray on the floor of a lobby at the agency’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
The logo of the CIA is seen in shades of gray on the floor of a lobby at the agency’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

U.S. Intelligence Is Facing a Crisis of Legitimacy

Bad-faith attacks are putting U.S. security in danger.

Argument
David V. Gioe, Michael S. Goodman, Michael V. Hayden
New Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (C) smiles next to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (R) during the swearing-in ceremony at the Istana in Singapore.
New Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (C) smiles next to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (R) during the swearing-in ceremony at the Istana in Singapore.

Singapore’s New PM Is Already Worried

A long-ruling party sees vulnerability as key to its own security and power.

Argument
Joseph Rachman
A 23-kiloton nuclear test explosion is seen at the Nevada Test Site near Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18 1953.
A 23-kiloton nuclear test explosion is seen at the Nevada Test Site near Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18 1953.

The Changing Nuclear Mind Game

Russia’s nuclear threats to reach conventional goals in Ukraine mark a new era of brinkmanship.

Argument
Rose Gottemoeller
A small crowd is silhouetted against a giant blue screen with global gridlines that displays the Gasprom logo.
A small crowd is silhouetted against a giant blue screen with global gridlines that displays the Gasprom logo.

Gazprom’s Declining Fortunes Spell Trouble for Moscow

The gas giant’s record loss should worry the Kremlin on several fronts.

Analysis
Agathe Demarais
A man is seen from his profile behind glass, speaking into a microphone and holding a piece of paper.
A man is seen from his profile behind glass, speaking into a microphone and holding a piece of paper.

The Kazakh Murder Trial That Captivated Russia

Putin’s political project rests on normalizing violence—including domestic abuse.

Analysis
Joy Neumeyer
Workers wearing reflective orange jackets stand on an airport tarmac and sweep a red carpet that extends from the boarding steps of the Chinese president's airplane. The pavement around the carpet is damp with puddles, and the sky overhead is gray and overcast.
Workers wearing reflective orange jackets stand on an airport tarmac and sweep a red carpet that extends from the boarding steps of the Chinese president's airplane. The pavement around the carpet is damp with puddles, and the sky overhead is gray and overcast.

Europeans Need to Trump-Proof China Policy

The United States is an unpredictable ally—but Beijing isn’t a better option.

Argument
Liana Fix, Zongyuan Zoe Liu
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Hassan Firouzabadi, then head of the Iranian military, look through binoculars during the test firing of short- and medium-range missiles.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Hassan Firouzabadi, then head of the Iranian military, look through binoculars during the test firing of short- and medium-range missiles.

The Day After Iran Gets the Bomb

Scholars and policymakers are still trying to understand what would happen after Tehran acquires a nuclear weapon.

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
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