History

Status Update

With the stroke of a pen, a new bill in Congress could slash the number of Palestinian refugees -- and open a world of controversy.

BY JONATHAN SCHANZER | MAY 21, 2012

The Government We Deserve

Americans are sick and tired of Washington's dysfunctional politics. But it's not Congress they should be angry at -- Americans got exactly the system of government they asked for.

BY ALASDAIR ROBERTS | MAY 21, 2012

The FP Survey: The Future of NATO

Does the 63-year-old alliance still matter today? We asked politicians, scholars, and other observers from both sides of the Atlantic to weigh in.

MAY 14, 2012

Burma Can Bring It

It’s true: Burma faces an uphill climb in its transition to democracy. But the odds may be better than you think.

BY MICHAEL ALBERTUS, VICTOR MENALDO | MAY 14, 2012

Getting Ready for Life after Castro

Managing the transition to a democratic Cuba: A user’s guide.

BY JAIME SUCHLICKI | MAY 11, 2012

The Last RINO

To the modern Republican Party, Richard Lugar was already a dead man walking. He just didn't realize it.

BY JACOB HEILBRUNN | MAY 8, 2012

Spring Is Over

Has the Russian protest movement fatally weakened Vladimir Putin? Don’t bet on it.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MAY 8, 2012

Mr. Nice Guy

France has chosen François Hollande, but can she fall in love with a man who lacks the passion of leaders past?

BY ERIC PAPE | MAY 7, 2012

A Kremlin Made of Sand

Vladimir Putin may not be as secure as he thinks.

BY LEON ARON | MAY 4, 2012

The Work of All Nations

President Barack Obama's creation of an Atrocities Prevention Board is an important step, but America can't prevent genocide alone.

BY HASHIM THACI | APRIL 27, 2012

Supersonic

For decades, these American jets have ruled the skies.

APRIL 26, 2012

How Not to Write About Africa

The media shamefully neglects Africa -- until it decides to swarm a story with terrible coverage.

BY LAURA SEAY | APRIL 25, 2012

Blood on His Hands

Meet the victims of Bo Xilai's Chongqing reign.

BY MATTHEW FISHBANE | APRIL 23, 2012

Back to School

Egyptian and Tunisian classrooms learn to learn in a post-dictator era.

BY URSULA LINDSEY | APRIL 23, 2012

The End of History in the New Libya

The Green Book is gone, but what will replace it?

BY CLARE MORGANA GILLIS | MAY/JUNE 2012

The Last Kings of Africa

On this continent, monarchs still hold considerable sway.

APRIL 23, 2012

Smart Sanctions: A Short History

How a blunt diplomatic tool morphed into the precision-guided measures we know today.

BY URI FRIEDMAN | MAY/JUNE 2012

Georgia on My Mind

The Georgian ambassador pushes back against Thomas de Waal's portrayal of his country.

MAY/JUNE 2012

The Stubborn Past

Thirty-five years after the "Dirty War," a trial in Argentina is still struggling to shed light on a bloody legacy.

BY ALEX GIBSON | APRIL 20, 2012

The Not-So-Great Firewall of China

Social media won't drive the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party, but it is forcing government to be more transparent and responsive to the public.

BY REBECCA MACKINNON | APRIL 17, 2012

Rotting From Within

Investigating the massive corruption of the Chinese military.

BY JOHN GARNAUT | APRIL 16, 2012

The World in Photos This Week

North Korea launches a dud, a fragile cease-fire holds in Syria, and Rick Santorum bows out.

APRIL 13, 2012

Land of Rockets and Bicycles

A visual tour of North Korea as the nation gears up for national celebrations -- and an international standoff.

APRIL 11, 2012

Disasters on the Seven Seas

The last century's most harrowing cruise ship catastrophes.

APRIL 6, 2012

Treacherous Waters

The latest bad publicity for the global cruise industry is just the tip of the iceberg.

BY ROSS A. KLEIN | APRIL 6, 2012

Mogadishu's Moment

The city is making great strides, but 20 years of violence can't be erased in a day.

APRIL 5, 2012

Great Scots

From the battlefield at Bannockburn to Dolly the sheep, the country's soaring national pride speaks volumes about the potential of a complicated dissolution from the United Kingdom.

BY TIM JUDAH | APRIL 5, 2012

Israel's Resilient Democracy

Like the United States, we have our flaws. But to say Israel is undemocratic is just dead wrong.

BY MICHAEL OREN | APRIL 5, 2012

Scot Free

A guided tour of Scotland, as the country debates its looming vote on independence.

BY TIM JUDAH | APRIL 3, 2012

16 Ways to Fix Burma

On the eve of the country's historic elections, 16 experts give us their prescriptions for the future.

MARCH 30, 2012