Essays

Donald Trump’s vituperative, outsider presidential campaign rallied voters anxious about the economy, national security, and culture. But establishment Republicans shouldn’t be surprised by the tumult in the Grand Old Party.

Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton poses with U.S. Marines at the American Embassy, Cairo, March 16, 2011. Paul J. Richards/Pool/Reuters

Hillary the Hawk

By Stephen Zunes

Despite Hillary Clinton’s reputation as a liberal, the record suggests her presidency would push America toward a more militaristic approach to the Middle East.

Homeless man, New York, May 1, 2009. Ashley Gilbertson/VII/Corbis

American Poverty

By Bernie Sanders

The great middle class is in decline, despite major growth in the U.S. and global economy. One presidential candidate’s solution: democratic socialism.

Latino immigration supporters launch a voter registration campaign, Boulder, Oct. 28, 2015. Evan Semon/Reuters

Viva Latino Voters!

By Adrian D. Pantoja

America’s Latino population, once a political sleeping giant, is poised to play a pivotal role in the 2016 American elections. And thanks to the anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric of Republican politicians, the Democratic Party could be the big winner.

President Barack Obama with leaders of Arab nations at Camp David, Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland, May 14, 2015. Kevin Dietsch/Pool/Associated Press

Obama’s Tarnished Legacy in the Middle East

By Hisham Melhem

President Barack Obama had to deal with a dysfunctional state system and fraying civil societies, as well as blowback from George W. Bush’s invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet his own actions and inactions throughout two terms of office contributed significantly to the great unraveling of the Middle East.

Cuban woman poses wearing an American flag dress, Havana, Aug. 4, 2015. Enrique de la Osa/Reuters/Corbis

A Long Road to Havana

By William M. LeoGrande

In 2014, Cuba and the United States shocked the world by announcing the normalization of bilateral relations after a half century of hostility. Yet with political leadership changing soon in both Havana and Washington, the path forward is still marked with uncertainty. Decades of enmity will not be easily forgotten.

Failings of Political Islam

By Tarek Osman

After the Arab Spring, the rise of Islamists stirred social polarization in many countries. The most potent Islamists today are the jihadists who have seized control of territory through extreme violence. Can political Islam be reconciled with secular modernity?

Rule of Terror

By Carla Del Ponte and Karen Koning AbuZayd and Paulo Pinheiro and Vitit Muntarbhorn

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) proclaimed a caliphate in 2014. An in-depth report on how its militants are using severe brutality and radical interpretations of sharia law to govern a large civilian population.

ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in Mosul, Iraq

From the Archives: A Portrait of Caliph Ibrahim

By Abdel Bari Atwan

Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi rarely allows himself to be seen in public, hence his nicknames the “phantom” and the “invisible sheikh.” A veteran journalist pieces together the story of the most feared jihadist leader since Osama Bin Laden.

Egyptian Ultras football fans protest in Cairo

The Problem with Radicalism

By Ömer Taşpınar

It is commonplace to associate violent extremism with Islam, but terrorist organizations from recent history show that radicalism is not explained by religion. The concept of relative deprivation is key to understanding the roots of terrorism.

Al-Shabab fighters in Mogadishu, Somalia

Turning Somalia Around

By Marcin Buzanski

The rise of the jihadist Al-Shabab group has compounded Somalia’s problems with internal warlords and regional rivalries. Will a new constitution and elections in 2016 finally bring hope to this “failed state?”

Emir Faisal of Mecca and his entourage at Paris Peace Conference

A Century After Sykes-Picot

By Eugene Rogan

With the fall of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War, Arabs found themselves divided into new states under British and French domination. Today’s crises are a legacy of political decisions made a hundred years ago.

Customers wait outside a bank in Athens, Greece

Greek Debt, German Hubris

By Stelios Kouloglou

Greece’s European Union creditors showed little sympathy for the country’s financial crisis, blaming a poor national work ethic and insisting on shock therapy. But Germany had its own reasons for pressuring Athens: economic windfalls and political hegemony.

John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif negotiate Iran nuclear deal

The Iran Nuclear Deal

Eight experts on what the nuclear deal means for Iran, the United States, the Middle East, and the world.

Sustaining Our Farmers

By Kanayo F. Nwanze

Rising global population means the world must produce more food. Empowering smallholders is the key to fighting hunger and feeding a growing world.

How to Feed Egypt

By Perrihan Al-Riffai

A country with a bulging population faces crippling food security challenges. A high-level government commitment must address the availability of and access to food.

The Obesity Crisis

By James Manyika and Richard Dobbs

If trends persist, nearly half of the world’s adult population will be overweight or obese by 2030. A comprehensive intervention strategy is required to fight a scourge as damaging to the global economy as war.

Dining with Darius

By Rachel Laudan

The tale of the Persian empire is one of vast farms, game reserves, and fisheries, elaborate kitchens staffed by thousands, and power. Centuries later, nations are still engaging in culinary politics.

The Marvel of Bánh Mi

By Andrew Lam