Dictators, Democracy, and Almighty Oil in the MENA Region
Western states would prefer to deal with dictatorships to shore up their energy security.
Trump to Decide on America’s Longest War
The Trump administration is mulling a fresh new approach to the Afghanistan quagmire: giving up.
Going Mainstream: Trump’s Reckless Reversal on Syria
Trump’s attack on Syria sets the United States on a dangerous course while raising questions about who’s really in charge in Washington.
Lessons from the Fall of Bo Xilai
The go-to media narrative of the fall of Bo Xilai declares that it’s the most important political event to occur China since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. That may well be true, but there is more to be gleaned from the story than one man’s fall from grace.
Syria on the Brink of Civil War
An Egyptian army that is recalcitrant in the face of democratic realities and a fractured and increasingly violent tribal chaos in Libya; but the strategic hangover from the Arab Spring is just getting started. Next up: a Syrian civil war.
Engaging Non-State Armed Groups
The US State Department wants to open channels to non-state actors, but its policy at the practical level is still muddled.
The Bering Strait: A New Chokepoint for Great Power Competition
The Northern Sea Route through the Arctic will alter global trade flows and in doing so create new geopolitical chokepoints. Chief among them is the Bering Strait, where US, Russian, and Chinese interests converge.
US-China Trade War: Headed for Conclusion or Escalation?
What might the ramifications be of a full-blown trade war, and what is the likelihood presidents Trump and Xi manage to sign an agreement to avoid them?
Interview: International Crisis Group’s Heiko Wimmen on Next Steps in Lebanon
Who will be the next prime minister? Tanmay Kadam seeks answers from a leading expert on Lebanese domestic politics.
Next Up for Reform in China: a Small Step or a Giant Leap?
The Geopoliticalmonitor’s Zachary Fillingham discusses some of the rumored reforms that will be considered during the third plenum in China next month.