A Path Out of the Middle East Collapse
With Russia in Syria, a geopolitical structure that lasted four decades is in shambles. The U.S. needs a new strategy and priorities. The debate about whether the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran regarding its nuclear program stabilized the Middle East’s strategic framework had barely be…
These 5 Facts Explain Why We Need the United Nations
Unless you were born before 1945, you aren’t old enough to remember the catastrophes that gave birth to the United Nations and the surge of idealism that defined its mission. The UN charter commits the organization to, among other things, “promote social progress and better standards of life in larg…
Greece, Russia and the politics of humiliation
Just before Alexis Tsipras was elected Greek prime minister in January, he made a vow to the voters: “On Monday national humiliation will be over. We will finish with orders from abroad.” Anyone tempted to dismiss this stress on national humiliation as a Greek eccentricity should look around the wor…
King Salman Comes to Washington
Syria. The U.S.-Saudi gap on Syria remains wide, but recent developments there and in the region may provide an opportunity to start to close it. Washington and Riyadh have long agreed on the desirability of getting Asad to leave, but the Saudis have been disappointed with Obama’s unwillingness to t…
The UN at 70
Jeffrey D. Sachs The United Nations will mark its 70th anniversary when world leaders assemble next month at its headquarters in New York. Though there will be plenty of fanfare, it will inadequately reflect the UN’s value, not only as the most important political innovation of the twentieth century…
Stephen Harper: The making of a prime minister
He is a lion in autumn, weaker than in his prime, but still a force of nature. He faces his fifth, and perhaps final, test as national leader. But in a way, the result won’t matter. Whether Stephen Harper wins or loses the general election of October 19 is moot. He has already reshaped Canada. And C…
The Summer of Sustainable Development
Arun S. Nair September is perhaps the best month to visit New York City. That’s when the Big Apple turns pleasant after its peak summer. If you are reasonably well off, you would mind less that the city has become costlier and consider attending the month’s numerous attractions including the US Open…
The Turkish Enigma
In my “Net Assessment of the World,” I argued that four major segments of the European and Asian landmass were in crisis: Europe, Russia, the Middle East (from the Levant to Iran) and China. Each crisis was different; each was at a different stage of development. Collectively the crises threatened t…
China already number one, says the IMF
If the International Monetary Fund is right, we can stop speculating about when China will overtake the United States to become the world’s biggest economy. It’s already happened. The IMF’s new data set, released in April with its latest World Economic Outlook report, estimates that in real terms (c…
How China and the United States Can Learn to Get Along
Doug Bandow Great Britain long reigned as the globe’s greatest maritime power, determined to maintain a navy as strong as those of its next two competitors combined. The policy succeeded against such competitors as France and Spain. However, by the end of the 19th century, Britain’s industrial revol…