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A large crowd gathers in a public square around a tall statue and monument base. Many people in the foreground and middle ground have raised arms or raised fists. Several individuals wear face masks or scarves covering their faces. People are also perched on the tiers of the stone monument under a light sky.
A large crowd gathers in a public square around a tall statue and monument base. Many people in the foreground and middle ground have raised arms or raised fists. Several individuals wear face masks or scarves covering their faces. People are also perched on the tiers of the stone monument under a light sky.

To Understand France’s Unrest, Look Back to 1982

François Mitterrand’s U-turn decades ago holds lessons for today. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Howard W. French
A group of men standing together outdoors, raising their clasped hands in the air in unity. In the center, a man with a dark turban, graying beard, and navy robe raises both hands, holding the hands of the men beside him. The men around him wear traditional head coverings, including keffiyehs, and dark coats or robes.
A group of men standing together outdoors, raising their clasped hands in the air in unity. In the center, a man with a dark turban, graying beard, and navy robe raises both hands, holding the hands of the men beside him. The men around him wear traditional head coverings, including keffiyehs, and dark coats or robes.

Trump Is Reopening the Middle East’s Deadliest Sectarian Fault Lines

Washington is pressing Shiite groups to disarm while ignoring the real fears that keep them armed. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Hekmat Aboukhater
A man in a white button-down shirt smiles with his left arm raised, holding a microphone overhead, while placing his right hand over his chest. Other people are visible in the background against a yellow backdrop.
A man in a white button-down shirt smiles with his left arm raised, holding a microphone overhead, while placing his right hand over his chest. Other people are visible in the background against a yellow backdrop.

Brazil’s Far-Right Resurgence

The Bolsonaro family looks likely to retake the presidency.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Three men stand side by side in formal attire against a light blue backdrop featuring partial white text in English and Arabic. The man on the left wears a dark blue suit with a purple tie. The man in the center wears a gray double-breasted suit with a red tie. The man on the right wears traditional Saudi attire, including a white thobe, a red-and-white checked shemagh, and a dark robe trimmed with gold.
Three men stand side by side in formal attire against a light blue backdrop featuring partial white text in English and Arabic. The man on the left wears a dark blue suit with a purple tie. The man in the center wears a gray double-breasted suit with a red tie. The man on the right wears traditional Saudi attire, including a white thobe, a red-and-white checked shemagh, and a dark robe trimmed with gold.

Mecca Pact, Activated

What Pakistan and Turkey will likely do (and want) in Saudi Arabia.

Situation Report
Rishi Iyengar

Asia-Pacific

Supporters of Imran Khan, some wearing the PTI colors of red and green, march in street and wave party flags.
Supporters of Imran Khan, some wearing the PTI colors of red and green, march in street and wave party flags.

Pakistan’s Opposition on the March

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman

What Does China’s New Military Base in Laos Mean?

How Much More Trump Trouble Can Indonesia’s Prabowo Take? This article has an audio recording

Modi Faces Protest Threat Over Election Commission Scandal This article has an audio recording

China

An overhead view of four white, humanoid robots competing in a track race on a blue surface with white lane markers and white numbers painted on each lane. One robot runs along lane 1, another stumbles or falls in lane 2, a third sprints in lane 4, and a fourth falls near lane 5. Sponsor logos are visible on the perimeter wall in the background.
An overhead view of four white, humanoid robots competing in a track race on a blue surface with white lane markers and white numbers painted on each lane. One robot runs along lane 1, another stumbles or falls in lane 2, a third sprints in lane 4, and a fourth falls near lane 5. Sponsor logos are visible on the perimeter wall in the background.

China Might Lap the United States on AI Adoption

Analysis
Kenton Thibaut, Kat Duffy

China’s AI Rollout Has No Off Switch This article has an audio recording

Why Chinese Parents Don’t Want Two Kids

China Doesn’t Need to Invade Taiwan to Control It

Europe

Pope Francis, seen through the glass windshield of the Popemobile, raises his left hand to wave. Hundreds of people are visible in a crowd lining the street behind him. Francis wears long white vestaments and only a small white skullcap hat.
Pope Francis, seen through the glass windshield of the Popemobile, raises his left hand to wave. Hundreds of people are visible in a crowd lining the street behind him. Francis wears long white vestaments and only a small white skullcap hat.

France’s Catholic Revival Is Fueling Its Far Right

Analysis
Robert Zaretsky

Russia’s Air War Aims to Bleed Ukraine Dry This article has an audio recording

How Far Can Russia Probe NATO’s Collective Defense? This article has an audio recording

The Left’s New Rallying Cry Is ‘Expropriation’ This article has an audio recording

Middle East & Africa

A street scene featuring a large billboard displaying military-themed artwork in an urban environment. In the foreground, a woman wearing a light-colored coat, headscarf, and dark trousers walks across the foreground from right to left. Behind her, a white hatchback car is parked along the street in front of a shaded structure. In the background, a massive billboard mounted on the side of a tall building depicts a figure in uniform standing over a large aquatic object or piece of military hardware wrapped in nets. Persian text is printed in large bold lettering on the right side of the billboard. Clear blue skies frame the background above the city skyline.
A street scene featuring a large billboard displaying military-themed artwork in an urban environment. In the foreground, a woman wearing a light-colored coat, headscarf, and dark trousers walks across the foreground from right to left. Behind her, a white hatchback car is parked along the street in front of a shaded structure. In the background, a massive billboard mounted on the side of a tall building depicts a figure in uniform standing over a large aquatic object or piece of military hardware wrapped in nets. Persian text is printed in large bold lettering on the right side of the billboard. Clear blue skies frame the background above the city skyline.

Some Tout a U.S. Victory in Iran. I’m Not So Sure.

Argument
Fareed Zakaria

Can Regional Powers Prevent Ethiopia’s Conflict From Spreading?

How to Avoid Disaster in the Next Iran War This article has an audio recording

AI Made the List—but Humans Still Did the Killing This article has an audio recording

Americas

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 22.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 22.

Here’s What to Do About Trump’s War Crimes This article has an audio recording

Argument
Anjali Dayal

How the U.S. Can Once Again Lead on Human Rights This article has an audio recording

What’s at Stake in Brazil’s Election This article has an audio recording

The Good, Bad, and Dangerous in Hegseth’s Pentagon Overhaul

hungry-hegemon-homepage-tout-1000x400
hungry-hegemon-homepage-tout-1000x400

The Hungry Hegemon

Dining-centered diplomacy, economics of culinary diasporas, and food fortifying national identities. The Hungry Hegemon takes a look at the geopolitical forces shaping plates across the world.

Audio Picks

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In the Magazine

Current Issue: Fall 2026 print Archives
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A coil of blue and green climbing rope against a light cream background, with a map of the world printed across the center wrapped bundle. Multiple strands extend outwards from the main coil, each ending in a attached metal carabiner clip.
A coil of blue and green climbing rope against a light cream background, with a map of the world printed across the center wrapped bundle. Multiple strands extend outwards from the main coil, each ending in a attached metal carabiner clip.

How to Survive in a World Without Rules

Self-help is becoming more vital in a vicious world. This article has an audio recording

Essay
Hal Brands
A black music stand holds multiple open songbooks against a solid light blue background. On the pages of the open books, blue world map patterns overlay the printed musical notes. The stand features a tiered layout, with a large music book on the top ledge and smaller books arranged across the lower ledges.
A black music stand holds multiple open songbooks against a solid light blue background. On the pages of the open books, blue world map patterns overlay the printed musical notes. The stand features a tiered layout, with a large music book on the top ledge and smaller books arranged across the lower ledges.

The World’s Only Real Hope of Maintaining Order

A proposal for a new international system that is at once centralized and regionalized. This article has an audio recording

Essay
Charles A. Kupchan

How to Write Better Rules for Global Finance This article has an audio recording

Essay
Mariana Mazzucato

A New Engine of Development This article has an audio recording

Essay
Michael Beckley

Trump Has Peaked This article has an audio recording

Essay
Ravi Agrawal

A Cabinet Full of Roy Cohns This article has an audio recording

Review
Michael Hirsh

FP Weekend

  • An illustration of an underwater scene where three hands reach into an open treasure chest resting on the seabed. Inside the chest sits a large, spiky sea cucumber along with ice cubes, gold coins, and a pearl necklace. A person wearing scuba gear and a chef's hat reaches toward the chest from above.
    An illustration of an underwater scene where three hands reach into an open treasure chest resting on the seabed. Inside the chest sits a large, spiky sea cucumber along with ice cubes, gold coins, and a pearl necklace. A person wearing scuba gear and a chef's hat reaches toward the chest from above.

    The Illicit World of Sea Cucumbers

    How a rare delicacy in Asia drives crime oceans away.

    Analysis
    Tom Brown, Pragathi Ravi
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Shadow-government-democrats-blue-cutout-3-2

SHADOW GOVERNMENT: The view from the Democratic opposition

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The Scramble for AI Dominance

A spate of companies have recently held back their artificial intelligence models over safety concerns. First, Anthropic withheld Mythos. Then, OpenAI scrapped GPT-6.1 Astra’s... READ MORE

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Subscribers’ Picks

A oil painting portrait of a man shown in profile facing left. He wears a dark cap and a reddish-pink tunic over a light collar against a dark background.
A oil painting portrait of a man shown in profile facing left. He wears a dark cap and a reddish-pink tunic over a light collar against a dark background.

What Machiavelli Would Say About Trump

The U.S. president offers a guide on how to be a very bad prince. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman, both grinning, grasp each others' hand in a White House setting.
Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman, both grinning, grasp each others' hand in a White House setting.

Saudi Arabia Bribed the Wrong People

Riyadh’s bet on Trumpism has failed. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Nicholas Grossman
A man wearing a dark suit jacket, light blue button-down shirt, and patterned red tie sits on a dark gray couch against a textured dark blue wall. He is looking off to the side with a mild smile, next to a teal pillow.
A man wearing a dark suit jacket, light blue button-down shirt, and patterned red tie sits on a dark gray couch against a textured dark blue wall. He is looking off to the side with a mild smile, next to a teal pillow.

The Twilight of the Francis Fukuyama Era

The famous thinker’s new memoir reveals a fateful political and intellectual blind spot.

Review
Jeremi Suri
This frame grab taken from AFPTV video footage shows a tank leaking at the scene of a fire at the Aramco fuel depot near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on on Sept. 19.
This frame grab taken from AFPTV video footage shows a tank leaking at the scene of a fire at the Aramco fuel depot near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on on Sept. 19.

Gulf States Are Hedging and Suffering

Neither appealing to Washington nor diversifying security partners nor back-channeling with Tehran is insulating the region from the consequences of war. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Shawn A. Howard
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COLLECTIONS: Download PDFs on the trade wars, the AI arms race, and the scramble for critical minerals.

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A visitor walks by a billboard for AI at the PT Expo in Beijing on Sept. 22.
A visitor walks by a billboard for AI at the PT Expo in Beijing on Sept. 22.

How America and China Compare on AI This article has an audio recording

Insider
Ravi Agrawal
A large, bright red promotional balloon floating in the sky with white text reading "NEW HOMES". Below, a densely built neighborhood of modern multi-story houses sits against a backdrop of dry, rolling hills and mountains.
A large, bright red promotional balloon floating in the sky with white text reading "NEW HOMES". Below, a densely built neighborhood of modern multi-story houses sits against a backdrop of dry, rolling hills and mountains.

What’s Freezing the U.S. Housing Market? This article has an audio recording

Insider
Cameron Abadi, Adam Tooze
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva waves a national flag during a campaign walk through downtown Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 2.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva waves a national flag during a campaign walk through downtown Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 2.

What’s at Stake in Brazil’s Election This article has an audio recording

Insider
Cameron Abadi, Adam Tooze

Books

Trending

  1. What in the World?

    Quiz
    Drew Gorman

  2. Mecca Pact, Activated

    Situation Report
    Rishi Iyengar

  3. The Next Iran War Is This Iran War

    Analysis
    Ali Hashem

  4. Trump Is Reopening the Middle East’s Deadliest Sectarian Fault Lines This article has an audio recording

    Analysis
    Hekmat Aboukhater

  5. Brazil’s Far-Right Resurgence

    Latin America Brief
    Catherine Osborn

  6. To Understand France’s Unrest, Look Back to 1982 This article has an audio recording

    Analysis
    Howard W. French

  7. The Scramble for AI Dominance

    FP Live

  8. How America and China Compare on AI This article has an audio recording

    Insider
    Ravi Agrawal

  9. Here’s What to Do About Trump’s War Crimes This article has an audio recording

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    Anjali Dayal

Visual Stories

G9 armed soldiers stand guard in Delmas 4.
G9 armed soldiers stand guard in Delmas 4.

U.S. Funding Cuts Fuel Child Recruitment Into Haitian Armed Groups

“Without USAID support, all you have left is the rule of the ganglord.”

Jess DiPierro Obert
A man viewed from behind wearing a dark robe and a red-and-white keffiyeh stands outdoors near a large, colorful roadside structure with flags mounted on top under a clear blue sky.
A man viewed from behind wearing a dark robe and a red-and-white keffiyeh stands outdoors near a large, colorful roadside structure with flags mounted on top under a clear blue sky.

What Remains of Rojava

In northeastern Syria, Kurdish leaders continue to fight a rear-guard battle for autonomy.

Hanna Davis

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In Case You Missed It

A selection of paywall-free articles

  • A creative illustration against a pale yellow background showing a garden planter containing a dense green hedge. Five human arms emerge from the hedge, with four of the hands holding small flags of China, Russia, the United States, and the European Union, while the fifth hand holds the flag of India.
    A creative illustration against a pale yellow background showing a garden planter containing a dense green hedge. Five human arms emerge from the hedge, with four of the hands holding small flags of China, Russia, the United States, and the European Union, while the fifth hand holds the flag of India.

    Hedging Is the New Normal

    For the foreseeable future, successful statecraft will depend on hedging. This article has an audio recording

    Argument
    Suzanne Nossel
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