Political Risk Must-Reads

Eurasia Group’s weekly selection of essential reading for the political-risk junkie — presented in no particular order. As always, feel free to give us your feedback or selections by tweeting at us via @EurasiaGroup or @ianbremmer. Must-reads "A Free Miracle Food!" Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times Suboptimal breast-feeding practices claim 804,000 children’s lives a year — more ...

Eurasia Group's weekly selection of essential reading for the political-risk junkie -- presented in no particular order. As always, feel free to give us your feedback or selections by tweeting at us via @EurasiaGroup or @ianbremmer.

Eurasia Group’s weekly selection of essential reading for the political-risk junkie — presented in no particular order. As always, feel free to give us your feedback or selections by tweeting at us via @EurasiaGroup or @ianbremmer.

Must-reads

"A Free Miracle Food!"
Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times
Suboptimal breast-feeding practices claim 804,000 children’s lives a year — more than malaria (based on the World Health Organization’s estimates). This seems like low-hanging fruit for improving the global child-mortality rate.

"France’s triumphant ‘Joan of Arc’ vows to bring back franc and destroy euro"
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, the Telegraph
"The euro ceases to exist the moment that France leaves, and that is our incredible strength. What are they going to do, send in tanks?" These are the words of Marine Le Pen. But French voters are warming up to her National Front party — in the most recent national polls, it’s running even with the two traditional parties.

"Will These Youth Protests Spread to Asia’s Corrupted Democracies?"
Robert E. Kelly, the Diplomat
Many of the underlying problems attributed with sparking unrest in Brazil, Turkey, Egypt, and the European periphery are present in some Asian countries as well. Is it only a matter of time before protests spread to Asia?

"A poor bill of health"
The Economist
In the United States’ longest-living areas, like Fairfax County, Virginia, life expectancies "rival those of Switzerland and Japan." But one in nine U.S. counties has a life expectancy lower than Nicaragua’s. Welcome to the United States’ life expectancy riddle.

"Hot Rods"
Jason Miklian, Foreign Policy
In 1958, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower sanctioned a nuclear research plant in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Today, the dilapidated plant has 4-foot walls, a single guard, and employees who are paid just $100 a month and have access to stockpiles of valuable enriched-uranium fuel rods. Two of these rods went missing in 1997.

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.