Howard W. French

Howard W. French is a columnist at Foreign Policy, a professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and a longtime foreign correspondent. His latest book is The Second Emancipation: Nkrumah, Pan-Africanism, and Global Blackness at High Tide.

Follow Howard W. French:
On Bluesky
On X
Articles by Howard W. French
A man in a suit stands below a golden symbol of Africa on the wall. Five green flags are to his left.
A man in a suit stands below a golden symbol of Africa on the wall. Five green flags are to his left.

Africa Needs a Continental Body With Teeth

Argument
Howard W. French
Trump's silhouette is shown as he stands on a platform above a group of people.
Trump's silhouette is shown as he stands on a platform above a group of people.

U.S. Gunboat Diplomacy Will Only Embolden China This article has an audio recording

Argument
Howard W. French
Trump gestures with his arms out wide behind a sculpture that reads "PEACE 2025."
Trump gestures with his arms out wide behind a sculpture that reads "PEACE 2025."

Trump’s Foreign Policy Is Not as Successful as You Think

Argument
Howard W. French
A man is shown looking down, wearing a red hat with the words "TRUMP 2028." The hat's bill is decorated with the American flag.
A man is shown looking down, wearing a red hat with the words "TRUMP 2028." The hat's bill is decorated with the American flag.

‘Trump 2028’ Is No Joke

Argument
Howard W. French
Trump signs a document at his desk. He wears a navy suit and a blue tie.
Trump signs a document at his desk. He wears a navy suit and a blue tie.

The H-1B Visa Fiasco Is Accelerating America’s Decline

Argument
Howard W. French
A person with glasses holds up a sign with Trump and Bolsonaro's faces, and the text: "INIMIGOS DO POVO." The person is surrounded by people holding up red flags.
A person with glasses holds up a sign with Trump and Bolsonaro's faces, and the text: "INIMIGOS DO POVO." The person is surrounded by people holding up red flags.

Trump Is Ushering in the Era of the Strongman

Argument
Howard W. French
Protesters stage a rally against the detention of South Korean workers during an immigration raid in Georgia near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on Sept. 9.
Protesters stage a rally against the detention of South Korean workers during an immigration raid in Georgia near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on Sept. 9.

Trump Has a Cluster-Bomb Approach to Policy

Argument
Howard W. French
A silhouette of a young person is shown standing amid a neighborhood in ruins.
A silhouette of a young person is shown standing amid a neighborhood in ruins.

Israelis Need to Recognize the Humanity of Gazans

Argument
Howard W. French
Trump and Cook shape hands next to a poster board that reads: "Apple American Manufacturing Program."
Trump and Cook shape hands next to a poster board that reads: "Apple American Manufacturing Program."

Trump’s Economic Policy Is More Radical Than You Think

Argument
Howard W. French
Government officials carry Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah.
Government officials carry Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah.

The Political Giant the West Forgot

Excerpt
Howard W. French
Three people stand together in front of microphone, smiling.
Three people stand together in front of microphone, smiling.

The Making of Mamdani

Analysis
Howard W. French
Children and adults with desperate facial expressions hold out bowls for food.
Children and adults with desperate facial expressions hold out bowls for food.

The Dangers of Weaponizing Antisemitism

Argument
Howard W. French
A mural of Trump beside a painting of a MADE IN CHINA stamp.
A mural of Trump beside a painting of a MADE IN CHINA stamp.

The U.S. Can No Longer Stave Off Competition From China

Analysis
Howard W. French
Children are cramped together as they hold out bowls for food with anguished expressions.
Children are cramped together as they hold out bowls for food with anguished expressions.

The News Cycle Is No Excuse for Ignoring Gaza

Argument
Howard W. French
A poster of Trump kneeling before Khamenei. Two women walk past it.
A poster of Trump kneeling before Khamenei. Two women walk past it.

Trump Is Just Trying to Save Face

Argument
Howard W. French
Load more by Howard W. French Return to staff list

Latest

See All Stories

Trending

  1. 1
    Trump Should Oust Maduro
  2. 2
    The Man Who Could Topple Orban
  3. 3
    Trump Is Alienating Southeast Asia
  4. 4
    A Complacent Pentagon Needs to Learn From Ukraine
  5. 5
    To Counter China, Look to the ‘Other Trilat’