Essay

List of Essay articles

  • A resin model of a sculpture illustrating the World War I Christmas Truce soccer match is pictured inside the remains of St. Luke's Church in Liverpool, England.
    A resin model of a sculpture illustrating the World War I Christmas Truce soccer match is pictured inside the remains of St. Luke's Church in Liverpool, England.

    World War I’s ‘Silent Night’

    The mythical appeal of the Christmas truce evokes the idea that ordinary people would get along if not for their governments.

  • An illustration shows an inverted black and white image of the city skyline of Frankfurt split down the middle with a paper tear revealing a green background. Against the field of green, a cross section of a tree and a seedling are shown.
    An illustration shows an inverted black and white image of the city skyline of Frankfurt split down the middle with a paper tear revealing a green background. Against the field of green, a cross section of a tree and a seedling are shown.

    The Relentless Growth of Degrowth Economics

    Europe’s push to abandon capitalism is motivated by optimism about politics—and pessimism about everything else.

  • A globe with blocks and chunks missing from it sits atop the shoulders of a person looking into a dystopian horizon.
    A globe with blocks and chunks missing from it sits atop the shoulders of a person looking into a dystopian horizon.

    The Global Credibility Gap

    No one power or group can uphold the international order anymore—and that means much more geopolitical uncertainty ahead.

  • A macro image of dozens of tiny semiconductor chips on a circuitboard from inside a cell phone.
    A macro image of dozens of tiny semiconductor chips on a circuitboard from inside a cell phone.

    Let There Be Microchips

    The semiconductor and its near-divine creation story.

  • An illustration shows overlapping cannons or missile barrels pointing in different directions coming out of a map of Taiwan. A U.S. flag is in a barrel on one side and a China flag in a barrel on the other.
    An illustration shows overlapping cannons or missile barrels pointing in different directions coming out of a map of Taiwan. A U.S. flag is in a barrel on one side and a China flag in a barrel on the other.

    Deterrence in Taiwan Is Failing

    The United States has committed to keeping the peace but isn’t doing enough to stop the war.

  • A collage photo illustration shows examples of soft power around the world including a smoking NAFO shiba inu in a beret and fatigues, a dancing woman from the Bollywood movie "Monsoon Wedding," Olympic sprinter Jesse Owens, K-pop band BTS, and a panda.
    A collage photo illustration shows examples of soft power around the world including a smoking NAFO shiba inu in a beret and fatigues, a dancing woman from the Bollywood movie "Monsoon Wedding," Olympic sprinter Jesse Owens, K-pop band BTS, and a panda.

    Soft Power Is Making a Hard Return

    Leaders are reaching for fellas and films as much as bullets and blockades.  This article has an audio recording

  • Margot Robbie as Barbie and Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer stand in front of an apocalyptic pink and orange clouded desert landscape in a photo illustration for the two movies. Barbie wears her iconic black-and-white-striped swimsuit and sunglasses, and Oppenheimer a period hat and suit with cigarette in hand.
    Margot Robbie as Barbie and Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer stand in front of an apocalyptic pink and orange clouded desert landscape in a photo illustration for the two movies. Barbie wears her iconic black-and-white-striped swimsuit and sunglasses, and Oppenheimer a period hat and suit with cigarette in hand.

    ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ Have More in Common Than You Think

    Both films attempt to atone for the complicated legacies of American icons. Only one succeeds.

  • A black and white print overlaid with a red star shows Russian Tsar Peter the Great holding up a glass in a toast after beheading one of the Streltsy rebels in front of his nobles. A headless figure rests on the ground and other people surround the tsar with lifted glasses.
    A black and white print overlaid with a red star shows Russian Tsar Peter the Great holding up a glass in a toast after beheading one of the Streltsy rebels in front of his nobles. A headless figure rests on the ground and other people surround the tsar with lifted glasses.

    Putin’s Fear of Strong Generals Is as Old as Russia Itself

    Prigozhin’s rise and fall is the latest example of what happens when a ruler in Moscow fears the power of military underlings.

  • An employee of Air Liquide in front of an electrolyzer at the company's future hydrogen production facility of renewable hydrogen in Oberhausen, Germany.
    An employee of Air Liquide in front of an electrolyzer at the company's future hydrogen production facility of renewable hydrogen in Oberhausen, Germany.

    Hydrogen Is the Future—or a Complete Mirage

    The green-hydrogen industry is a case study in the potential—for better and worse—of our new economic era. This article has an audio recording

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