Flash Points

Themed journeys through our archive.

nonalignment-george-wylesol-illustration-site
nonalignment-george-wylesol-illustration-site

Is Nonalignment Such a Big Deal?

Here’s what neutrality means in the 21st century.

A person is shown from the back looking at book shelves.
A person is shown from the back looking at book shelves.
An activist holds a sign depicting rival generals, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who leads the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagalo, during a demonstration in front of the White House in Washington on April 29, 2023.
An activist holds a sign depicting rival generals, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who leads the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagalo, during a demonstration in front of the White House in Washington on April 29, 2023.

Where the U.S. Went Wrong in Sudan

Khartoum now faces civil war. What does the U.S. have to do with it?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tours the site of destroyed buildings during his visit to southeast Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tours the site of destroyed buildings during his visit to southeast Turkey.

What You Need to Know Ahead of Turkey’s Election

The opposition could win. But what happens if Erdogan loses?

Men in Kabul's Deh Sabz district work on the back of a coal truck.
Men in Kabul's Deh Sabz district work on the back of a coal truck.

How Mining Fuels Conflict Across the Globe

From rubies in Mozambique to sand in the South China Sea.

Ukrainian soldiers train outside Kyiv
Ukrainian soldiers train outside Kyiv
An aerial view of a lithium mine that shws tripes of white and gold, and a crane in one of the stripes.
An aerial view of a lithium mine that shws tripes of white and gold, and a crane in one of the stripes.

The 21st-Century Gold Rush

Will there be a new cold war over lithium?

A blue and white flag hangs from the side of a building.
A blue and white flag hangs from the side of a building.

What You Might Not Know About Finland

After joining NATO, all eyes are on the Nordic country. Here’s what makes it unique.

A person wears a light blue mask. A hand in the colors of the Chinese flag is painted over the mouth.
A person wears a light blue mask. A hand in the colors of the Chinese flag is painted over the mouth.
Russia's assault on the South Caucasus in the 19th century
Russia's assault on the South Caucasus in the 19th century

How the World Forgot About Russian Imperialism

And why recovering this history matters for understanding the war in Ukraine.

A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait in a queue during a World Food Program cash distribution in Kabul.
A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait in a queue during a World Food Program cash distribution in Kabul.

How to Deal With the Taliban

Inside the debate over whether the West should engage the regime.

The Royal Norwegian Navy is aboard a ship in the Baltic Sea.
The Royal Norwegian Navy is aboard a ship in the Baltic Sea.

5 Seas Shaping Geopolitics

From the Black Sea to the South China Sea.

A pedestrian walks past a vandalized mural depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Belgrade on June 2.
A pedestrian walks past a vandalized mural depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Belgrade on June 2.

The U.S. Relies on Sanctions. Do They Even Work?

Inside the debate over the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions on Russia.

A deforested area of the Amazonia rainforest is pictured in Labrea, Amazonas state, Brazil, on Sept. 15, 2021.
A deforested area of the Amazonia rainforest is pictured in Labrea, Amazonas state, Brazil, on Sept. 15, 2021.

Who Shapes Environmental Policy Worldwide?

In the Amazon and elsewhere, nature’s last best hope is a hodgepodge of forces.

The Xiongan New Area in north China's Hebei province
The Xiongan New Area in north China's Hebei province

What the Cities of the Future Will Look Like

They’re smart, high tech—and possibly determining the future of diplomacy.

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Are America and Europe Aligned on China?

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The war in Ukraine has propelled the United States and Europe closer on a variety of foreign-policy issues. But do Washington and Brussels agree on how to deal with Beijing’s growing clout...Show more

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Inside the U.S.-China Tech War

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Over the last few years, the United States has moved to limit China’s technological rise. U.S.-led sanctions have imposed unprecedented limits on Beijing’s access to advanced computing c...Show more

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participate in a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on September 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden is hosting a Quad Leaders Summit later today with Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. (Photo by Sarahbeth Maney-Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participate in a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on September 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden is hosting a Quad Leaders Summit later today with Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. (Photo by Sarahbeth Maney-Pool/Getty Images)

Is America Making a Bad Bet on India?

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For decades, the U.S. foreign-policy establishment has made the assumption that India could serve as a partner as the United States jostles with China for power in the Indo-Pacific region. B...Show more