Obituary
List of Obituary articles
The Scandalous Life and Career of Silvio Berlusconi
The former Italian leader loved topless women and Vladimir Putin but hated being compared to Donald Trump.
Pervez Musharraf Dragged His Country Down
The charismatic Pakistani general aimed to be a great national leader but failed by shredding the constitution and recklessly doing Washington’s bidding.
Pope Benedict Was a Powerful, Flawed Leader in Turbulent Times
The former pontiff, known for decades as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, died at the age of 95.
Jiang Zemin Helped China Become a Global Powerhouse
With a steady hand—and some willingness to face criticism—he ushered China into the world economy.
Queen Elizabeth II Was a Pillar of Stability in Tumultuous Times
Her successor will need to adapt while also protecting the age-old magic of the monarchy.
A Queen for the Ages
Through tragedy and tumult, Queen Elizabeth II was a model of constancy. Her death will have important repercussions for the monarchy and the future of the United Kingdom.
Gorbachev’s Disputed Legacy
A hopeful moment in Russian history dies with the former Soviet leader.
Ayman al-Zawahiri’s Legacy of Terror
He inherited the leadership of al Qaeda when U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden but lacked his predecessor’s charisma.
Luis Echeverría Álvarez Was a Demagogue With Big Dreams
The former Mexican president aimed to transform global imbalances. But he’ll be best remembered for his repressive regime at home.
How Shinzo Abe Changed Japan
The assassinated former prime minister leaves behind a complex legacy.
The Tragedy of Robert McFarlane
He aspired to be the next Henry Kissinger. Instead, he became embroiled in the Iran-Contra scandal.
Childhood Trauma Taught Madeleine Albright to Stand Up to Despots
But Ukraine’s plight haunted her final days.
What Madeleine Albright Taught Me
Albright embodied the good America stood for in the 1990s among my generation of Bosnians.
Oksana Baulina, Fashion Editor-Turned-Kremlin Scourge, Killed in Kyiv
Russia loses a passionate voice against injustice.
Madeleine Albright, America’s First Female Secretary of State, Dies
A lifelong foe of autocrats who declared, “I do wear my patriotism on my sleeve.”
