
Has Hollywood Fallen Out of Love With Israel?
A recent book examines the origins and end of an affair between the film industry and the Jewish state.

How to Help Ukraine Fight Cultural Erasure
Russia is seeking to destroy Ukrainian culture. The West must help those working to preserve it.

Africa’s Stolen Art Debate Is Frozen in Time
Europe’s arguments against restitution have ignored the legitimate claims of African scholars and governments for 50 years.

Where the West and China Find Common Ground
A striking new translation of Chinese fairy tales shows a shared folkloric tradition.

Can Saudi Arabia’s Film Industry Take Off?
Big-budget thrillers are now being filmed in the kingdom, but culture clashes could hinder the industry’s success.

The Art of Suffering
Two new works of Chinese government propaganda meet with very different reactions from viewers.

The French Right Is Obsessed With Fighting Wokeness
An imported culture war is playing a major role in the presidential election.

The Malaise Poisoning French Politics
There’s a word for the anger and disappointment French voters are feeling: “seum.”

Americans Have Never Wanted the Truth
A new history of fakery in U.S. journalism shows the public has always had an appetite for fake news.

Michael Corleone and the Economics of ‘The Godfather’
The Mafia family heir had a college education. Did it pay off?

‘Drive My Car’ Could Change Japanese Cinema Forever
The Japanese film is up for an Academy Award at this year’s Oscars.

Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage Is Desperate for Help
Russia could destroy Ukrainian history, unless the United States does something about it.

What Happens When White People Become a Minority in America?
Other majority-minority societies offer positive examples—and cautionary tales.

The Language of Russia’s War on Ukraine
Putin’s weaponization of the Russian language has solidified Ukrainian identity and statehood.

In Sri Lanka, Organic Farming Went Catastrophically Wrong
A nationwide experiment is abandoned after producing only misery.

What the Death of Two Cultural Giants Says About Brazil Today
Political opposites Olavo de Carvalho and Elza Soares garnered vast youth followings in the final years of their lives.

Cultural Desecration Is Racial Discrimination
A recent International Court of Justice decision regarding Azerbaijan’s actions in Nagorno-Karabakh could offer protection to threatened cultural heritage sites around the world.

The Chinese Communist Party’s Big Year
China’s government wants the country to have one story, and Xi Jinping is at the center of it.

The Best of 2021, to Read and to Watch
From a semi-fictionalized account of the Netanyahus to a meditation on ancient Rome’s stabbiness, here are the best book and film reviews Foreign Policy published this year.