
Chinese Belt and Road Investment Isn’t All Bad—or Good
As Sri Lanka shows, when it comes to Chinese debt, small states have agency and great powers have responsibilities.

Autocrats Have a Playbook—Now Democrats Need One Too
With democracy still in retreat, it is time to get smart about fighting back.

China Will Run Out of Growth if It Doesn’t Fix Its Rural Crisis
No country with China’s vast education and public health problems has ever broken out of the ranks of middle-income countries.

The Pandemic May Change Remittances—for the Better
Long denominated in cash, payments back to home countries are finally going digital.

A Democracy Summit Is More Urgent Than Ever
Jan. 6 gave the world’s democracies a glimpse of their own mortality, but it can also be a catalyst for revival.

Has China Decided That ‘Moderately Prosperous’ Is Good Enough?
As China’s growth model sputters and Xi Jinping prioritizes repression over reform, China looks unlikely to join the ranks of developed countries.

Document of the Week: Aid Donors Blast UNDP for Resisting Appeals to Fight Corruption
A dozen wealthy donor states press the United Nations Development Program to investigate allegations that funds were misappropriated from a Russia climate program it managed.

Biden’s Priority in Africa Should Be Debt Relief
More than other kinds of aid, to get out from under China’s thumb, the continent will need debt financing and private investment.

It’s Called the Sustainable Development Goals Index for a Reason
In defense of our metric for measuring the world’s economic and environmental progress.

The Huawei Ban Could Crush U.S. Overseas Aid Efforts
A new law meant to keep Chinese telecoms out of American networks threatens to make life impossible for diplomats, aid workers, and the military across much of Africa and Asia.

Trump’s Candidate Would Be a Disaster for Latin America’s Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank has never been led by a U.S. citizen before.

Trump Appointee Takes ‘Slash and Burn’ Approach to Key USAID Bureau
Peter Marocco, after tumultuous tours at Pentagon and State, is stopping the agency’s newest division in its tracks, critics claim.

Lukashenko Unleashed Changes in Belarus That Are Out of His Control
Whatever happens in the ongoing protests, the country’s society is increasingly less governable for a dictator.

Don’t Give Zimbabwe’s Government Aid Until It Gets Serious About Land Reform
Land reform isn’t just about compensating white farmers whose land was expropriated. It must secure the property rights of Black farmers, too.

It Is Too Late to Save These Victims of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 catastrophe is shrinking remittances from the United States and creating a looming humanitarian disaster.

White House Installs Anti-Abortion Loyalist at USAID
Across federal agencies, the Trump administration is seeding the government with ideologues meant to advance hard-line policies.

Will the Coronavirus Fuel Conflict?
Projections based on economic and development data show an increased risk of internal violence in fragile states driven by rising prices and falling incomes.

Mohammed bin Salman’s Bloody Dream City of Neom
Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion planned high-tech city involves forced evictions and vague promises of compensation. The killing of an activist who protested the development has reminded the world how the kingdom handles dissent.

Beijing’s Propaganda Is Finding Few Takers
As the Chinese Communist Party embarks on a presumptive goodwill campaign, few in the developing world are falling for it.

Africa Is Bracing for a Head-On Collision With Coronavirus
As the pandemic reaches the continent, countries from Morocco to Malawi are facing a health crisis and an economic shock.