
Modi Spent India’s Soft Power—and Got Little in Return
The prime minister has decided that international criticism is a price worth paying for pursuing his domestic agenda, but he shouldn’t be so sure.

How Trump’s Assault on International Organizations Benefits Beijing
The United States was already fighting with China for influence at global organizations, but the pandemic made everything worse.

China Backs Off From Fight With K-Pop Fans
South Korea’s soft power should be a model for Beijing.

COVID-19 Might Not Change the World
Pandemics are not always transformative events. While some worrying preexisting trends could accelerate, it’s incorrect to assume that the coronavirus will end globalization, kill liberal democracy, or enhance China’s soft power.

All Great-Power Politics Is Local
When it comes to building international power, there’s growing reason to think that foreign policy barely matters.

China’s Soft-Power Grab
Beijing is ramping up support for U.N. and a host of other international organizations, racking up more influence even as Washington is in headlong retreat.

How Putin and the KGB Took Control of Russia—and Duped the West
An important new book details the carefully calculated rise of a modern-day tsar.

It’s Not Just Trump. The World Worries America Is Broken.
Protests against police brutality and systemic racism highlight what is seen as the United States’ accelerated decline.

No, the Coronavirus Will Not Change the Global Order
We should be skeptical toward claims that the pandemic changes everything. China won’t benefit, and the United States will remain preeminent.

Beijing Knows Who to Blame for the Virus: America
The outbreak has caused a PR crisis for China.

British Elites Know Who Isn’t Quite Their Type
The term “posh” appeals to foreigners, but the British know there are teeth underneath the smile.

Iran’s Proxies Are More Powerful Than Ever
The Trump administration’s maximum pressure strategy is working—just not in the way that matters most.

Asia’s Coming Era of Unpredictability
Why the crisis in Hong Kong and a deterioration in relations between South Korea and Japan are just the beginning of a broader period of flux in Asia.

America’s Road to Reputational Ruin
The decline in U.S. soft power didn’t start with Trump, but he accelerated it this week with his racist tweets.

Egypt Doesn’t Matter Anymore
The death of Mohamed Morsi is the latest milestone along the country’s slide into terminal irrelevance.

The Hidden Sources of Iranian Strength
Iran’s ties with its proxies are far deeper than the Trump administration understands.

America Isn’t as Powerful as It Thinks It Is
The era of unilateralism is over—and Washington is the last to realize it.

By Punishing Iran, Trump Is Weakening America
Washington’s extraordinary unilateralism is cracking the foundation of its global financial power.

The Middle East Doesn’t Admire America Anymore
What a late-night meal in Italy taught me about U.S. power in the Arab world.

Putin and Xi Outrank Trump in Global Confidence Poll
Merkel and Macron come out far ahead in a new Pew Research survey.