List of Theory articles
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An. illustration shows the back of a pickup laden with durian. One is cracked open with an odor waft coming out of it toward a Chinese flag at left. Palm trees frame the scene. The truck plate says Bangkok in Thai lettering. The Rise of Durian Diplomacy
In Asia, soft power rests on a divisive, spiky fruit.
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The Life and Thought of Alexandre Kojève, Marco Filoni, trans. David Broder, Northwestern University Press, 280 pp., $38, July 2025 The Forgotten Beginning of the End of History
Alexandre Kojève was one of the most influential 20th-century thinkers. How can we make sense of him today?
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Donald Trump points with his right hand. The U.S. Is in a ‘Particularly Authoritarian’ Moment
Trump is treating the military like a “private army,” political scientist Nicholas Grossman warns.
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Luca Marinelli as Benito Mussolini in a film still. Mussolini, the Rock Star Antihero
A new historical drama chronicles the birth of fascism as seen through the eyes of Il Duce himself.
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Russian flags fly above the graves of Russian soldiers Russia’s Next Opposition Will Not Be Liberal
Army corruption and mass death are breeding new dissent—deep inside Vladimir Putin’s loyal core.
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An aerial view of the Krome Detention Center in Miami, which shows several buildings and people in orange clothing. Trump Is Supporting Transnational Repression
Instead of sheltering pro-democracy dissidents, America is now returning them for arrest.
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A Chinese soldier stands at attention in the foreground, facing away from the camera. In the background are armored vehicles in front of a government building in Tiananmen Square. Civilian Tech Is Powering China’s Military
Beijing’s gains could eventually erode Washington’s battlefield advantage.
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A woman in a red face mask and a coat over a red hoodie stands on a sidewalk, holding a laptop and speaking on her phone. Cars drive past behind her, with a suitcase and an international airport visible in the background. Putin vs. the Press
You’d have to be fearless or a fanatic to persist in journalism in Russia. These women are both.
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Bill Clinton looks up as he speaks in front of a WTO globe backdrop. Is Globalization a Lost Cause?
How an idea that promised a brave new world seemingly delivered dystopia instead.
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Five Japanese officials stand side by side on a stage. The four men wear black suits with white shirts and ties; the sole woman wears a blue pantsuit. Three of the officials lean close to speak to one another, pointing at something in the crowd off camera. As Another Leadership Election Looms, Japan’s Real Bosses Take Stock
Nominal leaders are secondary to party power—but the system’s looking shaky.
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A young man in a white button up shirt is seen in profile. Behind him, out of focus, fans crowded around the man as they wave and take photos with their phones. The Chinese Public Is Obsessing Over a Perceived Celebrity Cover-Up
The death of actor Yu Menglong has started a cycle of censorship and rumor.
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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at a United Nations General Assembly meeting organized by France and Saudi Arabia in support of a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, seen in New York City on Sept. 22. UNGA Puts Palestine in the Spotlight
Day 1 of the gathering’s high-level week was dominated by discussion of a two-state solution.
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Three animated women wag their index fingers. ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Leads the Wave Back to Korea
The megahit movie opens a new chapter for soft power.
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A person with glasses holds up a sign with Trump and Bolsonaro's faces, and the text: "INIMIGOS DO POVO." The person is surrounded by people holding up red flags. Trump Is Ushering in the Era of the Strongman
The U.S. president is promoting iron-fisted rule throughout the Western Hemisphere.
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A woman holds a placard reading "Corruption kills" as thousands of protesters march through central Belgrade. Serbia’s Imperial Fantasies Keep Blowing Back Home
Amid chaos, protesters have a chance to leave the past behind.
