List of Theory articles
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Austin walks down a red carpet past a row of honor guards. Biden’s Risky Bet on the Philippines to Counter China
Washington hopes the Bongbong Marcos government will allow it to use runways in the Philippines in the case of an armed conflict with China.
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A motorcycle is on fire during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests outside Tehran. Iran’s Regime Plays with Fire in Baluchistan
Stirring sectarian tensions in the country’s poorest province is a dangerous game.
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An image of Alexander the Great on horseback fighting the Battle of Issus. What China Can Learn From Japan—and Alexander the Great
It’s time for Beijing to reexamine its long-standing sense of purpose.
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A demonstrator with an Iranian flag and red hands painted on her face attends a rally in support of Iranian protests, in Paris on October 9, 2022. Iran’s Protests Are Nowhere Near Revolutionary
Many say the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement will threaten the regime this year. They’re wrong.
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Damage is seen in the aftermath of protests in Kazakhstan. The Other Jan. 6
One year on, events in Kazakhstan that cemented its president’s grip on power remain shrouded in mystery.
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A picture of China's President Xi Jinping with a face mask is displayed as people visit an exhibition about China's fight against Covid in Wuhan on Jan. 15, 2021. China’s Government Is a Self-Made COVID-19 Victim
The country’s pandemic experience should be remembered as a political, not a public health, catastrophe.
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A Peshmerga fighter flashes the sign for victory on top of an armoured vehicle on the front line of fighting with Islamic State (IS) militants 20 kilometers east of Mosul, on August 18, 2014. The Realist Guide to World Peace
You don’t have to be an idealist to want to put an end to war.
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Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani smiles after addressing the media in Ahmedabad on July 21, 2009. India’s Free Press Just Became Less Free
The country’s richest man has bought its last independent television channel—and made an enemy of its biggest star.
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U.S. President Joe Biden takes part in a photo with African leaders during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington on Dec. 15, 2022. How Africa Can Avoid Getting Scrambled
African leaders must be more imaginative and proactive in pooling their efforts and setting the agenda.
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Hirsh-Good-Guys-2022-site-3-2 2022: The Year the Good Guys Struck Back
After years of rising authoritarianism and xenophobic populism, democracy is strengthening. But a long struggle lies ahead.
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Demonstrators take part in a rally against President Kais Saied, called for by the opposition National Salvation Front coalition, in Tunis, Tunisia, on Dec. 10. Consensus Politics Has Failed Tunisia
An opposition boycott of Saturday’s election may be too little, too late.
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U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the Leaders Session at the Africa Leaders Summit on Dec. 15, 2022 in Washington, DC. Are Autocratic Allies Damaging U.S. and EU Credibility?
From Equatorial Guinea’s leverage over Washington to Qatar’s scandal in Brussels, small resource-rich states are flexing their diplomatic muscle.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation. Is India Losing Its Claim to Being a Democracy?
Historian Ramachandra Guha explains how Narendra Modi is eroding real people power.
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Griner is handcuffed as she walks between two officials. What’s the Deal With ‘Hostage Diplomacy’?
Here’s how different states are using the pressure tactic.
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Chinese and Saudi flags adorn a street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit on Dec. 7. Xi’s Saudi Visit Shows Riyadh’s Monogamous Marriage to Washington Is Over
In today’s Cold War 2.0, not only will Saudi Arabia refuse to choose sides, but it’s also likely to move closer to Beijing and Moscow.
