Samuel Goldman, The Week
Several causes of this condition are contingent — not least the pandemic that put many aspects of normal life on hold. But there are deeper sources of our present freakout. In his 1981 study American Politics: The Promise of Disharmony, political scientist Samuel Huntington argued that American history is characterized by nervous breakdowns that recur approximately every 60 years. If our last bout was in the 1960s, we're right on schedule for another outbreak.
Harold James, Foreign Affairs
Governments everywhere eventually responded to these demands. That meant learning from successful efforts elsewhere. The United Kingdom enacted a series of civil service reforms, adopting a competitive examination process in place of arcane patronage. The most striking extension of state capacity, however, occurred across the English Channel, where Louis-Napoléon, the nephew of the emperor, was elected president of France in 1848. After a coup and a series of... Читать дальше...
Hillman & Tippett, CFR
Nevertheless, it is unclear whether Montenegrin land actually serves as collateral in the loan, since the relevant part of the agreement is vaguely formulated. And comprehensive studies such as one by the Rhodium Group
Robert Zaretsky, The Bulwark
A contretemps started by group of military officers has reinvigorated France's nationalist right.
Bruce Hoffman & Jacob Ware, WOTR
America's withdrawal from Afghanistan should be cause for rejoicing. But conditions in the country today, and the historical record of past U.S. withdrawals from similar conflicts, suggest that it will only create more problems. By leaving, Washington is vindicating an aphorism attributed to a captured Taliban fighter over a decade ago: "You have the watches. We have the time."
Paul Saunders, Russia Matters
As the U.S.-Russian relationship has become increasingly adversarial, Russia's power and behavior have drawn increasing attention from policymakers, journalists and scholars. This has in turn fueled discussion and debate surrounding Russia's capabilities and its government's aims. Stanford University scholar Kathryn E. Stoner seeks to contribute to this important national conversation in her new book "Russia Resurrected: Its Power and Purpose in a New Global... Читать дальше...
Robert Einhorn, Brookings
The Biden administration has begun to outline the results of its recently completed review of policy toward North Korea, but only in general terms apparently designed to preserve its negotiating options and avoid giving its critics an early target to shoot at.
Djoomart Otorbaev, Japan Times
BISHKEK - For the first time in centuries, there is an opportunity to connect Central and South Asia via modern transport and energy corridors through Afghanistan. Once completed, these projects would transform Eurasian security, significantly increase regional economic activity, and potentially bring peace at last to Afghanistan. They may even revive the Great Silk Road.
C Raja Mohan, Indian Express
The two nations have a deep historical connection. But both have found it hard to move on from entrenched prejudices of the past.
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Tridivesh Singh Maini, Notes on Liberty
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's (MBS) recent comments, where he batted for better bilateral ties with Iran, have understandably drawn attention given that, in recent years, ties between both countries had hit rock bottom. Said MBS in a television interview on April 27, 2021:
Kathy Gilsinan, WP Review
"The general view at the Atlantic Council is to send them back to the Cato Institute where they came from."
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Sushant Singh, Foreign Policy
In December 2004, when an earthquake and tsunami struck Asia, then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh decided it was high time for India to stop accepting aid from other countries to deal with disasters and rely on itself instead. "We feel that we can cope with the situation on our own," he said, "and we will take their help if needed." It was a pointed political statement about India's growing economic heft, and it wasn't the last. Singh's government offered... Читать дальше...
S. Ramachandran, Diplomat
Banerjee, a gritty street fighter, could very well emerge as leader of a unified opposition, complicating the BJP's calculations for the 2024 general elections.
Isaac Schorr, National Review
National Basketball Association (NBA) commissioner Adam Silver is among those rarest of things: a political-science major making a lot of money. A lot of money — around $8 million a year, in fact. There's not a single congressional staffer or journalist or operative with that same degree who isn't jealous of Silver's financial success. There's also not, for those who've read Silver's recent interview with Time, a single one who's not haunted by the...
Erik Tabery, ASPI Strategist
The Czech Republic has endured one of its most dramatic fortnights since the Velvet Revolution in 1989, following the government's announcement that two Russian agents were responsible for explosions at a munitions depot in the Moravian village of Vrbetice in 2014, in which two people were killed. Former prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka expressedthe public's shock perfectly: ‘I would...
Roger Boyes, Times of London
Falling birth rate and longer life expectancy mean raising the retirement age can't be avoided.
Jörg Schindler, Der Spiegel
Scottish voters are electing a new parliament this week, and again the pro-independence party SNP is expected to win. The vote could lead the way to the disintegration of the United Kingdom.
David Frum, The Atlantic
U.S. policy makers should look to the future with a little more confidence and a lot more trust in trade, markets, and the superior potential of a free people.
FPRI
The relationship between the Russian Federation and Republic of Turkey is one of the most important bilateral relationships in Eurasia today. This week Aaron chats with Robert Hamilton and Anna Mikulska, authors of FPRI's latest report "Russian-Turkish Relations and Their Implications for the West" about the major drivers of the bilateral relationship and its likely future trajectory.
