As governments confront many challenges that are global in scale, leaders find they must cooperate in responding to financial, climate, terrorism and other crises. As a result, a global audience has developed keen interest in how and why nations select their leaders. On one hand, citizens expect sensible and collective action, transparency and fair representation; on the other hand, citizens and leaders fret about compromising security, sovereignty or loss of control. Diplomats and global organizations like the United Nations aim to achieve a balance, even as global communications allow citizens in democracies or authoritarian states to steer attention to issues. Attention to citizen demands and multilateral cooperation contribute to stability.

Global Risk of US Credit Crisis – Part II

Lax US regulation of risky financial instruments could break the global bank
David Crane
September 24, 2007

Fewer Babies Pose Difficult Challenges for Europe

With careful policy planning, the continent could find promise in changing demographics
Joseph Chamie
October 8, 2007

Crouching Alliance, Hidden Angst?

Rumors of a Sino-Russian military alliance have been exaggerated
Yu Bin
October 10, 2007

Trade and Security Trump Democracy in Burma – Part II

Human-rights advocates protest outside all the wrong places
Salil Tripathi
October 4, 2007

Trade and Security Trump Democracy in Burma – Part I

Neighboring countries have leverage, but trade and strategic factors dictate they remain silent about repression
Bertil Lintner
October 3, 2007

Muslims and the Tale of Two Continents

Although the US was a target of extremists, Europe’s less integrated Muslims provide more recruits to the terrorist cause
Shada Islam
September 14, 2007

“The Last Mile”: Laying the Political and Security Foundations First for Peace, Then Development

Poverty thrives in fragile states fraught with violence
Bruce Jones
August 5, 2015

Barack Obama’s Climate Plan Makes for Canny Politics

The US president challenges the opposition; climate change should not be left for future generations to solve
Nick Butler
August 5, 2015

Erdogan's Cynical Game: Is Turkey Creeping Toward Civil War?

Attacks on Kurds battling the Islamic State are troubling
Maximilian Popp and Christoph Reuter
August 4, 2015

Turkey Launches Heaviest Air Strikes Yet on Kurdish Group

Kurds count among the fiercest opponents for the Islamic State
Humeyra Pamuk and Nick Tattersall
July 29, 2015

US Not “Neutral” in South China Sea Disputes: Top US Diplomat

But the US has not yet ratified UNCLOS
Prashanth Parameswaran
July 28, 2015