Essay
List of Essay articles
The Hidden History of China’s Post Office
What the making of a national mail system reveals about the country’s push for modernization.
What We Can Learn From America’s First Diplomat
Benjamin Franklin leveraged a soft touch—and humor—to further U.S. goals.
The West Misunderstands Its Own Far Right
The right-wing parties poised to take power aren’t populist. They’re something much worse.
Trump’s Return Would Transform Europe
Without Washington’s embrace, the continent could revert to an anarchic and illiberal past.
Don’t Bet Against the Dollar
U.S. competitors are pushing the limits of autonomy within a dollar-based system, but there isn’t a real global alternative—and the world is far from an inflection point.
The Man Who Tried to Save Israel From Itself
This time, Israel must heed Theodor Meron’s warning.
What if Israel Had Been in China?
How Albert Einstein, a Brooklyn dentist, and pre-World War II Chinese leaders tried to create a Jewish homeland in Yunnan.
Where Global Governance Went Wrong—and How to Fix It
International agreements have not balanced our freedoms in the way that they should.
A Tale of Two Megalopolises
What new cities in Saudi Arabia and Egypt tell us about their autocrats.
Becoming Indian
A novelist considers how his sense of national identity has changed.
Meet India’s Generation Z
The people who will shape the country’s next decades came of age during the Modi era.
The New Idea of India
Narendra Modi’s reign is producing a less liberal but more assured nation.
The Long Cultural Legacy of the Rwandan Genocide
Over 30 years, the event became synonymous with the moral failures of a state-bound foreign-policy order.
The U.N. Security Council’s Default Is Deadlock
Countries have used the body’s impasse over conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine to advance their own interests.
Russia Is Back to the Stalinist Future
With a Soviet-style election, Vladimir Putin’s Russia has come full circle.
