The Crisis That Created Putin
Twenty years ago, a crisis of Russian capitalism doomed Moscow’s pro-Western regime and gave birth to the Putin era.
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“More Tribal, More Sectarian, More Crony Capitalist Than Ever”
Bashar al-Assad has started confiscating the homes of Syrians who fled during the Civil War. For decades, his clan has purged the state of all but the most fanatical loyalists: now, it’s doing the same to society itself.
Turkey’s Decisive Year
Chaos, violence, and authoritarian rule reign in Turkey. Is there any opening for the Kurdish liberation movement?
Robert Kaplan Expresses the Nihilism of Our Ruling Class
Robert Kaplan’s latest book on big geopolitical questions reflects a shift away from high-minded ideals in US establishment thought. But instead of self-critical pragmatism, what he offers as a substitute is a misanthropic, antidemocratic worldview.
How China Avoided a Soviet-Style Collapse
What have three decades of market reforms meant for the world’s largest working class?
The West’s Double Standards in the Armenian Crisis
The West is indifferent to Azeri aggression in Armenia because Azerbaijan’s strategic significance makes it an essential partner for Western energy security, leaving democratic Armenia with limited support in its time of need.
In Bosnia, the End of War Has Not Brought Peace
The Dayton Agreement ended the bloody Bosnian War of the 1990s, but it hasn’t resolved the conflicts plaguing the country. It’s a cautionary tale for finding an effective peace agreement in Ukraine.
How German Leftists Fell in Love with Arms Supplies
In Germany, even radical left-wingers who long distrusted state power are today calling for more tanks and jets for Ukraine. Lacking alternative solutions to the conflict, parts of the Left increasingly fall in behind the government’s call to rearm.
Tucker Carlson Isn’t an Anti-Imperialist — He’s a Rabid China Hawk
Tucker Carlson can’t be credited for dissenting against US war fever when he spent years on his Fox News show stoking major tensions with China.
International Solidarity Can Help Free Boris Kagarlitsky
Sociologist Boris Kagarlitsky, a prominent Russian Marxist imprisoned by Vladimir Putin’s government on false charges, has had his appeal denied. He deserves our solidarity.
There’s No Such Thing as Escalating to De-Escalate
Israeli officials have cited a need to “escalate to de-escalate” as motivation for their ongoing assault on Lebanon. This theory has a long and ill-fated history in American foreign policy thinking, where it has served as a fait accompli for bloodshed.
Serbia Is a Showcase of Authoritarian Neoliberalism
Western media coverage often presents Serbia under Aleksandar Vučić as a Russian puppet state. In reality, Vučić has been playing both sides in the new Cold War while applying the same neoliberal policies that hold sway in the West.
China’s Economy Dodged Neoliberal Shock Therapy — and Boomed
In the 1980s, as China sought to introduce markets into its economy, an internal debate roiled over whether to liberalize prices gradually or all at once. It rejected the free-market shock therapy option, and challenged neoliberal orthodoxy in the process.
Ukraine Needs More Than Rival Elite Projects
Ukrainian elites have for decades been divided between Westernized professionals and pro-Russian oligarchs, each with a narrow social base. The missing force has been the working class, unable to develop its own distinct project for the country’s future.
How Washington Hacked Mongolia’s Democracy
When the US intervened in Mongolia's elections, they did a lot more than leak emails.
Four Ways to Counter Russian Aggression That Don’t Risk Nuclear War
The world needs to punish Vladimir Putin for his illegal war and deter similar behavior in the future. Here are four options that don't require the West to get into a shooting war with Moscow.
Good Cop, Bad Cop
The Ukrainian state and far-right groups have allied to build a new nationalist consensus.
Turkey’s Fascist Slide
Turkish president Erdoğan is wielding the state to attack anyone who won't capitulate to his authoritarian rule.
Could Henry Kissinger Possess the Pee Tape?
Many suspect Putin is blackmailing Trump. But could there be a different culprit? A plausible theory of mind-boggling confusion.
Stephen Kotkin’s Stalin Is a Distorting Mirror of the Russian Revolution
Stephen Kotkin aspires to give us the definitive picture of Stalin — and to bury socialism with his crimes. But Kotkin’s political outlook, neglect of ideas, and addiction to hindsight warp his presentation of Russian and Soviet history, undermining his entire project.