World Politics Review

When the US economy sneezes, the whole world gets sick. That makes the Federal Reserve—and Jerome Powell—extremely powerful right now.

The Federal Reserve Has the Whole World in Its Hands When the US economy sneezes, the whole world gets sick. That makes the Federal Reserve extremely powerful right now.

A Brazil-led proposal for a global billionaire tax is just the latest in a long line of similar proposals. This one has a chance to gain traction in a way that others haven’t.

The G20 Billionaire Tax Proposal Has a Fighting Chance A Brazil-led proposal for a global billionaire tax is just the latest in a long line. Here’s why this one can gain traction in a way that others haven’t.

Kamala Harris has vowed to adopt tougher measures on immigration. It’s part of a broader political shift across the US and Europe.

Read more in today’s Daily Review:

It’s Not Just Kamala Harris Shifting Right on Migration Kamala Harris has vowed to adopt tougher measures on immigration. It’s part of a broader political shift across the US and Europe.

Mexico’s outgoing president is pushing through judicial reforms that will maximize his and his party’s influence for the foreseeable future.

AMLO’s Judicial Reforms in Mexico Are a Blatant Power Grab Mexico’s outgoing president is pushing through judicial reforms that will maximize his and his party’s influence for the foreseeable future.

China’s presence in sub-Saharan Africa isn’t as coordinated—or effective—as many assume. Washington’s policies should reflect that.

The U.S. Can Provide an Alternative to China in Sub-Saharan Africa China’s presence in sub-Saharan Africa isn’t as coordinated—or effective—as many assume. Washington’s policies should reflect that.

As a number of African countries battle an outbreak of mpox, their lack of access to vaccines is once again renewing attention on global health inequalities.

Read more in today’s Daily Review:

Mpox Outbreak Once Again Highlights Vaccine Inequality Western countries have stockpiles of mpox vaccines. The African countries battling an outbreak of the disease don’t have that luxury.

When Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed made peace with Eritrea in 2019 just one year after taking office, outsiders would have been forgiven for anticipating improved regional stability. Instead, his hawkish foreign policy has only exacerbated regional tensions.

Ethiopia’s Abiy Has the Horn of Africa on Edge Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s nationalist and hawkish foreign policy has only exacerbated friction in the Horn of Africa.

The declining ability of the US to shape outcomes in key conflicts indicates how diminished US influence has already become in many parts of the world.

For Much of the World, the Post-American Order Is Already Here The declining ability of US governments to shape outcomes in key conflicts has been increasingly visible for many years now.

UK PM Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed yesterday to work on an ambitious treaty to be signed by early next year that will include defense and trade cooperation.

Read more in today’s Daily Review:

U.K.’s Starmer Looks for Diplomatic Wins in Germany and France A day after saying his government would have to make some “unpopular decisions,” UK PM Keir Starmer set off on a two-day diplomatic trip.

Europe’s two leading powers—France and Germany—are currently mired in domestic political drama at a moment in which the EU is facing enormous geopolitical challenges.

France and Germany Are Missing in Action at a Bad Time for Europe Europe’s two leading powers are currently mired in domestic political drama at a moment in which the EU is facing enormous geopolitical challenges.

A historic surge in wildfires prompted Brazil’s environmental minister to declare the country “at war” with the blazes.

Read more in today’s Daily Review:

Brazil’s Wildfires Are a Climate Crisis Warning A historic surge in wildfires prompted Brazil’s environmental minister to declare the country “at war” with the blazes.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro hasn’t delivered the overhaul he promised when he took office two years ago. But the desire for change that got him elected still exists.

Colombians Still Want the Change That Petro Hasn’t Delivered The desire for change that got Colombian President Gustavo Petro elected still exists, even if he hasn’t delivered the overhaul he promised.

Thousands of Nigerians took to the streets earlier this month to protest a devastating cost-of-living crisis, acute hunger, insecurity, and rampant corruption. The government’s response will likely fuel further dissent, Zikora Ibeh writes.

Nigeria’s Response to Protests Provides Fuel for Further Dissent The government’s harsh response to recent youth-led protests won’t be forgotten by the Nigerian public in the years to come.

Israel and Hezbollah launched their heaviest exchange of cross-border fire since the war in Gaza began, although within hours the exchange appeared to have ended.

Read our take on the development in today’s Daily Review:

Israel and Hezbollah Exchange Heavy Fire, Stoking Concerns Israel and Hezbollah launched their heaviest exchange of cross-border fire since the war in Gaza began on Sunday morning.

Anyone hoping Kamala Harris will “reshape” US foreign policy is likely to be disappointed. But don’t expect just a continuation of Biden’s approach.

Kamala Harris’ Foreign Policy Won’t Just Be More of the Same Anyone hoping Kamala Harris will “reshape” U.S. foreign policy is likely to be disappointed. But don’t expect just a continuation of Biden’s approach.

Some of the greatest tragedies and failures in US foreign policy, and global affairs more generally, are the result of leaders adopting a “tough-guy” approach.

Machismo Makes for Bad Foreign Policy It turns out that conducting foreign policy in order to prove that you’re the toughest guy on the block is often counterproductive.

Elon Musk’s ownership and usage of X is putting him in the crosshairs of government officials across the globe.

Elon Musk’s Online Antics Are Drawing Scrutiny Around the World Elon Musk’s ownership and usage of X is putting him in the crosshairs of government officials across the globe.

The M23’s resurgence in eastern Congo reflects contemporary tensions and rivalries. But it is also deeply rooted in the volatile region’s history.

The Crisis in Eastern Congo Didn’t Start With M23’s Resurgence The M23’s resurgence in eastern Congo reflects contemporary tensions and rivalries. But it is also deeply rooted in the volatile region’s history.

Protests forced Indonesian legislators to delay a vote on controversial electoral rule changes, a striking rejection of President Jokowi’s blatant dynasty-building.

Read more in today’s Daily Review:

Indonesian Protesters Prevent Jokowi’s Latest Dynasty-Building Move Protests forced Indonesian legislators to delay potential electoral rule changes, a striking rejection of President Jokowi’s blatant dynasty-building.

Ukraine may end up governing thousands of people in Russian border communities. That could have unintended consequences for the war.

Ukraine May Get More Than It Bargained for in Kursk Ukraine may end up governing thousands of people in Russian border communities. That could have unintended consequences for the war.

Two meetings in July suggested that India and China may finally make progress on their border standoff. Instead, it remains in a state of limbo.

India’s Border Standoff With China Has Backed New Delhi Into a Corner Two meetings in July suggested that India and China may finally make progress on their border standoff. Instead, it remains in a state of limbo.

Raising the retirement age in China is long overdue, but it may already be too late to address the country’s pension shortfall and demographic decline.

Xi Takes Another Crack at Raising China’s Retirement Age Raising the retirement age in China is long overdue, but it may already be too late to address the country’s pension shortfall.

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez’s preference for dialogue and negotiation with Catalan leaders appears to have paid off. But as Alana Moceri writes, he had to make two big sacrifices to get here.

Spain’s Sanchez Has Seen Off Catalonian Separatism—but at a Cost With a Socialist anti-independence leader in Catalonia, dialogue appears to have paid off. But the Spanish PM paid a high price.

Federal judges across Mexico voted to go on strike in protest of AMLO’s proposed judicial reforms, which critics say will undermine democracy.

Read more in today’s Daily Review

Mexico’s Judicial Reform Battle Heats Up Federal judges across Mexico voted to go on strike in protest of AMLO’s proposed judicial reforms, which critics say will undermine democracy.

The Taliban’s narcotics ban appears to be keeping poppy cultivation levels in Afghanistan low. But the flow of he**in to Europe hasn’t been interrupted. What explains the contradiction?

The Taliban’s Afghan Drug Ban Hasn’t Slowed Europe’s He**in Trade Two years in, the Taliban’s narcotics ban has kept poppy cultivation at low levels, but it hasn’t lowered he**in availability in Europe. Why?

The escalating fight between Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and VP Veronica Abad will shape Ecuador’s politics for months. That’s bad for everyone.

Ecuador’s Noboa Can’t Seem to Pick His Battles The escalating fight between President Daniel Noboa and VP Veronica Abad will shape Ecuador’s politics for months. That’s bad for everyone.

The US is finally ratcheting up efforts to end the war in Sudan. But there are still significant obstacles to the peace process.

Read more in today’s Daily Review:

The Obstacles Facing U.S.-Led Sudan Peace Talks The US is finally ratcheting up efforts to end the war in Sudan. But there are still significant obstacles to the peace process.

Aiding Moscow’s enemies in Africa could cause disproportionate damage for Russia. It’s also a big gamble for Ukraine.

Ukraine Could Cause a Major Headache for Russia in Africa Aiding Moscow’s enemies in Africa could cause disproportionate damage for Russia. It’s also a big gamble for Ukraine.

Despite concern that the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war seem poised to expand, it’s unlikely that they will.

In Ukraine and Gaza, a Wider War Is Getting Less Likely, Not More Despite concern that the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war seem poised to expand, it is unlikely that they will.

Speculation about what motivated the Ukrainian military’s incursion into Russian territory is rife. There may have been many drivers, but one that cannot be discounted is the changing political landscape in the United States.

For Ukraine, the Road to Washington May Run Through Kursk Ukraine’s incursion into the Russian region of Kursk could have many drivers. But the political landscape in the United States can’t be discounted.