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Trend Lines

Q&A

How the U.S. and Russia Can Go Beyond New START

The Editors Friday, April 16, 2021

On the Trend Lines podcast this week, Sarah Bidgood joined WPR’s Elliot Waldman to talk about how the U.S. and Russia can look to the Cold War for clues on how to cooperate on arms control despite an overall tense bilateral relationship. This is a partial excerpt of the conversation.

Venezuela’s ‘Unprecedented’ Military Offensive Raises Border Tensions With Colombia

Benjamin Wilhelm Thursday, April 15, 2021

Venezuela recently launched a military offensive against a faction of Colombian guerrillas that is active near the two countries’ border. While such clashes are not new, experts say the current fighting is fiercer than ever, sparking a humanitarian crisis and escalating tensions between Caracas and Bogota.

China Note

No End in Sight to U.S.-China Tensions Over Taiwan

Rachel Cheung, Benjamin Wilhelm Wednesday, April 14, 2021

On Monday, China’s military flew 25 warplanes through Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. The provocative move came as the U.S. looks to deepen its unofficial ties with the self-ruling democracy. Clearly, neither Washington nor Beijing is backing down from their positions on Taiwan.

The U.K.’s Misguided Effort to Criminalize Protests

Prachi Vidwans Tuesday, April 13, 2021

A controversial crime bill in the U.K. is sparking an uproar, with critics arguing that its overly broad provisions could turn legitimate public protests into punishable infractions. The legislation is making its way through Parliament, but its opponents are showing no sign of backing down.

Middle East Memo

A ‘New Middle East’? Not Quite

Frederick Deknatel Monday, April 12, 2021

Some things in the Middle East haven’t changed in the past seven years—like the prospects for justice and accountability in Syria’s long civil war, or a resolution to Yemen’s brutal conflict. Some things in the region have changed, of course, even if those changes aren’t really what they appear to be.

WPR Is Hiring an Associate Editor

The Editors Monday, April 12, 2021

World Politics Review is seeking an associate editor with deep knowledge of international affairs and top-notch editorial skills. The associate editor will oversee oversee WPR’s newsletters and social media presence.

Africa Watch

Another Round of Failed Talks on Ethiopia’s Nile Dam

Andrew Green Friday, April 9, 2021

Tensions were already high heading into the latest round of negotiations to resolve a decade-long dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, over Addis Ababa’s controversial dam project on the Nile River’s largest tributary. The talks failed this week, bringing the region closer to a crisis.

Q&A

‘Achieving a Better Outcome’: Matt Duss on a Progressive U.S. Foreign Policy

The Editors Thursday, April 8, 2021

In recent years, advocates of a more progressive U.S. foreign policy have exercised increasing influence on policy debates in Washington, including within the Biden administration. This week on Trend Lines, Matt Duss joins WPR’s Judah Grunstein to discuss what a progressive foreign policy would look like.

China Note

Why China’s ‘Wolf Warriors’ Won’t Back Down

Rachel Cheung, Benjamin Wilhelm Wednesday, April 7, 2021

China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy may have backfired in Australia, Canada and France, but in a sign of its hardening attitude toward the West, Beijing is not backing down from its aggressive posture. Instead, more Chinese envoys are defying diplomatic norms and adopting belligerent tones welcomed at home.

Middle East Memo

What’s Really Behind Jordan’s Royal Family Feud?

Frederick Deknatel Monday, April 5, 2021

A former crown prince is under house arrest, accused of a plot to destabilize the kingdom. He’s vowing to defy the orders and has already spoken out publicly; his half-brother, the king, remains silent. That’s the extent of what’s really known in Jordan, following a weekend in which a royal rift burst into the open.

Africa Watch

A Brazen Attack Raises the Stakes of Mozambique’s Insurgency

Andrew Green Friday, April 2, 2021

For more than a week, Islamic State-linked militants have laid siege to Palma, a coastal town in northern Mozambique near multibillion-dollar natural gas projects. It is the most severe escalation of a jihadist insurgency that began in 2017 and is expected to exacerbate an already grave humanitarian crisis.

The Lessons of Chile’s Vaccine Success—and Paraguay’s Struggles

Benjamin Wilhelm Friday, April 2, 2021

Chile has achieved remarkable success in vaccinating its population against COVID-19, while nearby Paraguay’s struggles to procure shots has generated public outrage. The disparate outcomes are yet another illustration of how hard it is to draw general conclusions about responses to the pandemic.