States are still trying to ban trans youths from sports. Here’s what you need to know.
State legislators have proposed dozens of bills targeting trans children. What’s at stake?
Why Colombia’s ELN freed a soccer star’s parents
Research on kidnappings by armed groups explains the impact on Colombia’s peace process.
Why the Gaza hostage crisis is different
What we know about Hamas hostage-taking and Israel’s hostage recovery policy.
It’s been a great nine years for TMC political science analysis
We’ve published thousands of articles. Here are some of our editors’ favorites.
Brittney Griner was ‘wrongfully detained.’ What happens now?
The State Department announcement gives the U.S. government ways to negotiate for the release of the WNBA star
A Turkish pop video went viral. Is it just a catchy song — or an anthem for the opposition?
The ambiguity of music and lyrics can cleverly communicate dissent, our research finds
In a first, the Nobel Peace Prize went to a Filipina. Her government isn’t happy.
The award emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression and freedom of the press globally in an era of democratic backsliding
Olympic officials resisted pressure to ban Iran from the Tokyo Games, but they’ve banned teams before
In these 9 cases, sporting authorities tried to ban a country from international competition — sometimes for years
Do the Olympics promote nationalism — and international conflict? Here’s the research.
Real-world rivalries often play out in the Olympic arena
Nobody can go to the Tokyo Olympics. So why is the government going ahead with them?
The political stakes are high, as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga must face voters in a general election this fall
Americans are divided over boycotting the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Here’s the data.
Many Americans later regretted the decision not to participate in the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics
John Geddert killed himself after being charged with abuse. Gymnastics’ problems go beyond any one person.
This time, the athletes themselves are pushing for change — and that may make the difference.
The Trump administration sanctioned China for detaining 1 million Uighurs. Here’s what Americans think.
They approve of sanctions but don’t want a war
Persuading Americans that they’re safe from the coronavirus may be harder than you think
Americans don’t trust leaders and experts’ assurances about safety, our research finds.
How Saudi Arabia uses women’s rights reforms against women’s rights and reform
The crown prince’s approach to women’s rights still excludes feminists.
Water is getting scarcer. Is foreign investment making the problem worse?
[caption id="attachment_81855" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Toxic froth from industrial pollution floats
Taiwan votes on 10 referendums this week. Here’s what you need to know.
[caption id="attachment_80530" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivered a
South Korea has reason to be skeptical — and optimistic — about dialogue with North Korea
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump, left, and North Korean
Why did Russia poison one of its ex-spies in Britain?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/world/how-the-world-learned-about-russias-secret-deadly-nerve-agent/2018/03/15/e3724004-27cc-11e8-a227-fd2b009466bc_video.html Two weeks ago, Britain was shocked when a former
This is what helps stop big corporations from bribing politicians
[caption id="attachment_37143" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Protesters demand the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff,
Five reasons the Olympics haven’t solved the North Korea problem
[caption id="attachment_69553" align="aligncenter" width="960"] North Korean cheerleaders perform in front of
Will the Olympics help — or hurt — regional tensions in Asia? Watch for these 3 things.
[caption id="attachment_69087" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A visitor passes under LED light
Yes, North Korea could drive a wedge between the U.S. and South Korea
[caption id="attachment_68033" align="aligncenter" width="960"] South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon,
This is why Hungary is trying to close George Soros’s prestigious university
On April 4, 2017, the Hungarian Parliament amended a law
5 things we can learn from the Russian hacking scandal
[caption id="attachment_26050" align="aligncenter" width="3000"] (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)[/caption] On Friday, we learned
Putin will make Russia’s elections this Sunday the most tightly controlled in 16 years. Here’s why.
[caption id="attachment_46257" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a
Most nations going to the Olympics won’t bring home a medal. Here’s why they compete anyway.
[caption id="attachment_44857" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man poses in front of
Want more Olympic medals? Here’s what nations need to do to win.
[caption id="attachment_44850" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The all-time Olympic medal leader, U.S.
Russian elites are more militaristic and anti-American than they’ve been in years
[caption id="attachment_44093" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a
What Russia’s Olympic ban means for Vladimir Putin
Russia is the first country in the history of the
Surveys show Russian nationalism is on the rise. This explains a lot about the country’s foreign and domestic politics.
[caption id="attachment_41302" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The Russian and Olympic flags fly side-by-side
Where Iran’s hard-liners diverge from the moderates
[caption id="attachment_23529" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad
Where Iran's hard-liners diverge from the moderates
[caption id="attachment_23529" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad
Opposition in Ukraine: A tale of two maps
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Pro-Russian masked armed militants guard
Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Approval Ratings
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special="POOL PHOTO"] President Vladimir Putin answers
Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Approval Ratings
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special="POOL PHOTO"] President Vladimir Putin answers
What would make Southeast Ukrainians take up arms?
As the potential for Russian military intervention in Southeastern Ukraine
Finding Ukraine on a map, revisited
Joshua Tucker: Last week we featured a guest post from political
What Putin gets about soft power
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special="MANDATORY CREDIT "] Russian President Vladimir
What is lustration and is it a good idea for Ukraine to adopt it?
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Communist lawmakers scuffle with right-wing
The less Americans know about Ukraine’s location, the more they want U.S. to intervene
[caption id="attachment_9091" align="aligncenter" width="600" special=""] Where’s Ukraine? Each dot depicts
Crimea: Putin’s Olympic diversion
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Russian opposition activist and anti-corruption
Putin and the creative class: Who loves him, who hates him, and who couldn’t care less?
[caption id="attachment_6890" align="aligncenter" width="600" special=""] Russian President Vladimir Putin (L)
The culture of corruption: Russians pay, but they don’t like it
[caption id="attachment_6711" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] ANDREY SMIRNOV/AFP/GETTY IMAGES - Russian
10 explanations for Russia's coming fiscal squeeze
[caption id="attachment_6615" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A general view shows the
10 explanations for Russia’s coming fiscal squeeze
[caption id="attachment_6615" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A general view shows the
The political economy of Dutch speed skating success
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Gold medalist Stefan Groothuis, center,
How ski jumping gets Olympic judging right (and figure skating gets it wrong)
[caption id="attachment_6541" align="aligncenter" width="614" special=""] Austria’s Daniela Iraschko-Stolz soars during
Your Sochi 2014 companion: Monkey Cage Russian politics posts
As you may or may not have heard, the Olympics
Russia's busy Web 2.0 week: Singing police, currency votes, and Olympics in space
It's been a busy Web 2.0 week in Russia! Ever
Our Man in London: Scenes from the Olympic Park
Once again, we bring you Alastair Ruffles, with an insider's
The Politics of Olympic Risk
In introducing our man-on-the-street reporting from the 2012 London Olympics,
Our Man in London: Having a Night Mayor
Once again, we bring you Alastiar Ruffles on the 2012
Using Social Science — and Old Glory — to Help Romney
bq. Between now and the election, Castle Pines resident Crista
Our Man in England: The Five Ring Circus
Readers of The Monkey Cage may have noticed in the
Potpourri
* Londoners appear to need some inspiration from Olympic athletes.
Political Plagiarism Again
This time, it's the president of Hungary: bq. Pal Schmitt,
Realism and the World Cup
In typical Realist fashion, Dan Drezner wonders why the world's
Politics Everywhere: Olympic Figure Skating
Are Olympic figure skating judges biased against medal contenders from
Politics Everywhere: Chicago’s ill-fated Olympics bid
Amid all the media blathering about why the 2016 Olympics
Dark Financial Clouds Over Professional Sports
A couple of days ago I put up a tongue-in-cheek
The medal count, 1896-2008
I couldn't care less about the national medal count at
The Leg Bone’s Connected to the Knee Bone/The Left Hemisphere’s Connected to the Right Foot
If you're watching the track events in the Olympics, notice
Olympic politics
"Dan Drezner":http://www.danieldrezner.com/archives/003780.html and "Steve Clemons":http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2008/04/hillarys_call_t/ argue it out over whether
Underdogs, Top Dogs, and Media Campaign Coverage
From a political candidate's perspective, nothing seems more dangerous than