What can be done about the unfolding sovereign debt crisis? 🎧 Erik Voeten and Layna Mosley - February 8, 2024 An expert on the politics of sovereign debt, Layna Mosley, takes a closer look at the current global debt crisis – check out our latest podcast episode.
Pakistan goes to the polls this week. Here’s what to watch. Christopher Clary, Sarah Khan, Zoha Waseem, Yasser Kureshi, and Asfandyar Mir - February 7, 2024 Four experts on Pakistani politics share their insights on the leading parties and candidates, voter turnout, and election integrity.
Violent deaths in Pakistan jumped last year. That’s a big worry. Christopher Clary - January 5, 2024 Outside powers may be unable to ignore the worsening turmoil in Pakistan.
Does India have a targeted killing program? Christopher Clary - November 30, 2023 Here are the most recent developments.
What if India really was involved in killing a Sikh activist in Canada? Christopher Clary - September 22, 2023 The international consequences could prove modest.
Did the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan harm U.S. credibility? Christopher Clary - September 20, 2023 Here’s the latest research.
What Indians think about China, and the border clashes Paul Staniland and Aidan Milliff - December 22, 2022 How will the Modi government respond? Public opinion may hamper the government’s moves to play down the tensions after the latest skirmish.
The World Bank and IMF say they’ll do more to address climate change Richard Clark and Noah Zucker - October 20, 2022 Staff in the field are reporting firsthand how climate disasters are hurting vulnerable countries. That may help shift institutional policies.
Iran’s security forces have little incentive to ease up on protesters Roya Izadi - September 30, 2022 Will forces remain loyal to the regime? That might depend on their business networks.
Pakistan has a narrow window to boost climate resilience Erum A. Haider - September 27, 2022 The 2022 floods are only part of Pakistan’s environmental crisis.
Pakistan is seeking flood assistance — but not from foreign NGOs Rafeel Wasif and Aseem Prakash - September 12, 2022 For more than a decade, Pakistan has banned some international aid groups
Urban flooding has everything to do with real estate corruption Malini Ranganathan - September 9, 2022 In Bengaluru and elsewhere, shady land deals and the effects of climate change are a disastrous mix
The U.S. killed al-Qaeda’s leader. That might boost terrorism. Jenna Jordan - August 9, 2022 ‘Leadership decapitation’ can inspire Islamist extremist groups and followers to carry out more attacks, my research finds
Imran Khan dissolved Pakistan’s parliament. How did that happen? Yasser Kureshi and Asfandyar Mir - April 5, 2022 Pakistan’s Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of the prime minister’s moves
The Ukraine crisis is now a nuclear crisis Caitlin Talmadge - February 27, 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin just put his nuclear forces on alert
What happens to childhood vaccine rates in conflict zones? This analysis found some surprises. Olga Shemyakina, Marijke Verpoorten, Henrik Urdal, Gudrun Østby, and Andreas Forø Tollefsen - February 2, 2022 We examined more than 200,000 records in 15 African countries
Australia will get nuclear-powered submarines. Some see a proliferation threat. Debak Das - September 23, 2021 The U.S. has shared this type of technology before — with France, in fact.
Taliban leaders are back in charge in Afghanistan. Can they control their own army? Jean Lachapelle, Dan Slater, and Adam E. Casey - August 26, 2021 What we know from other victorious rebellions
Groups like the Taliban have seized power elsewhere. Will the Taliban face similar difficulties governing? Raphael Lefevre - August 24, 2021 The research shows how hard it is to go from armed rebellion to leadership
5 ways the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan will hurt Pakistan Fahd Humayun - August 16, 2021 Pakistan’s relationship with its own religious groups — and with Washington — just got more complicated
The E.U. is furious that Belarus allowed more than 4,000 migrants to cross into Europe Gerasimos Tsourapas - August 12, 2021 As countries in the global north outsource refugee management to the global south, expect more poor countries to ‘weaponize’ migration.
Northern Afghanistan once kept out the Taliban. Why has it fallen so quickly this time? Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili - July 27, 2021 Political and ethnic tensions have fueled new discord — and the Taliban has capitalized on these grievances
Protesters are angry that Turkey withdrew from a women’s rights convention. Will it hurt women’s rights? Tevfik Murat Yildirim and Alper Tolga Bulut - July 7, 2021 Our research reveals that Erdoğan’s rhetoric and actions can change Turkish attitudes on gender.
Why Malala’s British Vogue interview put Pakistan in a marriage panic Sarah Khan - June 17, 2021 Here’s the research on marriage, divorce and women’s bargaining power in Pakistan
What would persuade South Asians to get vaccinated against covid-19? Syeda ShahBano Ijaz - May 21, 2021 New research suggests a way to change minds.
China’s ‘wolf warrior’ diplomats like to talk tough Yaoyao Dai and Luwei Rose Luqiu - May 11, 2021 We analyzed 20 years of Chinese Foreign Ministry transcripts to track the increase in hostile language
The U.S. is pulling out of Afghanistan. Don’t expect an al-Qaeda reboot. Daniel Byman - April 30, 2021 Here’s why the country won’t necessarily become a base for international terrorist attacks
Five things to watch as the U.S. prepares to exit Afghanistan Asfandyar Mir - April 25, 2021 For Afghans, the conflict enters a new phase
Will the pandemic spark a religious revival in the Muslim world? Tarek Masoud, Peter Mandaville, and A.Kadir Yildirim - April 1, 2021 A new survey measures economic stress and religiosity levels in five countries
China and India are pulling back from the brink. They’ve created a buffer zone and started talks. M. Taylor Fravel - March 3, 2021 Each side had deployed thousands of troops along the contested border.
It’s Susan B. Anthony Day. Here’s how women’s suffrage changed the world. Sam Winter-Levy and Bryan Schonfeld - February 15, 2021 Democracies where women got to vote went to war less and spent more on health and education
Why the Taliban agreed to let more girls in Afghanistan go to school Jori Breslawski - January 5, 2021 Afghan girls outside a temporary shelter in Kabul last month.
Huawei has an advantage in its push for global dominance. Now the U.S. is trying to counter it. Jordan Link - November 19, 2020 USAID announced a financing plan to help countries buy from other telecom vendors
What will America’s commitment to Afghanistan look like after the election? Asfandyar Mir - November 1, 2020 The peace negotiations are in flux, and the Taliban has ramped up the violence
75 years after Hiroshima, here are 4 things to know about nuclear disarmament efforts Stephen Herzog and Rebecca Gibbons - August 5, 2020 Buddhist monks walk past the Atomic Bomb Dome at Peace
India revoked Kashmir’s autonomy a year ago. What has happened since then? Sameer Lalwani - August 5, 2020 The government claimed it needed to clean up the region’s separatism and radicalization
Why didn’t the U.S. rebuke Russia for its Taliban bounty deal? Four things to know. Asfandyar Mir - July 1, 2020 The Trump administration’s response seems unusual, on a number of levels
Trump officials have talked about resuming nuclear testing. Here’s why that would hurt the U.S. Or Rabinowitz and James Cameron - May 29, 2020 Maintaining existing nuclear norms is in everyone’s interest.
Developing countries have been busy forging trade agreements — with one another Nita Rudra and Daniela Donno - May 26, 2020 Supply chains in a post-pandemic world might revolve far less around China
The U.N. has appealed for a global coronavirus cease-fire Govinda Clayton - April 12, 2020 But is it possible to quarantine conflict?
China’s coronavirus response could build public support for its government Dan Chen - March 27, 2020 There are dissenters, but some citizens feel secure because of the government’s covid-19 measures.
The Taliban’s political leaders signed a peace deal — but its military commanders could put that at risk Zachary Karabatak - March 15, 2020 The two arms don’t necessarily share the same incentives for peace
Young Kashmiris think India and Pakistan can resolve their differences over Kashmir Yelena Biberman and Samir Ahmad - March 4, 2020 Our recent survey suggests they also welcome U.S. diplomatic intervention.
Trump’s India trip didn’t produce a trade deal. Here’s what did result. Sameer Lalwani - February 27, 2020 And Trump surprised everyone by praising Pakistan
In India, Hindus, Muslims and police are fighting in the streets. Here’s what’s behind the violence. Suparna Chaudhry - February 25, 2020 They’re battling over the new citizenship law.
Trump and Modi will meet in India this week. Here’s what to expect. Christopher Clary - February 23, 2020 India is a key strategic partner — but trade, Kashmir and Pakistan complicate the relationship
Mike Pompeo criticized China for not respecting its neighbors’ territorial integrity. What’s the story? M. Taylor Fravel - February 21, 2020 Here’s how Beijing has resolved territorial disputes
The U.S. may be close to a peace deal in Afghanistan. Here are 3 big takeaways. Asfandyar Mir - February 20, 2020 How can the U.S. prevent a civil war and international terrorism while getting out of its longest war?
India is cracking down on university protests. Here’s what you need to know. Shubha Kamala Prasad - January 9, 2020 The rising opposition to the government’s tough response may bring out even larger crowds.
2020 is the year to worry about nuclear weapons Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer - January 5, 2020 The confrontation between the United States and Iran is just the beginning
How terrorism helps — and hurts — Iran Daniel Byman - January 3, 2020 Why Iran supports terrorist groups — and what the consequences can be.
These were our 10 most popular posts of 2019 E.J. Graff - December 31, 2019 You were very interested in evidence that could be used in the fierce partisan battles in the U.S.
In India, thousands are protesting the new citizenship law. Here are 4 things to know. Shivaji Mukherjee, Aditi Malik, and Ajay Verghese - December 30, 2019 Some object to its Muslim exclusions, while others object to the broad welcome for other groups.
Obama once said that if women ran the world, there’d be less war Abigail S. Post - December 22, 2019 Here’s what the research says.
Don’t expect Afghanistan to have a Western-style government. This explains why. Romain Malejacq - December 17, 2019 It’s a delusion to think warlords will quietly fade away
India’s new law may leave millions of Muslims without citizenship Suparna Chaudhry - December 12, 2019 Modi’s government is trying to create a Hindu nation.
Biden plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Here’s what we learned about America’s longest war. Elizabeth N. Saunders - December 11, 2019 Here are experts’ key takeaways on the war in Afghanistan, drawn from the Afghanistan Papers.
Protests in Pakistan could shake prime minister’s mandate Madiha Afzal - November 14, 2019 Why street power is particularly effective in the country.
An Indian nuclear power plant suffered a cyberattack. Here’s what you need to know. Debak Das - November 3, 2019 Authorities don’t seem to understand the real threat from cyber-operations.
Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi met again this month. Here are 4 things to know about Sino-Indian relations. Yogesh Joshi - October 21, 2019 Border tensions and India’s moves in Kashmir gave the two leaders plenty to discuss
The Indian prime minister and Trump addressed a Houston rally. Who was signaling what? Devesh Kapur - September 29, 2019 Here’s why Indian Americans are conflicted about the U.S. president.
#MeToo crusaders in South Korea want to reform the election system. The plan could deliver more legislation on women’s issues. Yesola Kweon and Josh M. Ryan - September 26, 2019 It’s so controversial that legislators are having fistfights on the floor and scrums in the hallways
India’s prime minister will visit the U.S. next week. What will he say about human rights in Kashmir? Suparna Chaudhry - September 20, 2019 Narendra Modi’s government has kept the region under lockdown since early August
Here’s why the Taliban might still want to negotiate with the U.S. Rebecca Best and Navin Bapat - September 12, 2019 It’s riven by factions and losing loyalists to the Islamic State
Six things we’ve learned about terrorism since 9/11 Todd Sandler and Khusrav Gaibulloev - September 11, 2019 There’s been a lot of research in the past 18 years. Here’s what we know.
Trump just said buying Greenland would be ‘a large real estate deal.’ He’s making a dangerous mistake. Stacie Goddard - August 16, 2019 Trump doesn’t seem to understand that nations don’t buy and sell territory any more.
Why Kashmir may see increased violence after the revocation of Article 370 Shivaji Mukherjee and Aditi Malik - August 14, 2019 Here are the longstanding tensions -- and potential new ones.
Here’s how India’s decision to cut Kashmir’s autonomy will affect South Asia — and the world Asfandyar Mir - August 8, 2019 Watch these four key relationships.
India just pulled Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy. Here’s why that is a big deal for this contested region. Ahsan I. Butt - August 7, 2019 The Modi government’s move could mean increased regional instability.
Why do Facebook and Twitter’s anti-extremist guidelines allow right-wingers more freedom than Islamists? Anna Meier - July 31, 2019 Relying on governments to designate organizations as terrorists means “de-platforming” is always political.
Pakistan’s leader Imran Khan meets President Trump this week. Here’s what to expect. Asfandyar Mir - July 21, 2019 Strained relations or not, there’s a lot at stake for both countries.
Iran’s nuclear program seems to be accelerating. Will Saudi Arabia take a similar path? Eliza Gheorghe - July 12, 2019 In a multipolar world, curbing nuclear transfers becomes more difficult.
Trump picked a fight with India. Here’s what’s going on. Christopher Clary - July 2, 2019 Trump exacerbates India’s strategic fears.
The Treaty of Versailles was signed June 28, 1919. So why don’t countries formalize peace today? Tanisha Fazal - June 26, 2019 Here’s how peace treaties have changed in the past 100 years.
Yes, Iran shot down a U.S. drone. Here’s why you (still) don’t need to worry. Sarah E. Kreps, Michael Horowitz, and Matthew Fuhrman - June 20, 2019 Drone shoot-downs haven’t escalated in the past. This one probably won’t, either.
What Americans really think about foreign interference in U.S. elections Michael Tomz and Jessica Weeks - June 18, 2019 There’s an erosion of trust in the democratic process, our survey found.
Syrian refugees have become pawns in their host nations’ politics Gerasimos Tsourapas - June 14, 2019 Certain states are using their position to secure unearned external income — refugee rent.
India’s election results were more than a ‘Modi wave’ Tariq Thachil - May 30, 2019 Modi’s BJP party benefited from a number of advantages.
What will Taiwan’s same-sex marriages mean in the rest of Asia? Joseph O'Mahoney and Enze Han - May 24, 2019 It’s likely to inspire activists, but other legislatures have a long way to go.
How India holds an election with 900 million voters and 8,000 candidates Manisha Madhava and David Schultz - May 7, 2019 Alliances will be critical in determining the next government.
Dragon power is awesome. But it can’t tell you how to rule. Joshua Schwartz - April 28, 2019 The ‘Game of Thrones’ dragons reveal what military power can — and cannot — achieve.
Did India shoot down a Pakistani F-16 in February? This just became a big deal. Sameer Lalwani and Emily Tallo - April 17, 2019 There are broader implications for India — and the United States
In India, the world’s largest election has started. Keep an eye on these 5 things. Tariq Thachil - April 12, 2019 Prime Minister Modi is popular, but has he made economic progress?
Are ‘Game of Thrones’ dragons the equivalent of nuclear weapons? We don’t think so. Michael Horowitz and Matthew Fuhrmann - April 11, 2019 Winter is here.
Trump issued an executive order to prepare for an EMP attack. What is it, and should you worry? Shira E. Pindyck, Joshua Schwartz, Christopher W. Blair, and Casey Mahoney - March 29, 2019 Nah. But the U.S. should get ready for a very similar threat — from the sun.
The U.S. quietly made a big splash about the South China Sea Zack Cooper - March 18, 2019 Mike Pompeo just reaffirmed Washington has Manila’s back.
Huawei is better positioned to spy on us than we think Jack Hasler - March 12, 2019 The United States shares the blame.
Why India and Pakistan are fighting again — and the risks that remain Asfandyar Mir - March 6, 2019 Rumors and misinformation add a new challenge.
Why Saudi Arabia is turning to Asia Jonathan Fulton - March 5, 2019 Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman visited Pakistan, India and China in a growing effort to diversify Saudi foreign relations.
Are nuclear weapons keeping the India-Pakistan crisis from escalating — or making it more dangerous? Caitlin Talmadge - March 4, 2019 Here’s what the research tells us.
After terrorist attack in Kashmir, will India seek vengeance or de-escalation? Christopher Clary - February 25, 2019 Let’s examine Modi’s rhetoric for clues.
The Trump administration wants to sell nuclear technology to the Saudis — without a nuclear agreement. That’s alarming. Matthew Fuhrmann - February 21, 2019 Here are the three reasons it’s worrisome.
The Kashmir attack could prompt a crisis in South Asia. Here’s why. Asfandyar Mir - February 15, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83837" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Protesters decry Thursday's attack on a
Hungary’s democracy just got a failing grade Daniel Kelemen - February 7, 2019 This week, the Washington-based think tank Freedom House published its
Why U.S. universities are shutting down China-funded Confucius Institutes Samuel Brazys and Alexander Dukalskis - January 11, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82470" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In January 2011, Chinese President Hu
Here’s why Russia keeps hosting Afghanistan peace talks that will almost certainly fail Samuel Ramani - January 2, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82023" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov opens
U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan raises big questions Asfandyar Mir - December 23, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81955" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A U.S. flag is seen at
Water is getting scarcer. Is foreign investment making the problem worse? Meir Alkon - December 21, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81855" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Toxic froth from industrial pollution floats
Would it be ethical for the U.N. refugee agency to send Rohingya back to Myanmar? Mollie Gerver - December 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81619" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Rohingya refugees shout slogans against repatriation
Does U.S. drone warfare in countries like Pakistan really cause ‘blowback’? Daniel Silverman - October 26, 2018 [caption id="attachment_79403" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Women rally against U.S. drone strikes