Like the advance of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the spread of conservative populism across Europe stalled at the gates of Vienna last weekend. The failure of Suleiman the Magnificent to capture the city in 1529 proved a turning point that marked the end of Ottoman expansion into […] Read more »
Global survey reveals strong support for Geneva Conventions but growing indifference to torture
With fighting intensifying around the Syrian city of Aleppo, a new survey, published today, on how people around the world perceive a range of issues relating to war, indicates overwhelming support in the belief that wars should have limits. It also reveals deeply concerning views on torture and civilian casualties. […] Read more »
Public Opinion in the U.S. and China
There is perhaps no more important bilateral relationship in the world today than the one between the United States and China—the world’s two most important players in terms of economics and security. As a new US administration led by President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, this relationship will help […] Read more »
Who Can Tell the Future of the Democratic Party?
Here’s a question very few people expected to be asking this year: Does the Democratic Party have a future? The defeat of Hillary Clinton has revived with new intensity the conflict between proponents of identity politics — focusing electoral attention on African-Americans, Hispanics, women and the L.G.B.T. community — and […] Read more »
How Stable Are Democracies? ‘Warning Signs Are Flashing Red’
Yascha Mounk is used to being the most pessimistic person in the room. Mr. Mounk, a lecturer in government at Harvard, has spent the past few years challenging one of the bedrock assumptions of Western politics: that once a country becomes a liberal democracy, it will stay that way. His […] Read more »
The urban-rural divide that bolstered Trump isn’t just an American thing; it’s prevalent in Europe, too
What shaped European politics over the past two years might appear to some like a revolution of rural Europe rising up against the establishment and economic winners. … In northern Europe’s biggest countries, the rural-urban divide appears to have shaped Europe in 2016. There is no reason to assume that […] Read more »