As many analysts have observed, the Pax Americana of recent decades is on life support.After the first 150 days of Donald Trump’s “America First” — or, more accurately, “America Alone” — presidency, it seems that America’s traditional stabilising role can no longer be viewed as a

Last week, the people of Iran decided to continue along the path toward openness.Sixty-two per cent of voters chose to elect the reformist President Hassan Rouhani to a second term.The rest of the world should welcome Rouhani’s victory as an opportunity further to improve relatio

April 22, 2017 — International Earth Day — marked one year since the signing of the Paris climate agreement, which entered into force last November, and now has 195 signatories.That landmark multilateral treaty still represents the most important step forward to date in the globa

The world needs the European Union now more than ever.Despite recent crises and the hard blow dealt by the Brexit vote, the EU may well be the world’s best line of defence against today’s most serious threats: isolationism, protectionism, nationalism and extremism in all forms, a

As 2016 comes to an end, the outlook for 2017 is shrouded in uncertainty.Tensions in the Middle East are rising, and populist movements have appeared in Europe and the United States.In the Middle East, the tragic conflict in Syria continues, despite several fruitless attempts at

In many Western democracies, right-wing populists, energised by self-proclaimed victories over “establishment elites”, are doubling down on the claim that globalisation lies at the root of many citizens’ problems. For those whose living standards have stagnated or declined i

Even amid the chaos and catastrophes caused by war, there are internationally recognised limits on combatants’ behaviour.

The European Union has a dangerous case of nostalgia.

In three months, British citizens will have to decide whether they remain in the European Union.