Decoder: A key to understanding Russian suspicions of West
The Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies opposed the West for 36 years. After the Iron Curtain fell, NATO…
Decoder: What is the European Parliament?
It's unloved and misunderstood. It splits time between Brussels and Strasbourg. Its powers have grown, yet voters shun it. It's…
Decoder: What is terrorism? And who are terrorists?
A bloody attack in New Zealand brought the word “terrorist” back into the headlines. What is terrorism, and why is…
Decoder: Making sense of the India-Pakistan flare-up
A decades-long conflict over Kashmir escalated rapidly last week. Here's why fights between India and Pakistan matter to the world.
Decoder: What is Taiwan? An island? A country?
Taiwan is an economic powerhouse caught between China and the United States, facing an uncertain future: Independence, subjugation or status…
Decoder: How Iran’s revolution led to an Islamic theocracy
Revolutions lead in uncertain directions. Today, the effects of Iran's revolution are still being felt on geopolitics, women's rights and…
Decoder: How the Paradox of Plenty impoverished Venezuela
The reason for Venezuela's collapse predates Maduro and even Chavez. Venezuela is afflicted by the "resource curse" -- oil abundance…
Decoder: Making sense of Brexit and the Irish backstop
Theresa May is racing to negotiate a Brexit agreement that the UK Parliament can support. Our decoder explains why the…
What’s the Brexit “backstop”? And why does it matter?
It's a term taken from cricket and baseball. Now, a "backstop" holds the key to Britain's messy exit from the…
Democracy under fire. You can make a difference.
Democracy is in retreat around the world. How bad is the "democratic recession?" And what can you do to get…