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…
Angels, demons, double standards in Trump’s Mideast
Donald Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the Iran nuclear accord. But his criticism rings hollow in a region dripping…
Decoder: Can pricing carbon brake climate change?
It costs nothing to pollute. That has long been the driving force of our economy. But a movement is growing…