Decades in the making, the close bond between Russia and China has always been a cause for great concern for the United States. As Russia's war in Ukraine tightens their alliance. Bonny Lin analyses how this partnership could shape "the global landscape and the future of humanity." 
Narrated by Sharon McCune.

Foreign Policy helps you dive into the headlines with rigorous analysis and award-winning journalism focused on global affairs, current events, and international relations.

Foreign Policy

The China-Russia axis takes shape

With political power and regime strength completely divorced from popular sovereignty, the entire notion of a political leader being strong or weak loses all meaning. Mark Lawrence Schrad reflects on the challenge of understanding political dynamics in Russia when popular support is not a reliable indicator of leadership strength. Read by Ron Butler.

A dead Prigozhin won’t stop tales of a weak Putin

City governments are often more successful at combating climate change than national governments. David Simon argues that there is a need to learn from cities' progress. Read by Malk Williams.

What cities can teach countries about tackling climate change

From the North Atlantic Fella Organization—an internet meme and social media movement—to South Korea's K-pop, there's no shortage of global examples of the return of soft power. J. Alex Tarquinio reveals how this power can help a country cut trade deals, win friends, or join new clubs. Or not. 

Read by Simon Mattacks.

Soft power is making a hard return

Countries have spent decades building critical infrastructure that is now buckling under extreme heat, wildfires, and floods, laying bare just how unprepared the world’s energy and transportation systems are. Christina Lu and Brawley Benson report on the weaknesses of the world's frameworks. Read by Betsy Foldes Meiman.

On the highway to climate hell

Clarissa Wei reflects on how the Taiwanese political drama 'Wave Makers' celebrates one of the main features of a healthy democracy: the ability of regular citizens to hold those in power accountable. Read by Emily Woo Zeller.

How a Netflix show sparked a #MeToo wave in Taiwan

Billionaires make big promises to charity, but what happens when their money turns out to be crooked? 
Zacharia Kafuko argues that the vulnerable and poor people worldwide who were lined up to benefit from the projects that FTX funded are the real victims of the scandal. Read by Jonathan Booth.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s real victims aren’t in crypto

A federal grand jury has indicted former U.S. President Donald Trump. He's got company. Foreign Policy analysis reveals that 78 leaders in democratic or semi-democratic countries have also been indicted since 2000. Ashley Ahn and Brawley Benson delve into the details. Read by Emily Woo Zeller.

It’s actually common to indict leaders of democracies

Criticism of the Russian government was relatively safe as long as it came from the political right. Still, Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin's failed coup has changed the Kremlin's attitude. Kristaps Andrejsons reports on how the government has widened its net to include figures on the Russian right and pro-war pundits. Read by Simon Mattacks.

Putin’s paranoia has turned on Russia’s far right

It is becoming clear that Xi Jinping has fumbled the governance of China in the last three years. The nation is arguably on a weaker trajectory than was predicted when he came into power in 2012, but if there's one thing China can do, it's pivot. Neil Thomas reflects on the President's struggles. Read by Jonathan Booth.

Xi Jinping is trying to adapt to failure

Increasingly, there are signs that the platform is not fighting disinformation and state-sponsored interference. Miah Hammond-Errey reflects on Elon Musk's Twitter, now rebranded as 'X', and its link to the proliferation of disinformation. Read by Sharon Bott.

Elon Musk’s Twitter is becoming a sewer of disinformation

How do social media hate speech policies measure up to the standards of international law? Jacob Mchangama argues that the narrative of social media as an “unregulated wild west” is misleading. And reveals that these platforms tend to err on the side of restriction rather than free expression regarding hate speech. Read by Jonathan Booth.

Free speech social media doesn’t exist

The Russia-Ukraine war has resulted in the unnecessary loss of tens of thousands of civilian and military lives. But who's to blame? Adrian Karatnycky argues that the current conflict can be traced back to Obama's Russia policy, as a series of bad decisions prepared the ground for Putin's invasion. Read by Sean Crisden.

The long, destructive shadow of Obama’s Russia doctrine

Over the past decade, Haiti's politics has been intertwined with gang violence. But this spring, the people are fighting back. Pierre Espérance discusses the latest wave of protests and anarchy to overwhelm the nation and weighs in on how it can be solved. Read by Jonathan Booth.

More police won’t solve Haiti’s crisis

A video documenting the death of a 17-year-old at the hands of the French police ignited a wave of civil unrest across the country. Michele Barbero discusses the debate around the systemic violence and deep-rooted racism faced by marginalised communities in France. Read by Malk Williams.

Why France is burning

A decade after the Egyptian coup d'etat, the U.S.'s true role remains contentious. From unravelling the conventional narrative to Obama's role in the uprising, Shadi Hamid argues that Washington still needs to learn that authoritarian stability is an illusion. Read by Michael Satow.

Lessons for the next Arab spring

It's unclear whether Russian energy will ever flow to Europe in large quantities again. But one thing is sure: destroying the Nord Stream Pipeline will work in Ukraine's favour. Emma Ashford examines decades of energy disputes dating back to the Soviet era.

Who blew up the Nord Stream pipeline?

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin's revolt has accomplished what many political experts said could not be done: a significant challenge to Putin's rule from within Russia. Foreign Policy discusses reports that the Russian leader's house of cards could be at its tipping point.

Putin’s armor has been pierced

India has surpassed China to become the world's most populous nation and unleashed America's hopes for the emergence of a powerful new giant on the world stage. Howard W. French discusses India's military might, democracy under Modi, and whether the country could help alter the tense relations between Washington and Beijing.

Washington’s perennial India fantasy

Who runs the world? The U.S.? China? Or someone else? Ian Bremmer explores the fast-changing world of geopolitics as the digital realm becomes a significant player on the world stage.