Politics and Government | Council on Foreign Relations

Nigeria

The Unmaking of an Elite

The great tragedy of Nigerian tertiary education is the debasement of its professoriate.

Blog Post by Ebenezer Obadare September 16, 2024 Africa in Transition
United States

Election 2024: Did the Harris-Trump Debate Reset the Presidential Race?

Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This Week: History suggests that any bump Kamala Harris gets from the debate will be fleeting.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay September 13, 2024 The Water's Edge
United States

Ronald Reagan on U.S. Global Leadership, with Max Boot

Max Boot, the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow for national security studies at CFR and a columnist for The Washington Post, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Ronald Reagan’s life and his impact on U.S. foreign policy.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Max Boot September 10, 2024 The President’s Inbox

Experts in this Topic

Jendayi E. Frazer

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Africa Studies

James M. Lindsay

Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of Fellowship Affairs

United States

Reagan

Son of the Midwest, movie star, and mesmerizing politician—America’s fortieth president comes to three-dimensional life in this gripping and profoundly revisionist biography.

Book by Max Boot September 10, 2024
Venezuela

Oil Companies, Biden Policies, and Democracy in Venezuela

The activities of U.S. and European oil companies in Venezuela are helping the Maduro regime crush democracy there, and the Biden administration should now fully reimpose U.S. sanctions.

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams September 7, 2024 Pressure Points
United States

Election 2024: The United States Has a Debt Problem

Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This Week: Whoever wins in November could find their policy plans stymied by a mounting national debt.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay September 6, 2024 The Water's Edge

Sub-Saharan Africa

The Truth About Africa's "Debt Crisis"

Africa has a governance crisis, not a debt crisis.

Blog Post by Ebenezer Obadare September 5, 2024 Africa in Transition
Sub-Saharan Africa

Ruling Parties Gear Up for Coming Elections

Despite a summer of protests, African leaders are doubling down on the status quo.

Blog Post by Michelle Gavin September 4, 2024 Africa in Transition
United States

Election 2024: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Sit Down With CNN

Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This Week: The Democratic presidential nominee wasn’t asked about the biggest issues she would face as president.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay August 30, 2024 The Water's Edge
Asia

Japan in Focus

I am fortunate to participate in projects on Japan or Asia hosted by other experts. Each month, I will share these with you in Japan in Focus. This month, we have two highlights to share.

Blog Post by Sheila A. Smith August 27, 2024 Asia Unbound
Politics and Government

The Changing Role of Foreign Policy at the U.S. National Conventions

The quadrennial U.S. presidential nominating conventions often focus on domestic themes. But they have at times been flavored by global economic concerns and national security threats, offering competing Democratic and Republican visions about the United States’ role in the world. In the 2024 race, Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, and his challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris, are projecting starkly different worldviews.

Timeline by Jonathan Masters , Kevin Lizarazo and Jeremy Sherlick August 26, 2024
Rwanda

Kagame's Crusade

The Rwandan President’s attempt to regulate faith-based organizations raises more questions than answers.

Blog Post by Ebenezer Obadare August 26, 2024 Africa in Transition
Thailand

Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand's New Prime Minister, Demonstrates the Excessive Power of the King and Royalist Elites

Thailand’s new prime minister is a member of the Shinawatra political dynasty.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Pavin Chachavalongpun August 26, 2024 Asia Unbound
United States

Election 2024: Kamala Harris Makes Her Case to the Nation

This Week: The Democratic nominee said America has a “fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past.”

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay August 23, 2024 The Water's Edge
Election 2024

Kamala Harris Sees the Road to the Top, But Will Voters Put Her There?

Who runs the world? Sorry Beyoncé, it’s not girls. But with Harris topping the ticket, that may change.

Article by Linda Robinson August 22, 2024 Women Around the World