North America
Mexico’s new president and the risks to democratic institutions
While his detractors claim his economic policies will turn Mexico into “the next Venezuela”, the real risk of his presidency may be his lack of regard for Mexico’s fragile democratic institutions, fewer than 20 years after the end of de facto one-party rule.
What role does North Korea play in Chinese strategy?
A week after the summit between Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un ended, the steady drumbeat of analysis goes on. Much of the discussion has focused on what North Korea gained from the meeting.
Opinion: Trump’s trade war will be easy to lose
Trade wars are not easy nor always winnable despite what Trump suggests. Instead tariffs, once implemented, become extremely difficult to remove.
The US abdicates a key role at UN Human Rights Council
In another sign of its abdication of global leadership, the US has decided to withdraw from the UN human rights council, citing the latter’s hostility to Israel and favorable treatment to regimes with unsavory human rights records. What are the consequences for the world – and the Council’s future?
The U.S has neglected an imperative consequence of withdrawing from the Iran Nuclear Deal: Cyberattacks
Following the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal, retaliation in the form of cyberattacks could have potentially devastating results.
Is coal economically viable?
While the Trump Administration is pushing for growth of the American coal industry, market forces are heading toward renewable energy. But is coal still economically viable in the United States?
US seeks to weaken China’s high-tech global ambitions
In the midst of trade war threats between the US and China, Trump’s latest trade tariffs emerge as the new American strategy to weaken Xi Jinping’s plans to transform China into a major high-tech player.
Assessing the Trump doctrine of “energy dominance”
If the US is to wield energy as a weapon, it will be perceived as an unreliable supplier, and risk moving at cross-purposes with the system of free and open energy markets that it has promoted for decades.
The firing of Rex Tillerson and the future of US diplomacy
After Rex Tillerson was abruptly fired last week, all eyes are on new appointee Mike Pompeo. Trump and Pompeo are aligned on many issues, and the Iran deal in particular is at risk under the new Secretary of State. But there is still scope for Pompeo to assert himself on North Korea and Trump’s unconventional diplomacy.
Book Review: “Janesville” holds lessons for both parties going into midterms
“Janesville: An American Story” is a captivating account of the impact of the economic crisis and local auto plant closure on a whole community. Despite Trump’s promises, these are problems the current administration is nowhere near addressing – but do the Democrats know what needs to be done either?
