Politics & Diplomacy

How the Biden administration will impact Middle East economies

By Amjad Ahmad

The Biden administration will not be a panacea for Middle East economies but will certainly have a positive impact.

#DFRLabCoffeeBreak with Investigative Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono

Investigative journalist Hopewell Chin'ono sat down with the DFRLab to discuss media freedom in Zimbabwe.

A plea to the president-elect

By Harlan Ullman

Beginning with legal challenges to the election raised by the incumbent, to the COVID-19 pandemic that will worsen, to the economic crisis, the forty-sixth president’s challenges are daunting.

¡Basta Ya! How pandemic-related corruption calls for a new social contract in Panama

By Cristina Guevara

In order for Panama to emerge from the pandemic with inclusive and sustainable growth, the country needs a new social contract that combats corruption and provides equal opportunities for everyone.

The US election was all Iranians talked about for the past week

By Holly Dagres

The Iranian establishment has repeatedly claimed that a Democrat or Republican wouldn’t matter for Iran, but the general Iranian population begged to differ as it watched the vote-counting process with bated breath.

Eastern Europe’s pivotal run-off: Moldovans go to the polls again

By Andrew D’Anieri

While many are already looking to the January run-off elections in the US state of Georgia, another run-off looms in Eastern Europe. The Republic of Moldova is in the midst of a tightly contested presidential election colored by a frustrated electorate, foreign influence in its politics and economy, and rampant misinformation on social media.

Ukraine will never reform until oligarchs lose power

By Serhiy Verlanov

A counter-revolution is currently underway in Ukraine that highlights the difficulties of achieving genuine change in a society which is still dominated by a small group of extremely wealthy and influential oligarchs.

FAST THINKING: Trump fires his defense secretary

By Atlantic Council

Two days after losing his bid for re-election, President Trump has removed Mark Esper, whose run as defense secretary was marked in its final stages by his defiance of Trump—on the idea of sending US troops to quell protests against police brutality and even on the question of wearing masks during the pandemic. How will his departure contribute to the post-election tumult? And is his successor likely to push back against the president?