Why Vladimir Putin’s Luck Ran Out

• Michael McFaul

For twenty years, the Russian autocrat enjoyed a string of good fortune in coming to power and cementing his rule. He had raised Russia’s standing in the world. Then he invaded Ukraine.

How the World Stands Up to Putin

• Srdja Popovic
• Steve Parks

His military didn’t just fail. Ordinary Ukrainians, Russians, and people across the globe are creatively and nonviolently protesting Putin’s war on Ukraine, and they are making a difference.

Putin’s Other Failed War

• Roman Badanin

The Russian leader declared war on his country’s independent journalists. But Russian media outsmarted him by taking their operations overseas. They are now reaching more people than ever before.

The (Final) Rise of Anwar Ibrahim

• Sophie Lemière

The democratic icon’s path to prime minister has been tortuous and long. But is Malaysia’s pluralism slipping away precisely when Anwar is getting his shot to lead the nation?

Breaking Han Silence

• Tenzin Dorjee

China’s recent protests marked a crucial milestone: The mainstream Chinese public, at home and abroad, finally spoke up for the Uyghurs and their plight.

Breaking Out of Xi’s Great Prison

• Guoguong Wu

Chinese citizens from Urumqi to Shanghai took to the streets, blank sheets of white paper in hand, to denounce the CCP and call for change. Xi Jinping’s repression and zero-covid lockdowns has united the public in empathy and anger.

How Qatar Became a World Leader in Sportswashing

• Sarath K. Ganji

The government has spent billions preparing to host the 2022 World Cup. Never mind the abusive labor practices and human rights violations. It’s betting that your love of the “beautiful game” will make you more fond of this tiny Gulf state, too.

Why Sanctions Don’t Work Against Dictatorships

• Agathe Demarais

From Putin’s invasion to Kim’s nuclear saber rattling, the West has punished the world’s worst regimes. But have sanctions missed their targets?

Why TikTok Is a Threat to Democracy

• Aynne Kokas

The popular Chinese-owned app is enabling Beijing to collect data on people nearly everywhere. Not only can such platforms track people’s preferences and whereabouts, but they give the Chinese government control over a powerful tool for shaping people’s worldview.

Democracy’s Frontline Defenders

• Fernanda Buril
• Erica Shein

Across the globe, the people who run our elections are being undermined, targeted, and attacked. Here is how to shore them up—and protect democratic institutions, too.

For Xi Jinping, the Economy Is No Longer the Priority

• Guoguong Wu

Beijing’s focus has been on strong and steady economic growth for decades. But China’s leader has just put an end to that era. For Xi, it’s only about power—at home and abroad.

Why Ukraine’s Millions of Displaced People Will Define Its Future

• Danilo Mandić

Most are Russian speakers from the east, and once harbored sympathies for Moscow. If the country embraces them, they could form the bedrock of a free and open Ukrainian society.

Why Don’t Voters Care About Local Government?

• Eguiar Lizundia
• Utpal Misra

National politics is increasingly overshadowing everything else, even as local government does more and more. Here’s how to right the balance.

Why Women Are Leading the Fight in Iran

• Ladan Boroumand

Iran’s women were the Islamic Republic’s first target for repression. This is the newest chapter in their struggle to win back their rights.

Putin’s Big Gamble

• Robert Person

The Kremlin’s order to call up Russians to fight in Ukraine risks massive protests. It’s the riskiest decision of Putin’s rule, and it could lead to his undoing.

Iran Erupts

• Peyman Asadzade

Iranians are once again flooding the streets in protest. How is this wave of demonstrations different?

Gorbachev’s Enduring Legacy

• Lucan A. Way

The last Soviet leader brought down his regime and ended the Cold War. The free world owes him a debt of gratitude.

Why Ukraine Will Win

• Francis Fukuyama

The country’s military is advancing on the battlefield. If Ukraine defeats Russia’s massive army, the ripple effects will be felt across the globe.

The Man Who Dared to Change the World

• Lilia Shevtsova

Mikhail Gorbachev risked everything. Neither Russia nor the West could live up to his vision.

Drowning Democracy

• Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili
• Nataliia Shapoval

Afghanistan taught us that a firehose of unaccountable aid can destroy a country’s democratic future. In Ukraine, we are making the same mistake all over again.