In this op-ed in the Dallas Morning News, Michael Levi argues that those who believe bullish reports on North American energy should also accept the possibility of a price crash.

Gayle Lemmon examines the current course of U.S. action in Syria.

Laurie Garrett warns that the MERS virus outbreak must be taken seriously.

Annual reports from the Department of State with regional overviews and topical chapters on terrorist organizations, etc.

Education is a linchpin of inclusive economic development, but poor countries in Africa and elsewhere too often fail poor students—worsening inequity and exclusion today, and undermining economic opportunities for future generations.

Read full answer

Isobel Coleman hosts Robert Annibale, Global Director of Microfinance, Citigroup, and Shamshad Akhtar, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, for a discussion about how to reach the two billion people who do not have access to formal financial services.

This roundtable was generously supported by the Center for Financial Conclusion at Accion, which is leading the Financial Inclusion 2020 Campaign.

Actually, arming rebel groups has had a pretty good record of success. In fact, as I point out in my book, Invisible Armies: An Epic History of Guerrilla Warfare from Ancient Times to the Present, there is no more consistent determinant of the success or failure of any insurgency than the degree to which it receives outside support.

Read full answer

In preparation for President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama's meeting in California on June 7-9, Adam Segal writes, "The presidents won't come to any agreements next week, but over the course of the two days, they should try and dispel the growing mistrust by explaining their national interests and intentions in cyberspace."

Benn Steil's article in the June 2013 edition of History Today takes a critical look at John Maynard Keynes's performance as a diplomat during World War II, concluding that Britain had made a mistake sending him to Washington. His temperament and overinvestment in his personal legacy resulted in Britain paying a high political and economic price for American financial assistance.

A new virus discovered in Saudi Arabia is raising deep concerns over its lethality. An intellectual property dispute could be impeding efforts to contain it, writes CFR's Laurie Garrett.

As measured by life outcomes, India does not value the lives of its sons as highly as it values the lives of its daughters. Moreover, it allows sexual violence to go unpunished and its victims undefended, whether on the city streets, in villages, in police stations, or in the courts. A powerful impetus for change exists in India, but the challenge of closing the gap between calls for reform and true long-term change looms large.

The conventional wisdom has it that second-term presidents, freed from the need to win another election, tend to be bolder in their initiatives. While that logic may apply to President Obama's domestic policy, it is unlikely to extend abroad.

Read full answer

Robert Danin writes that the United States should send weapons to rebel forces in Syria.

Max Boot looks ahead to Afghanistan's 2014 presidential election and what it means for the country.

According to Michael Levi, the boom in American energy production could be short-lived, "if we don't get serious about the accompanying risks and make sure that oil and gas development is done right."

President Obama's counterterrorism speech made strides toward greater transparency but missed opportunities to articulate a vision for moving beyond a perpetual war footing, says CFR's John Bellinger.

Michael Spence writes that cooperation between the United States and China on issues surrounding the environment, trade, investment, and financial stability will be critical not only for the continued well-being of the two countries, but also for the successful rebalancing of the world economy.

In response President Obama's recent speech about drones Micah Zenko writes, "What matters now is whether the Obama administration will actually tell Congress and the American public how it is conducting targeted killings."

Peter Orszag examines the puzzling demographic finding that the U.S. mortality rate falls by 0.3 percentage points for every one percentage-point increase in the unemployment rate.

A major stock market sell-off would have grave negative consequences for all parts of the U.S. economy, but specifically for the individual consumer, businesses, and the government.

Read full answer