Julia E. Sweig addresses the transition of Catholic demographics and the cultural power of the papacy.

"If a government can finance itself through the profits on oil, it needn't collect taxes. Let me suggest that this is not a good thing. Taxes create accountability — citizens want to know how the government is spending their money. Substituting oil revenues decouples government from the people. The list of the world's worst-governed countries today features many that are dependent on the production of oil: Nigeria, Angola, Chad, Venezuela, Libya, Equatorial Guinea."

President Barack Obama, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso gave this joint statement on February 13, 2013. It announced the launch of negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, at the recommendation of a report from the U.S.-EU High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth.

The Egyptian uprising presents a rare opportunity for the United States to resolve the tension between its strategic priorities in the Middle East and its desire to support democratic change in the region. Washington's past approach to aiding Egypt was based on relations with authoritarian leaders who could be counted on to advance the United States' interests. With the fall of Hosni Mubarak and Egyptian efforts to build a more open political system, a policy based on "authoritarian stability" is no longer possible, and the United States is now forced to alter the way it appropriates and distributes bilateral assistance.

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Fawzia Koofi, Afghan Member of Parliament, women's rights activist, and presidential candidate, speaks about what to expect for Afghanistan after U.S. troops withdraw in 2014.

"Nowhere is this more heartfelt than in Italy. The euro is more than a currency: It is the strongest symbol of belonging to Europe, a relationship that many Italians hope can teach them better governance."

Experts discuss current issues in global governance, including how international institutions like the G20 can work together to tackle problems.

Experts discuss current issues in global governance, including how international institutions like the G20 can work together to tackle problems.

Micah Zenko says, "Military officials increasingly believe that the Obama administration must think through its current practices and policies of targeted killings, and consider how they can be reformed, or risk others following in U.S. footsteps."

Experts discuss current issues in global governance, including how international institutions like the G20 can work together to tackle problems.

CFR senior fellow Michael A. Levi discusses President Obama's energy agenda and the energy future of America with Anya Schmemann, Director, Editorial Strategy, Studies Program.

President Obama gave the State of the Union address on February 12, 2013. Senator Marco Rubio presented the Republican response and Senator Rand Paul presented the Tea Party response.

Senator Rand Paul presented these remarks as the Tea Party Response to President Obama's State of the Union address on February 12, 2013. Senator Marco Rubio presented the Republican response.

Senator Marco Rubio presented the Republican Address to the Nation, in response to President Obama's State of the Union address on February 12, 2013. Senator Rand Paul presented the Tea Party response.

United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon discusses the challenges and responsibilities facing the international community today.

United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon discusses the challenges and responsibilities facing the international community today.

United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon discusses the challenges and responsibilities facing the international community today.

The surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI has given rise to speculations that the next pontiff to lead the Catholic Church will hail from the developing world, says expert James P. McCartin.

Iran's reluctance to negotiate over its controversial nuclear program makes a deal with international powers unlikely, says CFR's Carla Robbins.

Led by EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Unites States Trade Representative Ron Kirk, the U.S.-EU High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth presented its final report on February 11, 2013. It recommended the launch of trade and investment negotiations between the United States and the European Union, which leaders announced they would do.