Both tyranny and anarchy are bad political options for a country. The political theorist Thomas Hobbes, looking at the ravages of anarchy during England's civil war in the 17th century, famously concluded that life without government was terrible because "there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no Culture of the Earth; no Navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by Sea; no commodious Building; … no Arts; no Letters; no Society; and which is worst of all, continuall feare, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, [is] solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short."

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President Barack Obama gave these remarks in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on July 1, 2013. He spoke about economic growth and development in African countries, African Growth and Opportunity Act, and the Trade Africa initiative.

Shannon O'Neil explains why investing in Mexico's infrastructure is important for the country's future competitiveness.

As more college-educated workers fill low-skilled jobs, Peter Orszag explains that declining demand for highly skilled labor and falling wages are to blame.

No matter what one thinks should be done about global warming, the fact is, it's happening. And its effects are not all bad. In the Arctic, it is turning an impassible region into an emerging epicenter of industry and trade.

Julia Sweig shares her impressions regarding ongoing and future political, economic, and social changes in Cuba.

With concise historical analysis and forward-looking prescriptions, Pathways to Freedom offers an authoritative and accessible look at what countries must do to build durable and prosperous democracies—and what the United States and others can do to help.

The U.S. education system is not as internationally competitive as it used to be; in fact, the United States has slipped ten spots in both high school and college graduation rates over the past three decades, according to a new report and scorecard from the Council on Foreign Relations' Renewing America initiative, which examines the domestic foundations of U.S. power. U.S. national security is directly linked to issues such as education because shortcomings among American workers threaten the country's ability to compete with other countries and set a compelling example internationally.

The scorecard infographic and accompanying progress report, "Remedial Education: Federal Education Policy," highlights the main challenges facing the U.S. education system and assesses whether federal education policy is effectively addressing them.

The U.S. military can learn from West Point about how to approach sexual misconduct cases, writes Jeanne Hull.

Chinese officials see stability on the Korean peninsula under the Korean Armistice as a component that has enabled China's growth for over three decades. Despite a growing difference between the economic systems of China and North Korea, China's communist party leadership feels an affinity with North Korea because its government, like China's, pursues one-party leadership under a socialist banner.

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Yanzhong Huang argues that while Chinese growth has been impressive, it's singular focus on economic development has negatively affected health, environment, and social areas.

In an article calling for inclusive development in India, access to justice and opportunity for all its citizens, and a stop to child trafficking in the country, Mark P. Lagon and Samir Goswami explore India's "economic miracle."

The foreign policy of China's newly-installed president, Xi Jinping, is in its infancy, but one variable that has already generated much discussion is the role that Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan might play in shaping China's image abroad.

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Mary Robinson and Geeta Rao Gupta discuss the Council on Foreign Relations report, Ending Child Marriage: How Elevating the Status of Girls Advances U.S. Foreign Policy Objectives. In the report, author Rachel B. Vogelstein argues that ending child marriage is not only a moral obligation, but a strategic imperative that will further U.S. foreign policy interests in development, stability, and the rule of law.

Mary Robinson and Geeta Rao Gupta discuss the Council on Foreign Relations report, Ending Child Marriage: How Elevating the Status of Girls Advances U.S. Foreign Policy Objectives. In the report, author Rachel B. Vogelstein argues that ending child marriage is not only a moral obligation--it is a strategic imperative that will further critical U.S. foreign policy interests in development, prosperity, stability, and the rule of law.

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.

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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.

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.

Secretary of State John Kerry gave these Remarks at the African Union's Fiftieth Anniversary Summit on May 25, 2013, in Addis Ababa.