A pair of books by Charles Mann describe life in the Americas before and after Columbus linked the hemispheres and kicked off the first era of globalization. It turns out that the New World was far more technologically advanced than subsequent generations have realized, with plenty to teach the Old -- especially about how to simultaneously exploit and preserve key natural resources.

In March 2011, the U.S. computer security company RSA announced that hackers had gained access to security tokens it produces that let millions of government and private-sector employees, including those of defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, connect remotely to their office computers.

From the day the Pilgrims stepped off the Mayflower, religion has played a prominent role in American public life.

Throughout 2011, a rhythmic chant echoed across the Arab lands: "The people want to topple the regime."

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, articulates the idea that it is wrong to exclude any member of the human species from the circle of moral concern.

Mohamad Bazzi says that unfortunately for him and for Libya, Muammar al-Qaddafi betrayed his own revolution, just as the other Arab strongmen of his generation had. His death marks the end of the rule of these old-style nationalist leaders.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has been gripped by a devastating population crisis almost unprecedented during peacetime.

China is hardly the first great power to make authoritarian development look attractive. As Jonathan Steinberg's new biography of Bismarck shows, Wilhelmine Germany did it with ease.

Is globalization to blame for rising unemployment and income inequality in the United States?

Neither intensifying the drug war nor legalizing all drugs offers much hope of reducing drug abuse in the United States or lessening violence in Mexico.

To understand the Brotherhood's prospects in Egypt's upcoming elections, one has to understand the organization itself.

Steven A. Cook discusses Turkish domestic politics after the uprisings.

John Campbell says diplomacy and democracy--not firepower--is the best way to undermine Nigeria's growing Islamist threat.

Sheila A. Smith says Yoshihiko Noda will need to stitch together a frayed party and a fractured public to lead Japan — and stay in power.

Steven A. Cook says the Turkish model of military rule is wrong for Egypt.

The United States' fiscal future depends on whether the country can limit health-care costs.

Why Middle East experts were as surprised as everyone else by the Arab revolts.

Olivier Roy's new book argues that religion and culture are disengaging from each other thanks to globalization.

New books by Witold Rybczynski and Edward Glaeser celebrate the ever-changing American urban experience.

Robert M. Danin argues that Hamas and Fatah have unified, but not yet reconcile.