South Asia expert Teresita Schaffer says a decisive victory for Congress Party in Indian elections and a possible end to the civil war in Sri Lanka could bolster a region buffeted by conflict.

Xiao Qiang, an expert on China, says a digital revolution alone will not bring leadership change in Beijing but it could, in the long run, lead to a less repressive government in the country.

The replacement of the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan with a counterinsurgency expert could shift momentum, but CFR's Stephen Biddle says it might also anger Afghans who oppose U.S. special operations tactics.

As the world's largest democracy holds its parliamentary elections, the head of the UN Democracy Fund and an Indian foreign policy expert discuss the frictions between India's national interests and democratic values.

Drew Thompson, director of China studies at the Nixon Center, examines Beijing's proposed overhaul of its health care system--and the political and economic consequences if it fails.

Greg Ip, U.S. economics editor at the Economist, examines what he calls the "more creative and more aggressive" policy of the U.S. Federal Reserve and says policymakers may seek oversight of how the Fed provides loans.

The swiftness of the Pakistani Taliban's military successes this spring have alarmed U.S. officials and raised questions about Islamabad's security. Former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Wendy Chamberlin urges a boost in training for Pakistani police forces.

This audio includes readings of selected articles from the May/June 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs.

From the May/June 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs: Why the United States and China are not ready to upgrade ties.

From the May/June 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs: The end of the free market?

From the May/June 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs: The right war in Iraq, and the wrong one.

Joe Contreras, former Latin America bureau chief for Newsweek, says while Mexico and the United States step up engagement on battling drug traffickers, another priority--immigration reform--is unlikely to get top U.S. attention.

CFR's Bronwyn Bruton says the United States should avoid grand schemes in its attempts to fight piracy in Somalia.

A defense budget expert at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments says the Pentagon's recent spending request should be seen not as a sign of shifting military strategy, but rather a rebalancing of defense priorities.

A senior USAID official and CFR's Isobel Coleman discuss aid priorities in Pakistan and how development programs can be made more effective.

CFR Central Asia expert Evan Feigenbaum says the United States has a rare opportunity to explore whether the Shanghai Cooperation Organization can become a serious partner in stabilizing Afghanistan.

Nigeria expert Jean Hershkovits says that Nigeria's political processes "have more or less ground to a halt," leading to desperation and disillusionment.

Robert Cottrell, the Economist's former Moscow correspondent, discusses Eastern Europe's financial troubles and what they might mean for EU cohesiveness.

Charles Duelfer, a former UN weapons inspector in Iraq, says the biggest failure in the run-up to the war was misreading Iraqis' intentions, a lesson to consider when dealing with other hard-to-gauge countries, like Iran.

Lee Wells of the Touch Foundation discusses his work on training health workers in Tanzania and how the United States can most efficiently use its global-health aid dollars.