Japan bears only some resemblance to the Asian countries ravaged by the 2004 tsunami, but their recovery experiences could provide valuable insights to leaders in Tokyo, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.

While many questions remain about the problems at Fukushima nuclear plant, comparisons with the 1986 Chernobyl incident suggest Japan's government is taking the right steps to mitigate radiation damage, says CFR's Laurie Garrett.

China's new five-year work plan has a familiar list of growth and energy targets, an emphasis on technology investments, and special concerns about resource constraints and corruption, says CFR's Elizabeth Economy.

UN peacekeeping is a crucial U.S. partner in maintaining stability, but the Obama administration must take a more vigorous role in promoting it or risk losing support in Congress, write CFR's Micah Zenko and Rebecca Friedman.

The March 2-3 visit of Mexico's president to Washington offers a chance at easing tensions over the cross-border drug trade, and far more than security issues are at stake, says CFR's Shannon O'Neil.

The experiences of several Asian states in the past quarter-century are worth noting in today's turbulent Mideast. The Asian cases show the value of swift, cohesive action by opposition groups, and the need for a light U.S. touch, says CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.

It's unclear whether Muammar Qaddafi's regime will survive after a failed, but brutal, crackdown on protesters in Libya. But if Qaddafi goes, CFR's Robert Danin says Libya lacks the elements needed for a smooth and peaceful transition of power.

Egypt's post-Mubarak transition parallels Indonesia's post-Suharto, argues CFR's Karen Brooks. Indonesia's example indicates the Muslim Brotherhood should be incorporated into Egyptian politics rather than marginalized, she says.

Instead of addressing serious problems in global imbalances, the February 18-19 meeting of the G20 finance minister is poised to go astray with ineffectual talks on reforming the international monetary system, says CFR's Steven Dunaway.

In this Markets and Democracy Brief, Mark Lagon examines the uneven history of promoting democracy in U.S. foreign policy and offers lessons for how the United States can best advance democracy today.

In this Markets and Democracy Brief, Shannon O'Neil charts the progress of Mexico's economic and democratic reforms. She sees grounds for optimism on both fronts but concludes that Mexico risks falling behind unless it redoubles efforts to overcome its authoritarian past.

Events in Egypt highlight the need for the U.S. government to drop double standards on governance and human rights issues when dealing with friendly dictatorships, writes CFR's Mark Lagon.

Whatever change follows Egypt's political turbulence, any new government will have to confront the country's rampant unemployment, cronyism, and other factors impeding growth and development, in addition to constitutional reform, says CFR's Isobel Coleman.

Egypt's protests put it on the threshold of dramatic change but a range of factors, including the role of the military, will have a critical bearing on the outcome of the crisis, says CFR's Steven Cook.

China's exchange rate policy will dominate the economic dialogue between the United States and China during President Hu's state visit to Washington. There's scant hope differences can be resolved, says CFR's Steven Dunaway.

A series of frank statements by U.S. officials before the upcoming summit with Chinese president Hu Jintao provides an important new footing for advancing cooperation between the two countries, says CFR's Elizabeth Economy.

The cholera epidemic that has added to the list of Haiti's post-earthquake miseries is a reminder that what Haiti needs more than anything else is good governance that would lead to better infrastructure and safe water.

The killing of Punjab's governor, Salman Taseer, was symptomatic of widespread religious intolerance and fanaticism in Pakistan, says CFR’s Ed Husain.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is pushing through a series of laws that will effectively quell legal means to opposition, a move that Washington must challenge, says CFR's Joel Hirst.

U.S. strategy in Afghanistan should be in line with the Obama administration's political goals of defeating al-Qaeda rather than devoting resources to long-term nation building, says CFR's Gian Gentile.