CFR's James M. Lindsay discusses Nelson Mandela's release from prison in February 1990 and his subsequent rise to the presidency to show how individuals shape history.

The Russian and Chinese veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to violence in Syria calls into question the viability of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine and poses a dilemma for the Obama administration, says CFR's Stewart Patrick.

The newly announced U.S. plan to end its combat mission in Afghanistan by mid-2013 could make it more difficult to realize the chief goal of helping Afghan national forces become self-sufficient, says CFR's Stephen Biddle.

Drug trafficking, changing immigration trends, and rising economic opportunities are the major issues the winner of the 2012 U.S. presidential election faces in dealing with Latin America, says CFR's Shannon O'Neil.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship has become increasingly strained since the onset of the Arab awakening, and Iran's nuclear ambitions could pose further challenges, says expert F. Gregory Gause III.

CFR's James M. Lindsay recalls the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam and the importance of managing public expectations amid major foreign policy initiatives.

The winner of the 2012 U.S. presidential race will have to make critical decisions on Afghanistan, including how to support and fund Afghan forces as well as possible concessions to the Taliban, says CFR's Stephen Biddle.

The European Union's embargo on Iranian oil may bring Iran to the negotiating table but is unlikely to halt its controversial nuclear program, says CFR's Matthew Kroenig.

CFR's James M. Lindsay remembers the seizure of the USS Pueblo in 1968 and discusses the idea that raw power does not always ensure success in foreign policy.

The next president will be forced to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in "a different Middle East context," as possible leadership transitions on both sides as well as ongoing regional changes will affect the context in which the peace process is pursued, says CFR's Robert M. Danin.

CFR's James M. Lindsay remembers John F. Kennedy's inaugural address and discusses the importance of balancing costs and benefits in foreign policy

CFR's James M. Lindsay remembers the anniversary of voting on the Ludlow Amendment and discusses it in the context of current debates about the power to commit force abroad.

China's rising global prominence, increasing assertiveness and upcoming leadership transition may pose significant challenges for the next U.S. president, says CFR's Elizabeth C. Economy.

CFR's Stewart Patrick outlines the debate over UN Security Council reform and discusses the obstacles going forward.

Blackstone strategist Byron Wien gives a cautiously optimistic forecast on world economic developments in 2012, in a discussion with CFR's Robert E. Rubin, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Wien just released his closely followed annual "Ten Surprises" list of probable economic, financial market, and political events.

Immigration reform remains a hot topic in the 2012 presidential race, but the winner will have to move beyond an enforcement-only approach in dealing with illegal immigrants, says CFR's Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow Edward Alden, in a video issue brief.

Joan E. Donoghue, the U.S. member judge of the International Court of Justice, discusses the uneasy relationship between the United States and the UN body. She says the United States has increased its engagement with the ICJ on the contentious issue of capital punishment.

Pakistani journalist Najam Sethi discusses the factors behind anti-Americanism in Pakistan. He says the two countries have failed to develop a strategic relationship because of their differences in Afghanistan.

A top New York City police official and author of a new book on al-Qaeda, Mitchell Silber, discusses with CFR's Ed Husain the persistent threat of a homegrown U.S. radical mounting a terrorist attack.

Following the death of leader Kim Jong-il, the transition of power in North Korea could see Pyongyang engaging in further provocative activities, says CFR's Paul Stares.