China's ruling party is in the midst of a major transition, raising new questions about the future of the rising superpower. This Backgrounder examines the party and its governing challenge.

China's Communist Party Congress will affirm new top leaders, but little is known about their selection or how they will guide the country, says CFR's Jerome Cohen.

Sebastian Mallaby considers how economic forecasters should adapt their methods to reflect today's high levels of policy uncertainty.

Bernard K. Gordon, professor emeritus of political science at the University of New Hampshire, leads a discussion on the ongoing negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Bibi Aisha's gruesome maiming put her on the cover of Time. Now, years later, she's working on getting a new face and trying to exorcise the horror, restart her life—and reunite with family, says Gayle Tzemach Lemmon.

The success of the Global Green Growth Institute, a new international organization dedicated to changing the way countries grow economically, depends on its ability to effectively address developing countries' institutional and technical shortcomings. If efficacious, however, it could revolutionize international economic development efforts.

Ever since the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping opened up his country's economy in the late 1970s, China has managed to grow in power, wealth, and military might while still maintaining cooperative and friendly relations with most of the world.

This past Memorial Day, U.S. President Barack Obama marked the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War with a speech at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Stephen Hadley and John Podesta accurately describe Washington's policy dilemmas and preferred outcomes in Afghanistan ("The Right Way Out of Afghanistan," July/August 2012).

As the world economy and international security are increasingly vulnerable to major disease outbreaks in China, Governing Health in Contemporary China sheds critical light on China's role in global health governance.

Jerome A. Cohen says that while Bo Xilai and Chen Kegui "hail from opposite ends of China's political, economic and social hierarchies, they now have much in common, including the determination of the authorities to punish them for political reasons."

Adam Segal says the showdown between China and the United States over telecommunications is about more than just security.

What do we really know about China's new leader?

Scott Snyder speaks to Balbina Hwang and Terry Roehrig on South Korea's contributions to international security.

Authors of the new CFR ebook Global Korea: South Korea's Contributions to International Security will discuss the ways South Korea is becoming a more active contributor to international security by participating in peacekeeping, antipiracy, postconflict stabilization, counterproliferation, and other activities.

Despite an ongoing threat from North Korea, South Korea has emerged as a producer rather than a consumer of international security goods. As a newly elected member of the UN Security Council, South Korea has the opportunity to use these investments as a "middle power" and responsible leader in the international community, says Scott A. Snyder.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and South Korean Minister of National Defense, Kim Kwan Jin, gave these remarks at a joint press conference in Washington DC on October 24, 2012.

This joint communiqué Between the U.S. and South Korea was affirmed by delegations led by U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and South Korean Minister of National Defense Kim, at the 44th Security Consultative Meeting in Washington DC on October 24, 2012.

Prospects for a smooth handover of security to Afghan authorities appear dismal, but new leadership from Washington could improve this interval, says Daniel Markey.

This volume outlines South Korea's progress and accomplishments toward enhancing its role and reputation as a contributor to international security.