Many Americans are losing faith in the benefits of internationalism. On this episode of Why It Matters, experts discuss the important role state and local leaders play in global affairs.

Senegal holds its postponed presidential election amid fears of democratic backsliding; Slovakia chooses a new president in voting that could bolster Prime Minister Robert Fico’s illiberal tilt; Paki…

The global arms trade is big business and the United States accounts for more than 40 percent of the world’s weapons exports. Aside from the profit motivation, selling arms abroad can be an effective…

Hosting the Olympics is a monumental undertaking that often leaves behind rusted stadiums and financial losses. So why do nations compete to do it? This episode examines the political history of the …

Turkish, Russian and Iranian leaders meet over the war in Syria, Sweden eyes populism amid new general elections, and President Trump’s tariffs could hit $200 billion dollars’ worth of Chinese import…

While Vietnam and Cambodia loom large in American memories of the Vietnam War, neighboring Laos recedes into the background. But during the 1960s and 1970s, the tiny, landlocked nation was the site o…