After more than three decades of existence, the Group of Eight (G8) is struggling to defend its relevance amid criticism of its limited membership and lack of a compliance mechanism.

In a recent world tour—stops included Belarus, Russia, and Iran—Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez attempted to expand his influence beyond Latin America and capitalize on the leverage afforded by his …

China is dealing with growing signs of social unrest and a budding civil society, but the central government’s power grip leaves little room for democracy.