A state of emergency in Nigeria’s northeast signals that Islamist violence and the government’s brutal response have rendered the region ungovernable, says CFR’s John Campbell.

Escalating friction between Japan and China in the East China Sea is becoming more difficult to contain, fed by political opportunism in both countries, says CFR’s Sheila Smith.

This year’s daunting UN challenges for President Obama: navigating the Palestinian statehood thicket and convincing Americans that UN diplomacy matters, writes CFR’s Stewart Patrick.

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.