List of Theory articles
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, during a ceremony marking the 96th anniversary of Victory Day, commemorating a decisive battle in the Turkish War of Independence, in Ankara, on August 30, 2018. Erdogan Gets His ‘Leader of the Muslim World’ Moment
Syria’s change of leadership has given Turkey’s president the regional influence he has always wanted.
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A billboard bearing a picture of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and Syria's national flag is seen torn in the northern city of Aleppo on Nov. 30. The Assads Were Fighting the Wrong War
Syria’s ruling family had shaped its security agencies to fend off coups, not uprisings.
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A framed picture of Bashar al-Assad is seen with its glass shattered on the ground. How the World Got Syria Wrong
The international community misjudged the strength of the Assad regime—and its fixation on an external political process is being overtaken by internal events.
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Viktor Orban, wearing a suit with an overcoat draped over his shoulders, stands in front of the wall of a black and white gridded structure. Hungary’s Descent Into Dictatorship
How Viktor Orban pulled off the unthinkable.
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Protesters take part in a demonstration against the South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Dec. 5, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. Are Democracies Doomed to Gridlock and Dysfunction?
From France to South Korea, U.S. democratic allies are descending into political chaos.
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A torn picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is seen at the Bab al-Hawa border gate between Turkey and Syria on July 21, 2012. Why Assad’s Regime Is Collapsing So Quickly
While nobody was looking, the Syrian regime was increasingly hollowing out.
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Soldiers try to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul on Dec. 4, after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law. How South Koreans Rejected Martial Law
A self-coup attempt by President Yoon Suk-yeol has dramatically flopped.
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Mohammed bin Salman arrives at the Future Investment Initiative FII conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh on October 24, 2018. The Real Reason for Saudi Arabia’s Pivot to Iran
Mohammed bin Salman’s changed tone on Tehran isn’t as confusing as it seems.
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The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic, Alan Moore and Steve Moore with various artists, Top Shelf Productions, $49.99, 352 pp, October 2024. Alan Moore Wants You to Invent Your Own God
An acclaimed English author offers his take on creativity and magic.
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Women protesters hold up signs. Gender Wars Are an Early Warning Sign for Authoritarianism
Women’s rights are at the forefront of security risks—and resistance.
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Yamandu Orsi during the presidential election on October 27, 2024 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Uruguay’s Crime-Fighting Lessons for the World
Violent crime is on the rise in the Latin American country—but authoritarian politicians are not.
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The fictitious leaders of the G-7 gather for a dinner at their annual summit in this still from the Rumours movie. Diplomacy That Goes Bump in the Night
A dark comedy explores what happens when the G-7 leaders are literally and figuratively lost in the woods.
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Donald Trump stands next to Hung Cao and a woman as people seated in a Vietnamese restaurant lift up their mobile phones to take pictures. In Virginia, a Vietnamese American Community Divided
A longshot Republican challenger to Sen. Tim Kaine appeals to fears about communism—and sees mixed results.
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Xi and Putin look at each other; a man is between them, and others look on from behind. No, BRICS Isn’t Trying to Rival the West
The declaration from last week’s summit reads like a cri de coeur for the existing order.
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Illustrated planes and ships are seen on the blue field and red and white stripes of the U.S. flag. The Case for the Greater West
Washington should abandon liberal universalism and work with the empire it already has.
