Is Peace on the Horizon for the Horn of Africa?
Conflicts between Eritrea, Djibouti, and Ethiopia have dramatically shifted in recent months, giving hope for an end of hostilities in the region.
Diplomacy
Have International Climate Negotiations Outlived Their Usefulness?
When I talk about the climate process to the uninitiated, they always insist that there has to be a better way. The trouble is, there may not be.
Viewfinder: Trump Meets With South Korean Leader Moon Jae-in in Washington
U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in shake hands during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 22nd, 2018.
Viewfinder: A Joint Press Conference Signals Cooperation Between Turkey and Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hold a joint press conference after their meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on April 3rd, 2018.
Can Ireland Steady Relations Between the U.S. and the E.U.?
Recent diplomatic maneuvers show that the country is ready to make securing positive relations with the E.U.-skeptical Trump administration a priority.
As Brexit Nears Completion, Ireland Looks to Expand Its Global Influence
The small nation has big plans to take on a new role within Europe and soften the blow of Britain's defection from the E.U.
The Diplomat and the Killer
In December of 1980, Salvadoran soldiers brutally raped and murdered four American churchwomen. A young U.S. diplomat singlehandedly cracked the case, cultivating an improbable source who risked everything to gather the key evidence.
Detecting a Coming Betrayal
Researchers use transcripts from online Diplomacy games to identify signs of imminent betrayal.
The State of the Dinner: Commensality as a Political Instrument
We are almost never reluctant to share a drink with strangers, but sharing meals tends to be reserved for those to whom we wish to signal intimacy.
The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30: Andrew Kim, 26, East Asian Studies
For the month of April we're profiling the individuals who made our inaugural list of the 30 top thinkers under 30, the young men and women we predict will have a serious impact on the social, political, and economic issues we cover every day here at Pacific Standard.
ZunZuneo: Do Former Users Care That It Was Secretly Built by USAID?
Our criticism of the U.S. government's covert or "discreet" funding of communication channels like ZunZuneo or Radio Free Europe presumes that they try to seed something non-native.
The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30: Eugene Yi, 28, Public Affairs
For the month of April we're profiling the individuals who made our inaugural list of the 30 top thinkers under 30, the young men and women we predict will have a serious impact on the social, political, and economic issues we cover every day here at Pacific Standard.
Next Steps in U.S.-Iran Diplomacy: Vaccines
Two vaccine scientists—one American, one Iranian—offer a unique way to give the nascent relationship between their two countries a shot in the arm.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Celebrity, Diplomacy, and the Power of Photos
The actor's recent stunt in Cardiff, in which he admonished celebrity photographers for not capturing "something important," suggests a misplaced faith in photography.
Burma’s Redemption More Domestic Than Imported
Burma's gradual return to international good grace is probably more a case of homegrown changes than a result of economic sanctions, argues one influential analyst.
Engaging Iran Through Vaccine Diplomacy
An American researcher argues that science diplomacy regarding neglected tropical diseases could cool tensions between Iran and the U.S.
The U.N.'s Death Squad Watchdog
With few resources but the force of his title — U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions — Philip Alston holds governments accountable for the politically motivated killings they commit, or ignore.
Iran: From Axis to Ally?
A new book says that Iran's leadership is opportunistic, not evil, and therefore open to imaginative American policy initiatives.
Americans Log Into Hermit Kingdom
In a deft bit of science diplomacy, Syracuse University has been engaging with a North Korean counterpart to bring a bit of knowledge — and some trust — to the Hermit Kingdom.
Science Diplomacy: Trading Frock Coats for Lab Coats
Intractable diplomatic conundrums, like the West's relationship with Iran, may find paths toward a solution by emphasizing scientific exchanges.
The Man Who Bridges Troubled Waters
Aaron Wolf mediates disputes, helping enemies realize that no one deserves to have the water shut off.
Humanitarian Missions Await Next President
Harvard professor Samantha Power believes the U.S. can and should reclaim its ability to be a positive force in the world in terms of promoting human rights.