E-Notes

Abstract One of America’s—more precisely, one of Philadelphia’s—greatest contributions to the world is freedom of conscience, the idea that people should be free to practice their religion—or not to practice at all. Today, as ISIS gives people the choice...

How effective are economic sanctions as a policy tool?  The United States appeared to answer that question in two different ways over the past year. Just last week, President Barack Obama announced a major shift in U.S. policy toward...

On October 20, 2014, the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Project on Democratic Transitions partnered with the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute to organize a day-long conference in Washington, DC entitled “Does Democracy Matter?” Our goal was to revisit the...

The Russian ruble’s wild ride—starting the week at 58 to the dollar, spiking to nearly 80 on Tuesday, and settling back near 60 by Thursday—has left many questioning Russia’s political and economic stability. Since the ruble’s sharp fall on...

The Keynote Address by Gen. Michael V. Hayden Recipient of FPRI’s 10th Annual Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Service FPRI Annual Dinner, November 19, 2014   I have been out of government about five-and-a-half years and I get to...

December temperatures in Russia’s Siberian cities often reach 40 below zero, but the freeze that threatens Russia today has nothing to do with the winter cold. Russia’s economy is frozen. Western sanctions designed to punish Russia for invading Ukraine...

This E-Note is excerpted from Dr. Owens’ editorial column in the Winter 2015 issue of Orbis.   The emergence of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq has threatened to destabilize the Levant and Iraq, in many...

“I am a very old man, and I have lived through almost the entire century,” wrote Isaiah Berlin in his 1994 essay, “A Message to the 21st Century.” The 85-year old British political philosopher looked back at the carnage...

Beijing, November 10-12 As host of this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Beijing spared no effort to ensure the safety and comfort of the dignitaries who would attend. Alternate day driving restrictions were imposed in order to...

Since early October, many of us have been mesmerized by scenes of the student-led “Occupy Central” or “Umbrella Movement” demonstrations in the government compound and throughout Hong Kong. Earlier this year, similar events occurred in Taipei in what became...