International Relations
World
International affairs, diplomacy and the forces shaping countries and regions around the globe.
International Relations
How the UN Security Council Actually Makes Decisions
Fifteen countries, five permanent seats and a veto used 320 times. A plain guide to how the world's most powerful diplomatic body works, with the latest 2026 figures.
The Quiet Importance of the World’s Shipping Chokepoints
A handful of narrow straits and canals carry a huge share of world trade. In 2026 the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz has shown what happens when one of them shuts.