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The Post-American Middle East What's Inside  By Gideon Rose After generations of authoritarian stagnation punctuated by moments of domestic repression and interstate war, in recent years, the Middle East has begun to move. The rise of radical Islamism, the invasion of Iraq and its chaotic aftermath, the uprisings of the Arab Spring and their bloody issue, and now a sustained drop in oil prices and successful negotiations with Iran—together these have opened up what could be an unsettling new era for all involved. What are the contours of this new Middle East?

ISIS as Revolutionary State New Twist on an Old Story By Stephen M. Walt The Islamic State is just the latest in a long line of state-building revolutionaries, following in the footsteps of the Jacobins, the Bolsheviks, the Khmer Rouge, and others. But its revolution is highly unlikely to spread, so the United States should follow a strategy of patient containment.

Putin's Potemkin Intervention The Weakness of Moscow's Syrian Adventure By Alexander Cooley and Daniel H. Nexon When it comes to foreign policy, U.S. President Obama’s critics have long accused him of being weak, indecisive, and naive for his restrained approach to Middle Eastern crises while Russian President Vladimir Putin takes action. These interpretations dangerously misread contemporary geopolitics, however.

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A New Special Relationship China and the United Kingdom Rekindle Their Ties By Philippe Le Corre Xi's visit to London will include the usual symbolic perks but it will also emphasize a new and unexpected honeymoon between two former enemies.

Iran, Cuba, and the Supreme Court How Terrorism Restitution Cases Limit U.S. Foreign Policy By Julius Taranto The Supreme Court’s eventual decision after hearings with Bank Markazi, the central bank of Iran, may provide overdue justice for terrorism victims. But such cases could become a major barrier to U.S. foreign policy, especially in light of the nuclear deal.