Issue

Governance

The balance of power between strong states was for decades the dominant issue in discussions of international security. But today, it is fragile states that are seen by many as posing potentially greater threats. Weak infrastructures, internal conflict, and lack of economic development provide fertile ground for trafficking, piracy, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, disease pandemics, regional tensions, and even genocide.

As a result, there is a growing movement in the international community to find comprehensive ways to promote stronger states, as well as more effective solutions to deal with those that are already on the brink of failure.

In Governance, you'll find reporting from around the world—from East Timor to Haiti, from Guinea Bissau to Afghanistan. The reporting demonstrates the dangers weak states pose—and also the international interventions that appear to be making a difference.

 

Governance

From Yemen: The Great Escape

Salem was at the airport when the first bombs dropped in Yemen. Months later, he would be forced to flee his homeland. For days, he walked and hitchhiked across the war torn nation. This is his story.

The Karachi Circular Railway

An investigation of Karachi's urban development, tracing a defunct public transport route to explore stories about the city’s growth, its urban present, its rural past and its possible futures.

From "the Other Iraq" to Kurdistan

Today Iraq is consumed by sectarian fighting, but in the north the legacy of the US-led war is progress. Iraqi Kurdistan has autonomy, security, and oil. But what is Kurdistan beyond "the other Iraq"?

The Gangs of Karachi

Karachi is the world’s most violent city, with about 2,000 murders in 2013 as a result of its virulent gang politics. The city’s gangsters are openly linked to Pakistan’s national parties.

How Assad Hangs On

Many experts thought Assad would be out of power by now. But the initial popular uprising has devolved into religious and ethnic strife. Assad is seen by some as the best hope for stability.

Peacekeepers: The Congo Case

UN enforcement of "responsibility to protect" has too often focused more on protecting UN troops than civilian populations. In eastern Congo UN military leaders are talking—and taking—a tougher line.

Facing Fears: Afghanistan on the Brink

What will happen to the progress that’s been made in education and women’s rights in Afghanistan? It’s a legacy NGOs have spent millions building. And many Afghans worry it's what is most at risk.

Meet the Journalist: Tracey Eaton

Tracey Eaton discusses his project, "Cuban Youth: A New Dawn?" Eaton, the former Havana bureau chief for the Dallas Morning News, interviewed 20-somethings about their hopes and dreams for the future.