By Lee H. Hamilton All eyes have been on the U.S.-Mexico border in recent weeks as politicians and pundits assess the impact of changing rules for who can enter the United States. But the fixation on the border can distract from a bigger problem: America’s immigration system hasn’t kept up with the times. We need… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton India is surpassing China to become the world’s most populous nation, according to data from the United Nations. This is a significant development with more than symbolic importance. India, with its huge, diverse population and its growing economy, is poised to play a leading role in global affairs. It’s also key… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton Creating alliances and exercising diplomacy are key elements of foreign policy, and both are essential for America to play a constructive role in making the world more peaceful and prosperous. Recent developments remind us that these policy tools can be highly successful and deserve our support. On April 4, Finland became… Read more »
It’s a difficult time for democracy. China, under the increasingly autocratic rule of Xi Jinping, has positioned itself as the leading rival to the democratic United States for global influence. Russia continues its brutal war against Ukraine. Many nations are backsliding in their support for freedom and human rights. But there are also reasons to… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton The relationship between the United States and China is the most consequential bilateral relationship in the world, and it is growing increasingly contentious. It will take a lot of knowledge and understanding — on both sides — to manage it without slipping into a new Cold War. That’s why it’s especially… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton We Americans tend to think it’s self-evident that our system of government is superior. We value the freedom, independence and individual rights that are part of our democratic system. We take for granted that we should elect our leaders and hold them accountable. But we should not assume everyone will see… Read more »
It’s been a year since Russia launched its brutal invasion of Ukraine, and a lot has happened in that time. Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war has caused unspeakable destruction and suffering. At the same time, Ukrainians have inspired the world with their brave resistance. When the invasion began, some Western officials said privately that they expected… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton We Americans live in a representative democracy. That’s a fundamental feature of public life in the United States, a part of who we are as a people. We elect leaders to make decisions on our behalf. It’s not a pure democracy, in which the people vote on every important issue and… Read more »
By Lee H Hamilton Here we go again. The United States crashed through the nation’s debt ceiling on Jan. 19, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. For now, the government is relying on accounting tweaks and shifting money from one pot to another to pay the bills. But that only works for so long. Soon,… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton Like many Americans, I watched with dismay this month as the House of Representatives struggled through 15 votes over four days to select a new speaker. The sense of dysfunction was remarkable. Anyone watching might well have wondered about our ability to govern ourselves. For a week, there was no speaker… Read more »