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Curated by Project Syndicate

Kofi A. Annan, 1938-2018

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Kofi A. Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations (1997-2006) and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was one of the greatest diplomats of our time. Under his leadership, and following the horrors of the Bosnian War, Annan became the catalyst for a more proactive UN, not only in terms of peacemaking, but also in the global effort to combat climate change.

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  1. How IT Threatens Democracy
    Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
    Free to read

    How IT Threatens Democracy

    Feb 16, 2018 Kofi A. Annan probes the ways in which social media, big data, and artificial intelligence can jeopardize open societies.

  2. Rethinking Sanctions
    Woman in Burma selling fruit Woman in Burma selling fruit/Pixabay
    Free to read

    Rethinking Sanctions

    Jan 11, 2016 Kofi A. Annan & Kishore Mahbubani argue for a more refined and comprehensive approach to changing states' behavior.

  3. The Grassroots of Climate Change
    Grass
    Free to read

    The Grassroots of Climate Change

    Dec 22, 2015 Kofi A. Annan argues that it is up to citizens to ensure that the agreement reached in Paris is fulfilled.

  4. Migration Realism
    Migrants Arriving in Lampedusa Noborder Network/Flickr
    Free to read

    Migration Realism

    Jun 13, 2015 Kofi A. Annan proposes a four-pronged strategy to ensure more humane treatment of those fleeing dire conditions.

  5. Saving Global Order
    annan6_photographer is my life_getty images_globalization Photographer is my life/Getty Images
    Free to read

    Saving Global Order

    Jan 29, 2015 Kofi A. Annan reminds us why renewing the international system is in everyone's interest.

  6. West Africa’s Misguided War on Drugs
    West Africa’s Misguided War on Drugs Rodrigo/Flickr
    Free to read

    West Africa’s Misguided War on Drugs

    Jul 8, 2014 Kofi A. Annan urges a new approach to combating the trade in illicit narcotics.

  1. johnson180_JIM WATSONAFP via Getty Images_kamala harris JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

    Only Harris Will Deliver Shared Prosperity

    Simon Johnson says that Donald Trump’s discredited protectionism would benefit the few at the expense of the many.
  2. roubini191_JOHN WESSELSAFP via Getty Images_israelmissiles John Wessels/AFP via Getty Images

    Israel and Iran Are Likely to Escalate

    Nouriel Roubini rejects the widespread view that the conflict will be contained after the latest exchange of attacks.
  3. stiglitz343_ChipSomodevillaGettyImages_trump_goofy Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    The Perils of a Trump-Musk Economy

    Joseph E. Stiglitz

    Donald Trump is offering a vision of crony rentier capitalism that has enticed many captains of industry and finance. In catering to their wishes for more tax cuts and less regulation, he would make most Americans’ lives poorer, harder, and shorter.

    explains what a Republican victory in the 2024 election would mean for most Americans’ standard of living.
  4. galbraith37_Anna MoneymakerGetty Images_elonmusktrump Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

    Elon Musk Gets Trump’s Economic Plans Partly Right

    James K. Galbraith argues that only a tycoon could love Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, deportations, and spending cuts.
  5. velasco153_MaximShemetovGettyImages_brics_kazan1 Maxim Shemetov/Getty Images

    The Futile Search for a Dollar Rival

    Andrés Velasco sees no progress on the part of the BRICS to challenge America’s monetary hegemony.
  6. melamed2_Santosh KumarHindustan Times via Getty Images_census Santosh Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

    Democracy’s Data Paradox

    Claire Melamed explains why reliable information is crucial to maintaining the integrity of political institutions.
  7. op_badre2_Joan CrosNurPhoto via Getty Images_francestartuptech Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Europe’s Existential AI Challenge

    Bertrand Badré & Charles Ferguson

    The outcome of the AI race could determine the global distribution of wealth and power for generations to come, and Europe is already lagging far behind China, the United States, Israel, Taiwan, and many others. Overhauling the EU's sclerotic, Kafkaesque startup ecosystem has never been more urgent.

    explain what is wrong with the EU technology startup system, and what to do about it.
  8. gelfand3_ Kevin DietschGetty Images_harris Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

    Harris or Chaos

    Michele Gelfand explains what is really at stake in the 2024 US presidential election.
  9. aghion9_ALAIN JOCARDAFP via Getty Images_barnier ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images

    A Weak French Government’s Fiscal Reckoning

    Philippe Aghion & Bénédicte Berner warns that the absence of a parliamentary majority is likely to impede efforts to restore sustainable growth.

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