Podcast
The Briefing: a sample episode
Our daily conversation about the stories shaping the world economy. This is a demonstration episode.
National Security
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Analysis
When countries cannot pay: how sovereign debt restructurings work
There is no bankruptcy court for nations. Debt crises are instead resolved through slow, often painful negotiations shaped by contract terms, creditor diversity and the threat of lost market access.
Analysis
The quiet mechanics of multilateral diplomacy, and why agreements take so long
Most of the work behind international agreements happens far from the cameras, in drafting rooms where single words can take days to settle.
Analysis
Inside the legislative calendar: why timing decides which bills survive
Legislatures have finite time. Party leaders who control the schedule wield influence that rarely makes headlines.
Explainer
How the choice of electoral system shapes a country's party politics
The rules for turning votes into seats are among the most consequential decisions a democracy makes. They influence how many parties thrive, how governments form and how voters behave.
Explainer
How international disputes are settled when there is no world government
States cannot be hauled before a judge the way citizens can. Yet a patchwork of courts, tribunals and arbitration panels resolves a surprising number of quarrels.
Explainer
Following the money: a guide to how global payment systems actually settle
Tapping a card or sending money abroad feels instantaneous. Behind it sits a layered architecture of messages, ledgers and central bank accounts that determines when a payment is truly final.
Analysis
How coalition governments are negotiated, and why some last longer than others
When no party wins outright, the real contest begins after polling day. Coalition talks turn election results into governing programmes through bargaining over posts and policies.
