
'One country, two systems' was always little more than a useful fiction for Beijing: Hong Kong is a piece of China, and its eventual integration with the mainland is inevitable.
By Rodger Baker

'One country, two systems' was always little more than a useful fiction for Beijing: Hong Kong is a piece of China, and its eventual integration with the mainland is inevitable.
By Rodger Baker

A mutual desire to end their long conflict makes an agreement a matter of when, not if. But long-lasting stability will only happen after the insurgents come to terms with the Afghan government.

Huge problems, from government infighting to rampant corruption, skyrocketing unemployment and more, have beset South Africa. More worryingly for the country, the ruling ANC has few ideas how to solve the mess.

Historical, geographic and other patterns may grant insight into coming events, but they’re by no means a crystal ball when it comes to forecasting.
By Rodger Baker

With Iran refusing to capitulate to U.S. sanctions, President Trump is considering doubling down on his campaign of maximum pressure. That, however, will only start a new cycle in their standoff.
By Reva Goujon

The world's northernmost frontier has taken on a renewed significance for the countries that have the most to lose, and gain, from the Arctic's melting ice and shifting political order.
By Rodger Baker

For Modi and his nationalist ruling party, the political benefits of an Indian Kashmir ultimately outweigh the risks of escalating New Delhi's decadeslong territorial dispute with Pakistan.

Given the appetite for drugs in the United States, the influx of low-priced, high-quality methamphetamine from Mexico is unlikely to abate anytime soon.

Mexico's government can never kill or capture enough cartel bosses to stem the country's breathtaking levels of violence. If it truly gets tough on corruption and earns locals' trust, though, it could begin to make some headway.

A recent indictment in New York reveals details of the terrorist skills training given to a man who later became a U.S. citizen, raising the possibility that other operatives may remain undetected.

Security departments can stay ahead of would-be assailants by preparing for tomorrow's threat -- rather than guarding against yesterday's attack.

Despite the losses suffered by the core al Qaeda and Islamic State groups in recent years, local franchise groups and grassroots terrorists continue to fuel jihadist wars around the world.

The employees with access to companies' most important information are also often the most underpaid and overlooked, making them a prime target for those engaged in espionage.

Some of its violent actions - and the musings of the president - notwithstanding, antifa is not a terrorist group. In fact, it's not a group at all, but that doesn't mean it's not dangerous.

Renewed hostilities between Ankara and the Kurds have laid waste to much of eastern Anatolia. Though the intensity of the physical war has diminished, the fight over symbols has not.

The war between North and South never officially ended, but the battle to achieve economic prosperity weighs much heavier on the minds of many South Koreans.

There are abundant reminders in Ramallah, Tel Aviv and elsewhere of the different realities that constrain and pressure each side of the conflict.

The course of events after the Cold War ended may explain why few in Asia share the predominant European belief in the inevitability of a tightly knit global system.
By Rodger Baker

The view of Afghanistan from ground level is very different from 35,000 feet up, or from a world away in Washington, D.C.
By Diego Solis

Traveling through Andalusia reveals the complexity of the region's culture and history -- and the pride its people have in them.

Colombia is not an easy country to govern. Its mountains and jungles have historically harbored towns and villages that have wildly different political worldviews and that have been in constant conflict since the country's independence in 1810. Political identity -- left or right -- has long been a defining feature of Colombia's isolated towns, particularly those in Antioquia department. It is in this context that in 1977 embattled rancher Ramon Isaza gathered forces in the sleepy river town of Puerto Boyaca to fight the FARC forces terrorizing his community.
By Diego Solis

As of today, the old Stratfor mobile application will no longer be available. However, the improved Stratfor App for Android and iOS provides users with an enhanced Stratfor experience.

The improved Stratfor App for Android and iOS lets users experience Stratfor's world-class analysis, right on their mobile device. Subscribers will be able to access and store their content in a new and easy-to-use way.

How geopolitical events so far in 2019 align with -- and diverge from -- Stratfor's annual forecast.

As the end of the year approaches, it is important to reflect on the past, take stock of the present and look ahead to the future.
By Rodger Baker

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our successes and slip-ups in forecasting the events of the past year.

To write intelligently about the future, it's important to look back at our past performance.

Geographic information systems (GIS) technology has many critical real-world applications. At Stratfor, our in-house creative team uses GIS to create original, illuminating graphics to highlight emerging trends in geopolitics that are defined by geography.