2020 Second-Quarter Forecast

Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.

Europe

<p>To the west of Eurasia lays Europe, a region predisposed to division. It is surrounded on nearly all sides by islands and peninsulas that make it difficult for Europe to cohere. The northern half of the continent, moreover, sits on a plain whose short, meandering rivers tend to empower countries without forcing them to work with others. The southern half is situated on more mountainous terrain that has historically impeded the creation of strong, unified economies. As a result, Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.</p>

Assessments

United States

China

Japan

North Korea

Thailand

Germany

Holy See

United Kingdom

Iran

Saudi Arabia

Afghanistan

Gregorian Calendar vs. the Julian Calendar

Economics

Politics

The history of calendrical reform has been shaped by the egos of emperors, disputes among churches, the insights of astronomers and mathematicians, and immutable geopolitical realities. Geopolitical themes are present both in the creation of the Gregorian calendar and its permanence, and its ascendance and enduring primacy tells us much about the nature of the international system.

The Geopolitics of the Gregorian Calendar

2020 Annual Forecast

2019 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

2019 Third-Quarter Forecast

2019 Second-Quarter Forecast

2019 Annual Forecast

2018 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

Columns

On Geopolitics

Faith traditions present challenges and opportunities for any empire.

China in Transition

Politics has long trumped religion in China, from the old empire to the Communist People’s Republic. Can the Vatican navigate this reality and strike a deal with Beijing?

The Catholic Church and China: Where Religion and Geopolitics Meet

2018 Second-Quarter Forecast

2018 Annual Forecast

2017 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

United Arab Emirates

The Pulse of Political Islam

Pope Francis arrived in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 3 for a three-day trip that will include meetings with high-ranking Muslim leaders and Emirati political leaders, the BBC reported.

Holy See, UAE: Pope Francis Arrives in Abu Dhabi for a 3-Day Visit

Taiwan

A bishop appointment deal between China and the Vatican is in its final stages and could be signed by the end of March, Global Times reported March 29.

China, Vatican: Bishop Appointment Deal Negotiations Reach Final Stages

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan

Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Cabo Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sudan

Eswatini

Tanzania

Togo

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Americas

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Barbados

Belize

Bolivia

Brazil

Canada

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Suriname

Bahamas

Trinidad and Tobago

Uruguay

Venezuela

Greenland

Jamaica

Asia-Pacific

Australia

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

Timor-Leste

Federated States of Micronesia

Fiji

Indonesia

Kiribati

Laos

Malaysia

Marshall Islands

Eurozone

Economics and Finance

Energy

After two weeks of negotiations, representatives of nearly 200 countries have approved the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the extent of climate change in the coming decades, The Telegraph reported Dec. 12.

France: Delegates Approve Paris Climate Change Deal

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Greece

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

North Macedonia

Malta

Belgium

Sweden

Bulgaria

Portugal

Serbia

Croatia

Poland

Romania

Cyprus

Norway

Austria

Slovakia

Albania

Slovenia

Netherlands

Switzerland

Spain

Montenegro

Monaco

Italy

Ireland

Iceland

Hungary

Kosovo

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi announced a full program of quantitative easing Jan. 22 in which the European Central Bank will purchase a total of 1.1 trillion euros ($1.28 trillion) at a rate of 60 billion euros ($69.74 billion) per month until at least September 2016, the European Central Bank confirmed in a press release.

Eurozone: European Central Bank Announces Quantitative Easing

According to the European Central Bank's Oct. 26 comprehensive assessment of the 130 banks in the eurozone, 25 banks failed a stress test and 11 of those need to raise more capital, Bloomberg reported.

EU: European Central Bank Releases Comprehensive Assessment

Venezuelas Challenges

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sat down for talks with opposition leaders in a first meeting intended to stem two months of political unrest that has killed dozens, AFP reported April 11. 

Venezuela: Maduro, Opposition Talk In Bid To End Protests

Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected as the new pope, CBS News reported.

Holy See: New Pope Elected

The selection of the next Pope, especially at a time when the power of the Catholic Church has stalled in Europe but has increased elsewhere, will determine the geopolitical relevance of Benedict XVI's resignation.

Holy See: Pope To Step Down

Algeria

A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Armenia

Bahrain

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Egypt

Maldives

Ukraine

SITUATION REPORTS

Holy See, UAE: Pope Francis Arrives in Abu Dhabi for a 3-Day Visit

China, Vatican: Bishop Appointment Deal Negotiations Reach Final Stages

France: Delegates Approve Paris Climate Change Deal

Eurozone: European Central Bank Announces Quantitative Easing

EU: European Central Bank Releases Comprehensive Assessment

Venezuela: Maduro, Opposition Talk In Bid To End Protests

Holy See: New Pope Elected

Holy See: Pope To Step Down

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support