TAG: The Economist

Japan: inside the Yakuza syndicate

Anton Kusters, a Belgian photographer, was allowed a rare glimpse inside a Yakuza family in early 2009. He documented the family for two years.

Mexico: the drug cartels

Mexican cartels and criminals are the leading producers of illegal synthetic drugs. This shift is fuelling the latest phase in America’s opioid crisis.

Iran: political protests

How does an uprising transform into a revolution? Lessons from Iran’s own history offer some clues.

France: why the French are fed up

The French are miserable. Normally this means defeat for sitting presidents, but Macron is still just about leading in the polls. So what's going on?

Ireland: the future of peace

The Good Friday Agreement brought peace. But while the treaty has saved thousands of lives, it has also resulted in an unstable government.

Taiwan: will it be at war?

The uneasy status-quo between China and Taiwan, which has existed for seven decades, is looking more fragile than ever. Is war inevitable?

Nigeria: the state of democracy in Africa

Nigeria's youth are fighting for a better, cleaner government. What can this political awakening tell us about the state of democracy across Africa?

Africa: China’s economic presence

In the past 20 years, China has built ever closer bonds with African nations. It has spent billions transforming infrastructure across the continent.