From SPECIAL REPORTS Jun 16, 2013

Opinion: Pressure builds on leaders to show they can still shape events

Barack Obama, US president ©AP

If they cannot agree among themselves, a last opportunity to modernise the international order will be lost, writes Philip Stephens

Ingram Pinn illustration ©Ingram Pinn Jun 13, 2013

China is giving Europe a harsh lesson

A proposed trade and investment pact with the US offers the EU a chance to avoid irrelevance

Ingram Pinn illustration ©Ingram Pinn Jun 6, 2013

Nations and the illusion of sovereignty

The concept of freedom to act is as compelling as it is unrealistic

Jun 3, 2013

Erdogan is proving the protesters right

The reaction to a protest against heavy-handed rule has been heavy-handed

©Ingram Pinn May 30, 2013

A race between growth and populism

The threat to the euro now comes from populists seeking to overturn the liberal order

May 29, 2013

Why Google really doesn’t care about tax

The group may meet its legal obligations but it fails to be a good corporate citizen

Ingram Pinn illustration ©Ingram Pinn May 23, 2013

Abe will not help by rewriting history

The Japanese prime minister offers two positives but one dangerous negative

May 16, 2013

Britain is hurtling to the exit from Europe

Cameron’s strategy to staunch pressure for a departure is falling apart

May 12, 2013

Why America and Europe can’t agree

The gulf between the two sides reflects a difference of culture

©James Ferguson May 9, 2013

Democracy is not to blame for populism

Globalisation and technology have provided fertile ground for the politics of grievance globally

May 2, 2013

Threats to Asia’s fragile power balance

The world’s most vibrant region is also potentially its most combustible

Apr 25, 2013

More reform, less austerity for Europe

The War of the Coding Error is a reminder that the economy is too vital to be left to economists

Apr 18, 2013

Germany should face the German question

Berlin must be willing to carry the responsibilities of power

Apr 11, 2013

Europe, sterling and Thatcher’s handbag

Her troubled relationship with the EU wrote the Iron Lady’s political obituary

Apr 8, 2013

Radical Thatcher showed power of character

Her death is a reminder that leadership can still shape events

Apr 4, 2013

Spend and borrow will not save the left

The welfare state was built on growth. That is what social democrats should focus on

Mar 21, 2013

Middle East needs more than fine words

John Kerry’s good intentions are worthless if the US president is not ready to take risks

Mar 15, 2013

An end to self-righteous Vatican rule

The new Pope’s rejection of absolutism gives some hope for a faith founded on redemption

Mar 14, 2013

After hubris in Iraq, hesitation in Syria

The tough lessons from an invasion a decade ago do not apply today

Mar 7, 2013

Pay up for Nato or shut it down

Being prepared for new threats requires military capabilities but no one wants to pick up the bill

ABOUT PHILIP

Philip Stephens Philip Stephens is a commentator and author. He is associate editor of the Financial Times where as chief political commentator he writes twice-weekly columns on global and British affairs.

He joined the Financial Times in 1983 after working as a correspondent for Reuters in Brussels and has been the FT’s Economics Editor, Political Editor and Editor of the UK edition. He was educated at Wimbledon College and at Oxford university.

E-mail Philip Stephens

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