An anthropologist argues that unfair portrayals of North Korea as a hopelessly irrational hermit state has huge implications for policy and security.

Written rules about how to govern only work if they are backed up by unwritten values shared across the political spectrum. Over the past four years, Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on U.S. democratic norms have taken a toll.

Universities are planning to open across the United States with strategies based on fantasy documents and magical thinking.

An anthropologist asks whether U.S. police are people serving the people—or are anonymous drones of state violence.

From bogus miracle cures and dangerous conspiracy theories to powerful shows of weaponry, across the globe, the coronavirus pandemic is evoking all manner of magical thinking.

One of the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis is taking serious action against a threat that seems so abstract and intangible.

An anthropologist explores the controversial labels for COVID-19.

Trump’s threats to Iran’s cultural treasures are the latest in a long history of such tactics. Thousands of artistic and architectural marvels have been destroyed in wars—a travesty that must be stopped.

War monuments and memorials are a source of contention in the United States. It’s time to reimagine the ways we memorialize the heroes and victims of war.

In its first six weeks, the Trump administration has been actively demonizing the mainstream media and the courts. This could be an ominous sign of what is to come.

Viral fake-news stories like Pizzagate are having a surprisingly significant influence, and they are only going to proliferate.

A Trump presidency would mean the end of diplomacy as we know it.

A disproportionate number of mass killings in the U.S. have been committed by military veterans. We should be asking ourselves why.

Anthropologist Hugh Gusterson traces the history of combat casualties attempting to communicate beyond death, from Gallipoli to nuclear war.