2018 ends in many ways as it began: with chaos emanating from Donald Trump’s White House, populism and resurgent nationalism continuing to upend politics-as-usual from Europe to Asia, and more questions about how resilient the liberal international order really is. While those trend lines were a big part of our coverage at WPR, looking over our most-read articles of the year is a reminder that other stories were also important drivers of global affairs, even if they didn’t always draw the biggest headlines. These include the ongoing war in Syria, wider geopolitical rivalries in the Middle East and political reform across Africa. The list below is based on unique page views. To find out what’s in store for 2019, keep following WPR.
1. After Zuma, a New Start for South Africa Will Be Easier Said Than Done
James Hamill
Feb. 20, 2018
2. Their Leader Is Missing, but Nigeria’s Biafran Separatists Aren’t Backing Down
Eromo Egbejule
March 6, 2018