Howard W. French

Howard W. French is a columnist at Foreign Policy, a professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and a longtime foreign correspondent. His latest book is Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War.

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Articles by Howard W. French
Protesters hold Taiwan’s flag as they confront supporters of Chinese President Xi Jinping during demonstrations at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.
Protesters hold Taiwan’s flag as they confront supporters of Chinese President Xi Jinping during demonstrations at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.

Beijing’s Blind Spot on Taiwan

Analysis
Howard W. French
U.S. President Joe Biden (L) meets with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Oct. 18, 2023.
U.S. President Joe Biden (L) meets with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Oct. 18, 2023.

It’s Not Too Late for Biden to Restrain Israel

Argument
Howard W. French
Gay is seen sitting behind a table with a desk microphone and a placard featuring her name.
Gay is seen sitting behind a table with a desk microphone and a placard featuring her name.

Defining Away Palestinians’ Right to Resist

Argument
Howard W. French
Biden delivers remarks from a lectern in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
Biden delivers remarks from a lectern in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

It’s Time to Reconsider U.S. Military Aid

Argument
Howard W. French
Kissinger stands at a lectern with microphones with a large world map on the wall behind him.
Kissinger stands at a lectern with microphones with a large world map on the wall behind him.

Kissinger’s Great Game

Argument
Howard W. French
Biden and Xi shake hands while standing on a red carpet next to a white marble column.
Biden and Xi shake hands while standing on a red carpet next to a white marble column.

Why Xi Was All Smiles With Biden

Analysis
Howard W. French
People stand outside the emergency ward of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Nov. 10.
People stand outside the emergency ward of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Nov. 10.

Where Is the West’s Moral Courage on Israel?

Argument
Howard W. French
A view shows an explosion in the distance with buildings in the foreground.
A view shows an explosion in the distance with buildings in the foreground.

Israel’s Gaza Campaign Is Entering a Moral Abyss

Argument
Howard W. French
A woman rides a bicycle in the historic center of Ferrara, Italy.
A woman rides a bicycle in the historic center of Ferrara, Italy.

Europe’s Coming Reckoning on Immigration

Argument
Howard W. French
A closeup photo of Biden sitting in front of Israeli and U.S. flags looking contemplative. Netanyahu is not seen in the frame.
A closeup photo of Biden sitting in front of Israeli and U.S. flags looking contemplative. Netanyahu is not seen in the frame.

Biden’s Unquestioning Support for Israel Could Be a Costly Error

Analysis
Howard W. French
Demonstrators carry Israeli flags and a large sign that reads "New York Stands With Israel."
Demonstrators carry Israeli flags and a large sign that reads "New York Stands With Israel."

The Peril in Declaring ‘I Stand With Israel’

Argument
Howard W. French
People hold a cutout depicting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Sikh rally outside the Indian consulate in Toronto on Sept. 25.
People hold a cutout depicting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Sikh rally outside the Indian consulate in Toronto on Sept. 25.

Washington Is Losing Credibility Over the Canada-India Spat

Analysis
Howard W. French
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wearing a green collared shirt, walks toward the dais as he arrives to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York City
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wearing a green collared shirt, walks toward the dais as he arrives to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York City

Why Ukraine Is Not a Priority for the Global South

Analysis
Howard W. French
A woman sits in a folding chair and rests her head face-down on a folding table.
A woman sits in a folding chair and rests her head face-down on a folding table.

China’s Youth Are Increasingly Grim About Their Future

Analysis
Howard W. French
Macron and Bongo, both smiling, sit side by side. Macron is reaching over and grasping Bongo's hand in a friendly gesture.
Macron and Bongo, both smiling, sit side by side. Macron is reaching over and grasping Bongo's hand in a friendly gesture.

France’s Concern for Gabon’s Democracy Is Too Little, Too Late

Argument
Howard W. French
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