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
A close up of Abe's face as he looks down with a serious expression in front of a red-orange background.
A close up of Abe's face as he looks down with a serious expression in front of a red-orange background.

The Many Contradictions of Shinzo Abe

Analysis
Howard W. French
From left to right, front to back row: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, Malawian President Arthur Peter Mutharika, Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, and Liberian President George Weah attend a group photo session during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on Sept. 3, 2018.
From left to right, front to back row: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, Malawian President Arthur Peter Mutharika, Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, and Liberian President George Weah attend a group photo session during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on Sept. 3, 2018.

What the U.S. Still Doesn’t Get About Countering China

Argument
Howard W. French
An upside down U.S. flag is shown with the U.S. Supreme Court building in the background.
An upside down U.S. flag is shown with the U.S. Supreme Court building in the background.

America Is Losing Its Value Proposition

Argument
Howard W. French
A US-made CH-47 helicopter flies an 18-meter by 12-meter national flag at a military base in Taoyuan on September 28, 2021.
A US-made CH-47 helicopter flies an 18-meter by 12-meter national flag at a military base in Taoyuan on September 28, 2021.

The Real Stakes of Taiwan

Analysis
Howard W. French
People walk past a television screen showing Kim Jong Un speaking in front of a bank of microphones.
People walk past a television screen showing Kim Jong Un speaking in front of a bank of microphones.

Ending North Korea’s Isolation Is the Only Solution Left

Argument
Howard W. French
A statue of Leopold II is shown defaced with red paint.
A statue of Leopold II is shown defaced with red paint.

Confronting Belgium’s Colonial Legacy

Analysis
Howard W. French
People stand with their hands over their hearts and some holding American flags in a government office.
People stand with their hands over their hearts and some holding American flags in a government office.

The Clearest Path to Global Prosperity

Argument
Howard W. French
A supporter of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. holds pictures of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos, at a campaign rally
A supporter of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. holds pictures of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos, at a campaign rally

The Echoes of America’s Hypocrisy Abroad

Analysis
Howard W. French
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is received by his Kenyan counterpart, Raychelle Omamo, in Mombasa, Kenya.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is received by his Kenyan counterpart, Raychelle Omamo, in Mombasa, Kenya.

While America Slept, China Became Indispensable This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Howard W. French
Four young Black men sit on the side of a rode with their suitcases.
Four young Black men sit on the side of a rode with their suitcases.

Treating Migration as a Crisis Is a Missed Opportunity

Argument
Howard W. French
A black and white image shows men and women seated around a U-shaped conference table.
A black and white image shows men and women seated around a U-shaped conference table.

Why the World Isn’t Really United Against Russia

Argument
Howard W. French
A resident watches a TV screen showing news about Russia’s war in Ukraine at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, China, on Feb. 25.
A resident watches a TV screen showing news about Russia’s war in Ukraine at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, China, on Feb. 25.

Ukraine Exposed the True Danger of Chinese Censorship

Argument
Howard W. French
JINING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 28: (CHINA OUT) People wearing raincoats participate in 2014 Confucius Memorial Ceremony on September 28, 2014 in Jining, Shangdong province of China. Memorial ceremony to mark the 2,565th birthday anniversary of Confucius was held in Jining on Sunday. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)
JINING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 28: (CHINA OUT) People wearing raincoats participate in 2014 Confucius Memorial Ceremony on September 28, 2014 in Jining, Shangdong province of China. Memorial ceremony to mark the 2,565th birthday anniversary of Confucius was held in Jining on Sunday. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)

How China’s History Shapes, and Warps, Its Policies Today

ChinaFile
Howard W. French, Ian Johnson, Jeremiah Jenne, Pamela Kyle Crossley, Robert A. Kapp, Tobie Meyer-Fong
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Dear Obama: Corruption Isn’t Just Africa’s Problem

Argument
Howard W. French
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The South China Sea Could Become a Dangerous Contest of Military Might

Argument
Howard W. French
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