Ever easier communications and ever-growing data mountains are transforming politics in unexpected ways

Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, Joel Budd discusses problems with current renewable power technologies and why we need to talk more about innovation

Michael Reid, The Economist’s Bello columnist, looks at the brightening prospects for Colombia, which many feared was in danger of becoming a failed state not long ago

Britain's Eurosceptics are beginning to rally, yet the potential consequences of voting to leave the European Union will convince voters to remain, says John Peet

An uneasy balance America is a sticky superpower, maintaining economic influence while ceding ground to China, says Patrick Foulis

The private sector Forget China's central planners. The country's private businesses are what fuel growth and innovation

The world's only city-state and only rich country with a single ruling party has enjoyed an exceptional 50 years. Its future demands reflection

Mental health treatments used to be the responsibility of the family, then of institutions. Today, mental health is a matter of governments and of science’

The new Nigerian president has a strong mandate and a full in tray. He should start by removing government from so many of the places it incites corruption

Narendra Modi became India's prime minister almost a year ago. The goals he has set since then reveal his mentality as a leader: Mr Modi sees himself in the mould of a CEO, or a taskmaster who sets concrete targets for others to implement