COLUMNISTS
Resources
Principal content
Gideon Rachman became chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times in July 2006. He joined the FT after a 15-year career at The Economist, which included spells as a foreign correspondent in Brussels, Washington and Bangkok. He also edited The Economist’s business and Asia sections. His particular interests include American foreign policy, the European Union and globalisation
To post comments, go to the relevant column below - -
Japan edges from America towards China
The prime minister is giving the impression of shifting away from its postwar ally, writes Gideon Rachman. Even if he does not intend to follow through, Japan has an uncomfortable strategic choice ahead
How Reagan ruined conservatism
Traditional conservatives disdain populism and respect knowledge. They believe in balancing the government’s books. And they are pragmatists who are suspicious of ideology. Reagan debased all these ideas – and modern American conservatism is still suffering the consequences, writes Gideon Rachman
Greece threatens more than the euro
The Greek crisis is about the very basis on which European unity has been built for the last 60 years. It threatens not just the euro but the entire edifice of the European Union, writes Gideon Rachman
Why Mexico is the missing Bric
With a population of over 112m people, a per capita income that is more than double that of China and privileged access to the US market, Mexico should be in this group of rising powers. But the country’s drugs problem is blighting its future, writes Gideon Rachman
Oranges and lemons in Ukraine
Rather than sighing and tut-tutting at the dissipation of the high hopes raised by the Orange Revolution, Europe’s leaders would do better to look at their own responsibilities, writes Gideon Rachman
How the bottom fell out of ‘old’ Davos
Uneasily conscious of a shift of power to the east, western leaders are questioning ideas that used to underpin Davos. Dominant themes at last week’s World Economic Forum included a backlash against high finance and doubts about free trade. Is this a temporary or a permanent change, wonders Gideon Rachman
Leadership questions shape Davos talks
The big political debates at the World Economic Forum are being shaped by two events: Barack Obama’s efforts to re-launch his presidency and the conference on Afghanistan
When nations turn into hoarders
Across the world, major powers are moving to secure access to energy, food and, in some cases, water. Faith in a trade-based system, with nations buying what they need on open, world markets, is giving ground to an effort by individual nations to secure supplies, writes Gideon Rachman
Why America and China will clash
US dogma has it that economic growth in China will lead to political liberalisation. So far, it has not – as the clash with Google has shown. Once this assumption is dropped, pressure will rise in the US to disengage, writes Gideon Rachman
Bankruptcy could be good for America
If the US keeps running huge deficits, sooner or later the country will start flirting with bankruptcy. Oddly, it might be best if the crisis came sooner rather than later, writes Gideon Rachman. For a surprising number of countries, running out of money has been the prelude to national renewal
