Foreign Exchanges | Derek Davison | Substack

The IMF and the Limits of Sovereigntism

The Sahelian juntas have separated themselves from much of the Western establishment, with one glaring exception. A different story is playing out in…

May 7 • Alex Thurston

World Roundups

World roundup: June 1 2026

Stories from Lebanon, Senegal, Colombia, and elsewhere

Jun 2 • Derek Davison

World roundup: May 30-31 2026

Stories from Iran, South Korea, Colombia, and elsewhere

May 31 • Derek Davison

World roundup: May 29 2026

Stories from Israel-Palestine, Romania, Guatemala, and elsewhere

May 30 • Derek Davison

World roundup: May 28 2026

Stories from Iran, China, Sudan, and elsewhere

May 29 • Derek Davison

World roundup: June 2 2026

Stories from Iran, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, and elsewhere

13 hrs ago • Derek Davison

FX Columns

The IMF and the Limits of Sovereigntism

The Sahelian juntas have separated themselves from much of the Western establishment, with one glaring exception. A different story is playing out in…

May 7 • Alex Thurston

The Cult of Hercules-Mammon is Back

Donald Trump’s Attack on Venezuela and Latin America

Jan 13 • Alex Aviña

The Day That (Sort of) Changed Everything

Some thoughts on America, 9/11, and surviving bad times.

Nov 27, 2025 • Derek Davison

Trump, Nigeria, and “Christian Genocide”

Donald Trump is threatening to invade Nigeria on dubious claims of a genocide against the country's Christian community. Here's why the Christian Right…

Nov 6, 2025 • Alex Thurston

Sex and the Church

Review of Lower Than The Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity, by Diarmaid MacCulloch

Oct 14, 2025 • Samuel Clowes Huneke

Foreign Exchanges: the Podcast

The Wild World of Medieval Women, with Eleanor Janega

Foreign Exchanges goes medieval to learn about what life was like for women and how their place in society has (and has not) changed.

Dec 18, 2024 • Derek Davison

1:20:35

Assyria and Its Empire, with Eckart Frahm

Understanding "The World's First Empire."

Jul 1, 2024 • Derek Davison

1:17:35

Empires of the Steppes, with Kenneth Harl

The history of the many peoples who menaced, and connected, societies across Eurasia.

Mar 18, 2024 • Derek Davison

1:06:42

"Unfreedom" in Early Islamic Society, with Elizabeth Urban

Listen now (58 min) | What positions did slaves and freedmen occupy during the formative period of Islamic history?

Jun 27, 2023 • Derek Davison

58:05

1:25:27

How to Invent a Renaissance, with Ada Palmer

A discussion of the Renaissance and why it looms so large European history.

Jul 7, 2025 • Derek Davison

Recent posts

World roundup: June 2 2026

Stories from Iran, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, and elsewhere

13 hrs ago • Derek Davison

World roundup: June 1 2026

Stories from Lebanon, Senegal, Colombia, and elsewhere

Jun 2 • Derek Davison

💬 Ask Derek Anything for June 1-7, 2026

Our weekly Foreign Exchanges discussion thread!

Jun 1 • Derek Davison

World roundup: May 30-31 2026

Stories from Iran, South Korea, Colombia, and elsewhere

May 31 • Derek Davison

The Fortnight in Review: May 17-29, 2026

This Israeli military renews its offensive in southern Lebanon, a rare strain of Ebola spreads across the Democratic Republic of Congo, and more

May 30 • Ashley Gate

World roundup: May 29 2026

Stories from Israel-Palestine, Romania, Guatemala, and elsewhere

May 30 • Derek Davison

Foreign Exchanges

Foreign Exchanges

Daily roundups of world news and thoughtful commentary on US foreign policy.

Recommendations

Weltinnenpolitik

Nicholas Mulder

Roy Edroso Breaks It Down

Roy Edroso

Everything Briefing

Jacob Redman

NonZero Newsletter

Robert Wright

Stephen Semler

Subscribe

Daily roundups of world news and thoughtful commentary on US foreign policy.

About Archive Recommendations Sitemap

Foreign Exchanges

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts