The Atlantic’s global coverage is driven by curiosity about the world, the forces that drive it, and the people who inhabit it. The best global stories pose questions that transcend borders, and look for answers in surprising places. They aim not just to inform, but to help readers think deeply, again, or anew about topics as varied as the Syrian Civil War to how expressing love and thanks differs from one place to another.
Our favorite stories stick in the mind long after any particular news cycle has ended; they shape a reader’s outlook on the events and ideas that affect how people experience the world. Is American-style small talk really necessary? What’s actually in the Magna Carta? Why do many Latin American countries make it illegal not to vote?
We’re fairly flexible on the format these stories take; they can, for example, be reported essays, personal reflections, or history lessons. We’re deeply interested in policy and geopolitics, but the planet is so much richer than the decisions of the powerful. Since it’s ultimately human beings at the receiving end, experiencing the world’s surprising gifts and devastating flaws, working out common challenges and learning how to live together, we want to know what they’re up to—and how we can learn from each other.