The best International Relations newsletters

Middle East Uncovered publishes essays, analysis and reported pieces by regional writers and experts on political and social developments across the Middle East. Recent issues cover Syria's political transition, Palestinian refugees returning to ruined camps, and a Bahraini perspective on Iranian attacks on the Gulf.

A paid-subscription newsletter tracking the escalation trajectory of the Iran war, with frameworks for judging shifts in conflict dynamics and their strategic and economic effects. Recent issues analyse US-Israel-Iran signalling, Strait of Hormuz reopening proposals and Russian mediation with a clear forecasting angle.

Trita Parsi, executive VP of the Quincy Institute, writes about the US-Iran conflict, stalled negotiations, and the risk of wider regional escalation involving Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. The newsletter offers his analysis of Iranian strategy, cross-posted interviews and recordings of paid subscriber Q&A sessions.

An academic-interview newsletter on politics, democracy, development and equality, pairing long Q&A conversations with political scientists and commentators on Israeli elections, Fukuyama's recognition theory and AI under authoritarian rule. Readers get expert perspectives and context on how political systems succeed or fail.

A newsletter by a veteran foreign correspondent covering New Zealand's foreign policy, diplomacy and place in global politics, mixing original reporting and interviews with curated reading. Issues include political profiles, election-season analysis and a weekly round-up of international news.

This newsletter draws on declassified government and intelligence documents to examine how diplomats and spy agencies shaped modern world order. Recent issues cover the Blair-Bush relationship around 9/11 and the Iraq War, and the Bush-Putin partnership.

A foreign policy newsletter by journalist Elise Labott offering commentary and analysis on global affairs, including the Ukraine war, the Middle East and women in political leadership. Issues mix opinionated takes on current events with interviews with authors and experts.

A Chinese international relations scholar writes about how China's institutions study the world, including the history of Fudan's Center for American Studies, plus essays on Chinese writing and U.S.-China relations. Readers get insider observation and analysis on who funds knowledge about other countries and how much evidence is allowed to change official views.

The Signal is a current affairs newsletter with daily briefings on international politics, Europe, North America and Turkey, plus long-form features, book and music picks. Readers get a curated digest of world news and a few in-depth analytical pieces, with much of the substance behind a membership paywall.

A newsletter and companion podcast by a former four-time British Ambassador, featuring interviews with senior diplomats and officials about leading and working in diplomacy. Readers get episode summaries with timestamps, short diplomatic news items, and a paid tier with extra guides and behind-the-scenes material.

A personal newsletter on geopolitics and history, written with a sharp, opinionated voice that critiques Trump administration policy on Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, and the historical roots of food-crisis fears. It mixes current events, historical analogy and a skeptical take on doomsday predictions.

Glenn Diesen's Substack publishes video interviews and podcast-style conversations with geopolitical commentators on US decline, Russia, Ukraine, NATO and the EU. Each issue is mostly a short description plus a link-heavy support and merchandise footer, with the substance delivered through the embedded discussion.

Simplicius's Garden of Knowledge is a Substack newsletter offering pro-Russian-leaning geopolitical commentary on the Ukraine war, western diplomacy and conflict events. Readers get a running take on peace negotiations, Ukrainian strikes inside Russia and reporting-based claims about US and European policy toward Kyiv.