Dispatches

The French seem proud of their sometimes maddening bureaucracy. They did invent the word, after all

In uncertain times it helps to be optimistic. In Israel, as Uri Bram explains, this has spawned a whole culture: “It’ll be alrightism”

It has been blown up repeatedly, but still they come. Nicolas Pelham, The Economist’s Middle East correspondent, visits Café Abu Haloub, a symbol of the city’s resilience

The Egyptian government wants foreign journalists to promote a positive image of its country. So why is it so rude to them?

The Economist’s Washington bureau chief examines how a nation’s character is reflected in its motorcades

It has been blown up repeatedly, but still they come. The Economist’s Middle East correspondent visits Café Abu Haloub, a symbol of the city’s resilience

Danes are said to have a unique recipe for warm and cosy contentment. But it’s much misunderstood

Many of the Syrians who have fled to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan have started companies there. Their business acumen would impress any management consultant

In Nairobi life-admin is a job in itself. The Economist’s Africa correspondent argues that it helps to keep poor countries poor

For such an advanced country, it has surprisingly old-fashioned views