Philip Gourevitch

Franklin asked, "Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens?"

‘Droves’ of German migrants arrived in Pennsylvania in the 1750s and Benjamin Franklin went berserk

Conflict

Founding father Benjamin Franklin railed against the “ignorant” German migrants who settled in Pennsylvania.

France's far-right National Front political party leader Marine Le Pen speaks to journalists as she leaves after a meeting at the Elyseé palace in Paris on January 9, 2015.

How France’s far-right National Front party is seizing the political moment

Global Politics
Rwandan boys watch as a flame is escorted through a Kigali suburb marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide.

Rwandans let their pain and memories erupt as they observe the 20th anniversary of the genocide

Conflict & Justice
A fireman installs the wheelchair of former Rwandan army captain Pascal Simbikangwa before the start of his trial at a Paris court.

Rwanda’s former intel chief, on trial in France, is accused of personally torturing people from his wheelchair

Conflict & Justice
A Rwandan woman carries an umbrella for shade north of the capital Kigali.

Who’s to blame when Rwanda’s exiled spy chief is found dead in South Africa?

Conflict & Justice
Central African Republic

UN peacekeepers are heading into the Central African Republic

Conflict & Justice

The UN will send a force of French and African troops to try to prevent the deepening violence in the Central African Republic. They will be heading into utter chaos.

An ex-Seleka soldier stands guard in Bossangoa, Central African Republic.

France reasserts itself in Africa, with fresh troops to a troubled Central African Republic

Conflict & Justice

France is sending 1,000 troops to the Central African Republic on a peacekeeping mission to help avoid a genocide. New Yorker staff writer Philip Gourevitch says it’s part of a broad effort to re-establish its sphere of influence and reputation in Africa.

How the Rest of the World Views Gun Violence in America

Conflict & Justice

The shootings at Sandy Hook were just four months ago, followed by the bitter gun control debate that came to a head this week. Philip Gourevitch has been thinking about America’s experience with violence and guns.

Is it Time to Intervene in Syria?

All this week The Takeaway has followed the news out of Syria, where a horrific massacre at the hands of Syrian government troops in the village of Houla recently left 108 civilians dead, including a number of children, most murdered at close-point range.    Is it time to intervene in Syria? David Loyn, international development […]

Defining the ‘Tipping Point’ for Intervention in War

All this week The Takeaway has followed the news out of Syria, where a horrific massacre at the hands of Syrian government troops in the village of Houla recently left 108 civilians dead, including a number of children, most murdered at close-point range. UN-Arab League Special Envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad […]