south east Asian travel

Few things are simple about international relations. The world's most studied state-to-state interactions are the result of decades, if not centuries, of political decision-making that labels some states allies and others enemies. But international policy analyst Chris Fair sees a simpler way to understand why some countries are the way they are: the food they eat. Her new book, "Cuisines of the Axis of Evil and Other Irritating States: A Dinner Party Approach to International Relations," Fair argues that a nation's cuisine is the perfect lens to view what its people think is important and, as a result, how its leaders will act. As such, she says, one can better understand particularly indefensible states, like the flagship Axis of Evil members—Iran, Iraq and until recently North Korea—and a handful of others, including India, Israel and the U.S. —all of which can be the source of political (and gastronomic) tension.

With food necessary for survival and also the source of pride, Fair looks at what people consider edible around the world to how they form collective opinions