🌍 Global · Evidence-based · No tribalism

The world's hardest questions,
mapped clearly.

Acta takes contested questions — on war, politics, science, and society — and maps where the evidence actually points, across the full political spectrum and every major world region.

All questions
Middle East · War · 2026
Were the U.S. and Israel justified in initiating military action against Iran?
No Fast-moving · FT · NYT · Foreign Affairs · Der Spiegel · Die Welt · Japan Times · Al Jazeera · Dawn
Geopolitics · Security · 2026
Is there a real risk of World War Three soon?
Real, not imminent Fast-moving · TIME · Stimson · EU ISS · Jane's · UnHerd superforecasters · NYT
War · Geopolitics · Ethics
Should the West continue supporting Ukraine — and is it best for Ukrainians?
Yes — toward realistic outcome Fast-moving · Guardian · Telegraph · NYT · Politico · Le Figaro · El País · Folha · Dawn
International Law · Gaza · Human Rights
Does Israel's conduct in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide?
Legally contested Fast-moving · Haaretz · Al Jazeera · Guardian · Telegraph · Le Monde · Folha · Dawn · ICJ · UN Commission
Geopolitics · Asia · International Law
Does China have the right to retake control of Taiwan?
Deeply contested Fast-moving · NYT · Economist · SCMP · Al Jazeera · Der Spiegel · Le Monde · El País
Finance · Technology · Markets
When we tax the rich more or cap capital gains, do we actually hurt innovation and job creation?
Genuinely split Fast-moving · Economist · FT · NYT · Fortune · Yale · Goldman · JPMorgan
Geopolitics · International Law · History
When is it legitimate to force regime change — and does it ever work?
Rarely — almost never works Foreign Affairs · Guardian · FT · Telegraph · Dawn · El País · Harvard Belfer · Cato
Society · Culture · Policy
Is mass immigration destroying European culture — and what should we think about it?
No — but anxiety deserves honest answers Guardian · Telegraph · Le Figaro · NYT · El País · Folha · Dawn · Brookings · Cato
Politics · Europe · Populism
Is the European far right aligned with MAGA or with European interests?
Both — now in conflict Foreign Policy · NYT · Guardian · Le Monde · Der Spiegel · Euronews · DW · Fortune
Health · Policy · Society
Is universal publicly-funded healthcare better for society than market-based systems?
Yes — by nearly every measure Guardian · Telegraph · Japan Times · Der Spiegel · Le Monde · Folha · The Hindu · Commonwealth Fund
Economics · Inequality · Tax Policy
When we tax the rich more or cap capital gains, do we actually hurt innovation and job creation?
Tax more — innovation myth Economist · FT · Guardian · Telegraph · NYT · Reuters · Folha · Le Figaro · Zucman/NBER
Technology · Economy · Work
Can AI actually deliver the productivity gains it's promising — or is it hype?
Task yes, macro no Economist · FT · NYT · Fortune · SF Fed · NBER · MIT · Wharton
Work · AI · Young People
Will young people pursuing white-collar jobs have jobs in the future?
Depends which job Atlantic · Guardian · Fortune · NYT · Economist · WEF · El País · Folha
Public Health · Drug Policy · Society
Is harm reduction the most effective way to deal with drug problems for society?
Yes — with caveats Lancet · NIH/PMC · WHO · UNAIDS · Addiction journal · Atlantic · New Yorker · HRI
Society · Law · Human Rights
Should sex work be legalised?
Decriminalise — model matters Guardian · Telegraph · NYT · Economist · El País · Folha · Dawn · Al Jazeera · UN/WHO
Latin America · Security · Public Policy
Is police repression the most effective way to manage violence in Latin America?
Neither alone works NYT · Guardian · El País · Folha · HRW · CSIS · British Journal of Criminology · ICG
Economics · Social Policy · Work
Do social welfare programmes reduce the incentive to work?
Modestly — design matters NBER 2024 RCT · NYT · Telegraph · Guardian · El País · Folha · OECD · Nordic evidence
Economics · Development · Trade
Can governments build strong economies through protectionism and industrial policy?
Export-oriented yes, protectionism no Economist · FT · Telegraph · NYT · El País · Folha · IMF · AEI
Culture · Public Spending · Society
Should governments spend on culture and arts when people still lack food and healthcare?
Yes — trade-off is mostly false Guardian · Telegraph · NYT · Economist · Folha · El País · WHO · Lancet · NEA
Culture · Museums · Public Policy
Should museums be free?
Yes — but free isn't enough Guardian · Telegraph · NYT · NPR · El País · Folha · Der Spiegel · Le Figaro · Applied Philosophy
Culture · Ethics · Art
Do we have to separate the art from the person?
Can — not obligated Guardian · Telegraph · Atlantic · Le Monde · Haaretz · El País · The Conversation · NYT
Science · Genetics · Society
Do biological human races exist?
No — variation ≠ race BBC · Guardian · NYT · Der Spiegel · PNAS · Nature · Human Genome Project