World Columnists

The FT's foreign correspondents today listed the most influential columnist of the country they write from, each with a brief two-paragraph description. Most columnists are local celebrities and virtually unknown in the US: but some of their descriptions seemed to fit --in different ways-- some usually unflattering aspect of the national character. 

In France it is Nicolas Bavarez (declinologue), in Australia Alan Jones (middle of the road fascism)  in Russia Mikhail Leontiev (bearded and disheveled), in Iran Hussein Shariatmadari (careful), in China Hu Shuli (scandal lady), in Japan Soichiro Tawara (forthright yet ambiguous) and in South Africa Meletsi Mbeki (brother of the president).

Two surprises: the US's most influential columnist apparently is Charles Krauthhammer, while India's is our man Tom Friedman.