Views from abroad.

• Position: Political cartoons

Political cartoons are one of Upfront's most popular features. Most of the ones you see on our cartoons page in each issue are drawn by Americans, but our World Week supplement looks at what cartoonists around the world are thinking about.

You'll probably find some of these cartoons easy to understand; others you may have to ponder a bit to figure out. Why, for example, do you think the Romanian cartoonist who created the image at left portrays Russia's President Vladimir Putin and President Obama playing soccer with the world? How does Obama seem to feel about the match?

For each cartoon, consider its country of origin and ask yourself: Why might the cartoonist think this way about the topic?

Below are some devices cartoonists often use to express their ideas:

Symbol: an object that is widely understood to stand for a country, an institution, or an idea. Uncle Sam, for example, with his top hat and beard, is a well-known symbol of the U.S.

Caricature: an exaggerated drawing of a person, either to poke fun or to make the subject instantly recognizable.

Hyperbole: a deliberate exaggeration, often for comic effect.

Irony: a situation or statement that differs from what is expected. Examples: a fight breaking out at a world peace conference, or someone ill saying "I feel great."

FROM ROMANIA

PAVEL CONSTANTINE * CAGLE CARTOONS

Iran Nukes Deal

FROM Singapore

HENG * LIANHE ZAOBAO * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

FROM United Kingdom (U.K.)

KAL * THE ECONOMIST (U.K.) * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

Climate Change

FROM Canada

TAB * THE CALGARY SUN * CABLE CARTOONS

FROM China

LUOJIE * CHINA DAILY * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

North Korea

FROM Nicaragua

MOLINA * EL NUEVO DIARIO * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

FROM Israel

KICHA * ISRAEL CHANNEL 1 * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

N.S.A Spying

FROM The Philippines

MANNY FRANCISCO * CABLE CARTOONS

FROM Austria

OLIVER & DER STANDARD * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

Washing Gridlock

FROM United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.)

PARESH NASH * THE KHALEEJ TIMES * CAGLE CARTOONS

FROM Ireland

TURNER * THE IRISH TIMES * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

Cartoon Analysis

1. What do the elephant and the donkey represent in the cartoon above from the U.A.E.? Why are they arguing?

2. Why is the U.S. government depicted as a bus, and what might be...