Continuing on Moises Naim's theme of fixing double standards in American foreign policy (mentioned in my last post), Brookings Institution press recently published a book called Alliance Curse: How America Lost the Third World. Authored by Hilton L. Root, a professor at George Mason University's School of Public Policy, the book argues that US policy […]
These, days, advice for the next President is not hard to come by. Everyone seems to be urging the next President to tackle issue x or cause y. But some advice stands out more than others. In particular, the opinion of two respected voices in the field of diplomacy is worth mentioning: First, in an […]
The United Nations Foundation released a public opinion poll this week, focusing on Americans’ foreign policy priorities. The headline: “New Opinion Research Shows American Voters Reject “Going It Alone”, Embrace International Cooperation.” From the press release: “An underlying shift is occurring in American attitudes regarding the international role and priorities of the United States. Voters across the party […]
With the aid of hindsight, we can now understand that the Russia-Georgia conflict over South Ossetia wasthe product of miscalculations and misperceptions on the part of both the Georgian and Russian leadership. But to many the conflict reveals much about the current state of international affairs, and provides a base from which the US can calculate its future foreign […]
The Democratic Party just released its party platform titled “Renewing America's Promise.” It will officially be released at the Democratic national Convention in Denver next week. This report encompasses the party's approach to a whole slew of issues affecting the nation. Watch a party representative discuss the report at an event held at the New […]
This post collects sage advice for US policy toward the Middle East: one aspect of US foreign policy that could really use a jump-start. First, a new analysis by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Middle East Scholars Marina Ottoway and Mohammed Herzallah assess the diplomatic efforts of Arab regimes seeking to fill the power vacuum left by the absence […]
New York Times veteran columnist Nicholas Kristof weighed in this weekend on what he calls a “cancer in American foreign policy.” He lists the symptoms: “1) The United States has more musicians in its military bands than it has diplomats. 2) This year alone, the United States Army will add about 7,000 soldiers to its […]
It's not too late to dig into some summer reading. If you have a hankering to read something intellectually dense, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) can help. At the request of the Undersecretary of State for Public Affairs, has put together a “Foreign Affairs Professional Reading List.“ The list aims “to serve as a […]
The American Academy of Diplomacy, in partnership with the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) held a panel discussion back in April at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs in Minneapolis to discuss “diplomatic engagement with non-governmental organizations and civil society to promote effective democratic governance.” The event's featured […]
Joe Biden, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, held a hearing last week on an important topic in American foreign policy. In Biden's words the hearing was called to explore the following question: “In expanding the role of our armed forces, have we diminished our civilian capabilities – our diplomatic and development assistance institutions‚ and […]
Looks like Defence Secretary Gates’ call for more support for US “soft power” tools is a view also shared by those under his command. A new poll of US military officers conducted by the US Global Leadership Campaign shows that they overwhelmingly support diplomatic tools to addressing the variety of security challenges the US faces. A majority of […]
Just released from Agence France Presse: “Defense Secretary Robert Gates called for greater funding for U.S. diplomacy and foreign development aid July 15, acknowledging concerns about a “creeping militarization” of U.S. foreign policy. “Broadly speaking, when it comes to America's engagement with the rest of the world, it is important that the military is – […]
(Bush and Singh at the G-8 Meeting this week in Tokyo) The biggest headline emanating from this week's G-8 summit in Tokyo had nothing to do with poverty alleviation, or climate change. Rather it had to do with negotiations between President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about a nuclear deal three years in the making. Referred to as […]
Former Secretaries of State James A. Baker III (1989 to 1992) and Warren Christopher (1993 to 1997), wearing their hats as the co-chairmen of the National War Powers Commission, authored an op-ed in the New York Times yesterday, arguing on behalf of the findings of their commission's recent report. They write: “The most agonizing decision we make […]
Former Ambassador Chas Freeman addressed the World Affairs Council in Washington, DC last week. The title of his talk: “America In the World: Magoo at the Helm.” His remarks provide a sobering, yet extremely important account of the changes afloat in the international realm. I’ll let the Ambassador speak for himself. “A great many governments abroad now fear that Washington […]