Browse previous issues of the free Foreign Affairs e-newsletter. To sign up, please click here.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Survivor
November 23, 2005
With the historic withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza under his belt, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made another bold move this week: he announced that he will quit the conservative Likud party he helped found to start a new, centrist party and called for the dissolution of Knesset to precipitate general elections ahead of schedule.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Burning Down the House
November 9, 2005
The riots of disaffected Muslim youth in France stem from domestic socioeconomic divisions rather than a global clash of civilizations, and thus have more in common with the periodic eruptions in South Central Los Angeles than the recent subway bombings in London.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Fischer Hooked
October 26, 2005
Germany's recent elections have resulted in a changing of the political guard in Berlin, with one of the casualties being the charismatic foreign minister Joschka Fischer.
ISSUE PREVIEW
Is Iraq the Next Vietnam?
October 20, 2005
In the November/December issue of Foreign Affairs, former Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird speaks out for the first time in many years. During Richard Nixon's first term, he argues, the United States managed to withdraw American forces while creating a viable South Vietnamese army. According to Laird, the same approach could work in Iraq today.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
The Last Pandemic — and the Next One
October 12, 2005
Last week's announcement that the 1918 influenza pandemic was caused by a virus that jumped from birds to humans has increased fears that another avian flu crisis might be looming.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Thermidor in Ukraine?
September 28, 2005
The recent dissolution of the government in Ukraine has prompted fears that President Viktor Yushchenko might be straying from the precepts of the Orange Revolution he helped lead last year. But Adrian Karatnycky, who reported on that revolution in Foreign Affairs a few months ago, explains in a new postscript why there's little cause for concern.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Last Responders
September 14, 2005
Hurricane Katrina's ravages in the Gulf Coast earlier this month have left many foreign policy experts questioning the Department of Homeland Security's capacity to prevent or limit the damages of a large-scale terrorist attack on the United States.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Constituting Iraq
August 31, 2005
If Iraq's elections last January were inspiring, the wrangling over the drafting of its constitution has been disquieting. After months of negotiations, Sunni leaders rejected the charter last week and are now calling on their followers throughout the country to vote against it in a planned mid-October referendum.
ISSUE PREVIEW
China: From the Inside Out
August 22, 2005
In the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs, writers from the mainland, Hong Kong and Singapore analyze the rapid growth of China and how it affects U.S. foreign policy.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Giving India a Pass
August 17, 2005
Last month the Bush administration announced plans to sell India civilian nuclear technology, prompting a firestorm of criticism from nonproliferation advocates.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Public Agenda's Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index
August 3, 2005
American thinking about U.S. relations with the Islamic world is a disquieting mix of high anxiety and growing uncertainly about current policy according to a new national tracking survey conducted by Public Agenda in conjunction with Foreign Affairs.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
A Fine Balance
July 20, 2005
In the opening months of its second term, the Bush administration has only intensified its rhetoric on the importance of bringing democracy to authoritarian states, not least as a way of improving American security.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Iraq: Exit 43?
July 6, 2005
As the insurgency drags on and casualties mount, American public support for the Iraq operation has begun to decline.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Changing the Guard, Keeping the Nuclear Card
June 22, 2005
As Iran prepares for the second round of its presidential election, Western states are hoping for a winner who might be willing to negotiate an end to Tehran's nuclear program.
ISSUE PREVIEW
The Next Pandemic?
June 20, 2005
On newsstands June 29, the July/August 2005 issue of Foreign Affairs features a special set of articles focusing on the deadly avian influenza virus — and the preparations being made by governments and international organizations to deal with the possible global pandemic.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
The Europe That Can Say No
June 08, 2005
Last week French and Dutch voters killed the new European constitution, but opposition to the ambitious treaty had been on
the rise among the peoples of many EU states as well.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
The Bulldozer Reverses Course
May 25, 2005
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has surprised many with his move to withdraw from the Gaza Strip — including veteran Haaretz correspondent Aluf Benn, who profiled Sharon for Foreign Affairs three years ago.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Bonfire of the Andes
May 11, 2005
The fall of Ecuadorian president Lucio Gutiérrez last month came as no surprise: it was just the latest in a series of incidents that have highlighted growing unrest in the turbulent southern crescent of the Andes.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Unmade in China
April 27, 2005
Massive exports of cheap textiles from China have recently threatened to crush domestic markets in the United States and Europe. The flood of goods has revived fears about the growing giant's competitive advantage and calls for protectionism to limit it.
ISSUE PREVIEW
An Arab Spring?
April 20, 2005
On newsstands April 26, the May/June 2005 issue of Foreign Affairs features essays by Fouad Ajami and Bernard Lewis examining the prospects for democratization in the Middle East.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Hezbollah's Dilemma
April 13, 2005
As an increasing number of Lebanese have been pushing for Syria to end its occupation of their country, Hezbollah has found itself caught between the demands of its patron in Damascus and the necessities of domestic politics in Beirut. The Party of God, long both a revolutionary terrorist group and a Lebanese political and social movement, may be forced to choose a single identity once and for all.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Proud to Be a North American
March 30, 2005
Last week, the leaders of the United States, Canada, and Mexico committed their nations to an extension of NAFTA called the North American Alliance for Prosperity and Security. The leaders' pledge for greater cooperation in a range of different areas could be an important step toward a true North American community.
SPECIAL EDITION
George Kennan, 1904 — 2005
March 21, 2005
To commemorate the passing on Thursday of George Kennan, one of the most important foreign-policy thinkers of the twentieth century, Foreign Affairs has made available a comprehensive selection of his writings from this magazine. Covering a span of 50 years, the selections begin with the seminal "X" article of 1947, "The Sources of Soviet Conduct."
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Is Palestine the Pivot?
March 16, 2005
Does the Bush administration deserve credit for the recent democratic flowering in the Middle East? Writing in Foreign Affairs two years ago, Princeton University's Michael Scott Doran argued against those who claimed that the Palestinian issue was the crucial pivot on which Middle Eastern events turned.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Pharaoh Blinks?
March 2, 2005
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced last week that for the first time in the country's history, the next presidential elections would be open to candidates from several different parties. Given Mubarak's 23 years of soft authoritarian rule, the statement came as a surprise and might constitute a first step toward democratic reform. Or it might not.
ISSUE PREVIEW
Taking on Tehran
February 23, 2005
On newsstands March 1, the March/April 2005 issue of Foreign Affairs features an essay by Kenneth Pollack and Ray Takeyh proposing a comprehensive package of threats and rewards to steer Iran off the nuclear path.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
The Tsunami Orphans
February 16, 2005
Vast numbers of the children who survived last December's tsunami are now orphans who need to be placed in new families. Unfortunately, the legal standards that govern international adoption could keep them from finding loving homes abroad.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Operation Iraqi Freedom
February 2, 2005
Iraq's elections this week were a momentous event, for Iraqis, the Middle East more generally, and American foreign policy. Still, it is unclear just what government they will bring and what their ultimate significance for the country's future will be.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Peace by Piece
January 19, 2005
Last week, the government in Khartoum and rebels in the south finally signed an agreement to end Sudan's decades-long civil war, paving the way for the south's eventual independence. Unfortunately, the deal addresses only half of the country's problems, as another war between Khartoum and other rebels devastates the western province of Darfur.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Can the UN Change?
January 5, 2005
Rocked by the oil-for-food scandal and unprecendented tension with the U.S. government, the United Nations took a serious beating in 2004, prompting Secretary-General Kofi Annan to call last year the organization's "annus horribilis." Following on the institutional crisis surrounding the Iraq war, these difficulties have prompted several rounds of soul-searching that could lead to extensive reforms.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS: SPECIAL DOUBLE ISSUE
The Next AIDS Outbreak
December 22, 2004
After decimating sub-Saharan Africa, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is now reaching alarming proportions in Eurasia. Earlier this month, the UN's top HIV/AIDS official said the epidemic was "perilously close to a tipping point" in China, India, and Russia, where, although it is still confined to high-risk populations and geographically contained, it is on the verge of an exponential outbreak.
A Crescent Among Stars
December 22, 2004
Last week, the heads of state of the European Union agreed to start talks to consider letting Turkey join the union's ranks. In a new postscript, David Phillips writes that last week's decision is a remarkable victory for the reformist Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but that Erdogan will have to score many more before Turkey can finally become fully European.
ISSUE PREVIEW
Bush and the World, Take 2
December 20, 2004
On newsstands January 4, a special post-election issue of Foreign Affairs considers the major foreign policy challenges facing the Bush administration as it starts its second term.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Turkey Time?
December 8, 2004
The EU has already admitted ten new members this year, but next week it will consider whether to open negotiations for the accession of Turkey. Although the secular government in Ankara has already pushed through remarkable reforms to bring Turkey in line with EU requirements, many are not yet convinced that the vast Muslim country can blend in with the EU's Christian majorities.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Taming Tehran
November 24, 2004
Last week, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom got Iran to agree to suspend its uranium-enrichment program — a critical step, many hope, toward preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Intelligence Reform Stumbles — Again
November 10, 2004
Following the failure to stop the September 11, 2001 attacks or find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, a fundamental overhaul of the nation's intelligence services seemed in the offing.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS: SPECIAL EDITION
The End of an Era
November 4, 2004
Yasir Arafat's long career as a crucial player in the modern history of the Middle East is finally coming to a close. For decades Arafat has been synonymous with the Palestinian struggle, leading his community in war, peace, and the nebulous realm in between.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Trick or Treat?
October 27, 2004
The Bush administration surprised many last year by pressing for and winning unprecedented funding for combating the spread of HIV/AIDS.
ISSUE PREVIEW
Iraq and U.S. Legitimacy
October 21, 2004
On newsstands November 2, the November/December issue of Foreign Affairs examines the United States' post-Iraq credibility problem. Also, Council Fellow Adam Segal warns of the Asian challenge to U.S. technological supremacy.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Warming to Kyoto
October 6, 2004
Last week, the Russian government announced that it would move to ratify the Kyoto Protocol capping emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Russia's decision to join the 120 countries that have already ratified it paves the way for the 1997 agreement to finally come into force.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS: SPECIAL DOUBLE ISSUE
Arming Kabul, Disarming Cabals
September 22, 2004
Next month, Afghanistan will have its first free presidential and parliamentary elections since the fall of the Taliban--a seminal event for the country.
Putin's Putsch
September 22, 2004
Moscow's fierce war against Chechen insurgents has been plaguing Russia for more than a decade, but with Vladimir Putin's recent centralization of power in the Kremlin in response to the Beslan massacre it is now having profound structural repercussions on Russian democracy.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Over Where?
September 8, 2004
The Bush administration recently announced plans to withdraw more than 60,000 U.S. soldiers from Asia and Europe over the next ten years and redeploy some of them to the Middle East and other hotspots. The move is designed to maximize the armed forces' versatility and efficiency in responding to new threats, but some, including John Kerry's advisers, are skeptical.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Tbilisi Blues
August 25, 2004
Tension is rising in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia, as President Mikheil Saakashvili seeks to bring these regions under control while Russia continues to make mischief by supporting the separatists.
ISSUE PREVIEW
The Vulnerable Home Front
August 23, 2004
On newsstands August 31, the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs takes a critical look at the effectiveness of anti-terrorism efforts inside the U.S. itself. Also, in "What Went Wrong in Iraq," former CPA advisor Larry Diamond sets out the consequences of the early blunders in the U.S. occupation.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Total Recall
August 11, 2004
Next week Venezuelan President Hugo Ch·vez will face his biggest political challenge yet: a national referendum to determine whether he should be ousted before the end of his term. Elected in 1998 on the promise of purging the government of corruption, the once-popular president has since alienated business interests, trade unions, and even some of the poor who carried him to power.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
What Happened to the "New Sovereigntism"?
July 28, 2004
In a 2000 article for Foreign Affairs, Peter Spiro examined how advocates of a "new sovereigntism" called for the United States to resist being absorbed into a broader community of international law, standards, and institutions.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
The Power Gap in Gaza
July 14, 2004
In a powerful challenge to Yasir Arafat's authority as Palestinian leader, the armed wing of the Fatah political movement recently called for a comprehensive campaign against corruption in the Palestinian Authority.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Liberal Imperialism, R.I.P.
June 30, 2004
Over the past few years there have been extensive debates about how the United States could use its unprecedented power to deal with failing states and the threats they pose. In a 2002 Foreign Affairs article, Sebastian Mallaby argued that the country should become a modern "empire." Now, he offers some second thoughts.
ISSUE PREVIEW
Rethinking Iraq
June 21, 2004
On newsstands June 29, the July/August 2004 issue of Foreign Affairs assesses Iraq's new realities and sets out a practical agenda for dealing with global warming.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Remembering Tiananmen
June 9, 2004
While tens of thousands held a vigil in Hong Kong last week to mark the 15th anniversary of the crackdown, only handfuls were allowed to gather in Beijing. The disparity suggests that, despite significant liberalization over the past decade, the China's communist government is still intent on containing the development of democracy, especially free speech.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS: SPECIAL DOUBLE ISSUE
The End of the Chalabi Affair?
May 26, 2004
With the dramatic raid on Ahmed Chalabi's Baghdad headquarters last week, the Bush administration's long-running affair with the controversial Iraqi exile leader may finally have ended.
Not So Cheap
May 26, 2004
Despite Saudi Arabia's recent vows to step up its oil production, world oil prices are still flirting with record highs, prompting jitters over global economic recovery.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Washington Orphans Adoption Treaty
May 12, 2004
Bogged down in disputes among domestic adoption agencies, the U.S. government has just delayed implementing the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, perhaps until 2006.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Losing Hearts and Minds
April 28, 2004
Last week the Bush administration essentially endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plans for dealing with the Palestinians. In an article for Foreign Affairs last year, Marc Lynch discussed how the United States could improve its standing in the Arab world. The latest embrace of Sharon will only make that task harder.
ISSUE PREVIEW
Furor Over Outsourcing
April 21, 2004
On newsstands May 3, the May/June 2004 issue of Foreign Affairs leads with an essay by Daniel W. Drezner in which he takes a critical look at the economic data in order to debunk the conventional wisdom about the practice of offshore outsourcing.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Shiites in Revolt
April 14, 2004
The Shiite uprising in Iraq this past week led by radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his militia has shaken leaders from Baghdad to Washington. With unrest continuing in the "Sunni Triangle," American forces are now fighting a two-front insurgency even as they make plans to cede control over the country to Iraqis in a few months.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Monopoly Games
March 31, 2004
By ordering a record fine against Microsoft for abusing its "near monopoly," the European Commission demonstrated once again last week that it is far more suspicious of free-market forces than regulators in the United States.
SPECIAL WEB PREVIEW
The Outsourcing Bogeyman
March 23, 2004
According to the election-year bluster of politicians and pundits, the outsourcing of American jobs to other countries has become a problem of epic proportion.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
3/11
March 17, 2004
Last week's devastating bombings in Madrid may jolt European states into revising their antiterrorism strategies, especially if the attacks turn out to have been orchestrated by al Qaeda.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Tracking Terorrists
March 3, 2004
With U.S. support, Pakistan recently launched an ambitious offensive against al Qaeda and Taliban operatives suspected of hiding along its border with Afghanistan.
ISSUE PREVIEW
Military Matters
February 23, 2004
On newsstands March 3, the March/April 2004 issue of Foreign Affairs features a series of three essays addressing the future of the U.S. military.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Helping Haiti
February 18, 2004
The current uprising against Jean-Bertrand Aristide is more than a political crisis in a country with weak democratic traditions. It's the latest symptom of Haiti's pathological inability to break the cycle of poverty and violence within its borders.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Putin's Chechen Problem
February 11, 2004
According to the Russian government, the Moscow subway bombing that killed 39 commuters last week was the work of Chechen insurgents — something the rebels themselves deny. The attack is a stark reminder that Vladimir Putin, too, is struggling to quell terrorism as Russia's presidential elections near.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Trouble in Tehran
January 27, 2004
This month, Iran's conservative Council of Guardians banned hundreds of candidates from running in next month's parliamentary race, fueling long-standing tensions between stalwart clerics and reformists.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Back from the Brink
January 7, 2004
In a surprise breakthrough this week, India and Pakistan agreed to resume stalled peace talks. The most pressing issue on the agenda will be the disputed territory of Kashmir, over which the two countries have already fought three wars.
ISSUE PREVIEW
Partnership and Principle
December 23, 2003
On newsstands January 6, the January/February 2004 issue of Foreign Affairs leads with an essay by Colin Powell about the strategy behind the Bush administration's foreign policy.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Crime and Punishment
December 17, 2003
Now that Saddam Hussein has been captured, the question is what to do with him. There is general agreement that he should be brought to justice for his crimes, but disagreement over where, how, and under what auspices.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Liberty Strikes Back
December 2, 2003
This week the Department of Homeland Security dropped a controversial program requiring adult men mostly from Arab countries to register with immigration authorities, even after they had lawfully entered the United States.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Disarming the Rogue
November 18, 2003
The North Korea nuclear crisis showed signs of easing recently when—following multilateral negotiations involving China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States—Pyongyang agreed to consider dismantling its nuclear programs in exchange for security guarantees from Washington.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Peace in Sudan
October 28, 2003
This week the government in Khartoum and rebels in the south undertook to end the civil war that has opposed them for half a century and has killed 2 million people since 1983.
ISSUE PREVIEW
China Takes Off
October 21, 2003
On newsstands November 4, the November/December 2003 issue of Foreign Affairs examines China's new diplomatic maturity and its gathering economic strength.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
The Syrian Sphinx
October 15, 2003
Israel's recent air raid into Syria has upset the precarious relations between the two countries and fueled fears of a direct confrontation.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Breaking the Bonds
October 1, 2003
Spurred by Argentina's recent success in renegotiating its staggering foreign debt, Brazil and other Latin American countries saddled with loans are pressuring the IMF to rethink its repayment policies, reviving doubts about the soundness of the global financial order.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Tequila Sunset
September 16, 2003
September's WTO trade talks in Cancun collapsed in acrimony after a new coalition of developing nations denounced rich countries for not lifting protectionist farm subsidies.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
Warming Up to Libya
September 2, 2003
Libya's recent $2.7 billion settlement offer to the families of the victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing should speed the end of UN sanctions against it, and has prompted discussion about the possible lifting of U.S. unilateral sanctions as well.
ISSUE PREVIEW
Bush at Midterm
August 28, 2003
On newsstands August 29, the September/October 2003 issue of Foreign Affairs assesses the diplomatic record of the 43rd president.
BACKGROUND ON THE NEWS
A Long War
July 8, 2003
The recent seizures in Thailand and Georgia of radioactive material apparently intended for sale to terrorists, along with earlier attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco, remind us all of the grave and continuing danger of terrorism.
ISSUE PREVIEW
After Saddam
June 27, 2003
On newsstands June 29, the July/August 2003 issue of Foreign Affairs explores the surprising ramifications of the war in Iraq.
|
