What We’re Reading
Preeti Aroon “The World Isn’t So Dark,” by Fareed Zakaria in Newsweek and the Washington Post. To reveal key differences in how the U.S. presidential candidates approach foreign policy, Zarakia says they should be asked, “What kind of a world do we live in?” He says Obama’s vision is closer to reality and argues that ...
Preeti Aroon
Preeti Aroon
“The World Isn’t So Dark,” by Fareed Zakaria in Newsweek and the Washington Post. To reveal key differences in how the U.S. presidential candidates approach foreign policy, Zarakia says they should be asked, “What kind of a world do we live in?” He says Obama’s vision is closer to reality and argues that since World War II, the United States has tended to make strategic mistakes by exaggerating threats.
Elizabeth Dickinson
“Africa: U.S.A./Africa – New Policy Prospects?” This collection of essays and opinions from Africa highlights the successes and failures of the United States’ policy towards the continent, and looks forward to what changes or advances a new president might bring. The verdict? Obama-mania has hit the African continent. But when it comes to trade, Darfur, Somalia, repressive regimes, immigration, military cooperation, human rights, and health, he’s got work to do. And wow, lots of it, it seems.
Rebecca Frankel
“Is Pornography Adultery?” Atlantic senior editor Ross Douthat offers a nuanced look at how the Internet Age phenomenon of easy-access pornography fits in with the age-old issue of adultery. How many clicks does it take to qualify as an adulterer? And could simply embracing online porn save the institution of marriage?
Blake Hounshell
“The Terrible Lessons of Bear Stearns.” Finance blogger Barry Ritholtz compares the cases of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers. Lesson No. 1: “Modest incompetence is insufficient — if you merely destroy your own company, you won’t get rescued. You have to threaten to bring down the entire global financial system.” Good to know.
Joshua Keating
“Transcript of Dmitry Medvedev’s Meeting with the Participants in the International Club Valdai.” The full text of Medvedev’s surprisingly candid talk last Friday with a visiting group of international political scientists (at a famous Moscow department store for some reason) is well worth a read. The president answers some fairly tough questions on foreign-policy hot topics and at one point admits that “in Russia unfortunately there is no real understanding of the value of law.”
More from Foreign Policy
No, the World Is Not Multipolar
The idea of emerging power centers is popular but wrong—and could lead to serious policy mistakes.
America Prepares for a Pacific War With China It Doesn’t Want
Embedded with U.S. forces in the Pacific, I saw the dilemmas of deterrence firsthand.
America Can’t Stop China’s Rise
And it should stop trying.
The Morality of Ukraine’s War Is Very Murky
The ethical calculations are less clear than you might think.
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