Clinton ‘quietly revolutionizing’ U.S. foreign policy

In yesterday’s Washington Post, FP blogger David J. Rothkopf wrote a lengthy op-ed about how Secretary Clinton is "quietly revolutionizing" U.S. foreign policy, "overseeing what may be the most profound changes in U.S. foreign policy in two decades — a transformation that may render the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush mere side ...

In yesterday's Washington Post, FP blogger David J. Rothkopf wrote a lengthy op-ed about how Secretary Clinton is "quietly revolutionizing" U.S. foreign policy, "overseeing what may be the most profound changes in U.S. foreign policy in two decades -- a transformation that may render the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush mere side notes in a long transition to a meaningful post-Cold War worldview."

Rothkopf writes that Clinton is tackling many future-oriented issues:

--How to deal with nonstate actors

In yesterday’s Washington Post, FP blogger David J. Rothkopf wrote a lengthy op-ed about how Secretary Clinton is "quietly revolutionizing" U.S. foreign policy, "overseeing what may be the most profound changes in U.S. foreign policy in two decades — a transformation that may render the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush mere side notes in a long transition to a meaningful post-Cold War worldview."

Rothkopf writes that Clinton is tackling many future-oriented issues:

–How to deal with nonstate actors

–Moving from Madeleine Albright’s idea that the United States is an "indispensable nation" to recognizing "the indispensability of collaborating with others"

–Prioritizing engagement with emerging powers such as China, India, and Russia (Rothkopf says Clinton has sounded the "death knell for the G-8 as the head table of the global community.")

–Harnessing the power of information technology (remember text "Swat"?)

–Giving prominence to women’s issues (creating the position of ambassador at large for women’s issues and bringing attention to rape in Congo).

–Reviewing the State Department’s priorities with its new Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review

The list goes on, but Rothkopf makes clear the Clinton is revolutionizing U.S. foreign policy in her own quiet way while many others are simply "missing the forest for the pantsuits."

Preeti Aroon was copy chief at Foreign Policy from 2009 to 2016 and was an FP assistant editor from 2007 to 2009. Twitter: @pjaroonFP

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