Michael Hirsh

Michael Hirsh is a columnist for Foreign Policy. He is the author of two books: Capital Offense: How Washington’s Wise Men Turned America’s Future Over to Wall Street and At War With Ourselves: Why America Is Squandering Its Chance to Build a Better World.

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Articles by Michael Hirsh
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on support for Israel and Ukraine in an address from the Oval Office in Washington.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on support for Israel and Ukraine in an address from the Oval Office in Washington.

Biden’s ‘Inflection Points’ Don’t Add Up

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a dark overcoat over a shirt and tie, is seen from the shoulders up as he stands against bare branches and a wintry sky.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a dark overcoat over a shirt and tie, is seen from the shoulders up as he stands against bare branches and a wintry sky.

Netanyahu’s Road to War

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
A crowd of people walk down Takeshita Street in the Harajuku area of Tokyo.
A crowd of people walk down Takeshita Street in the Harajuku area of Tokyo.

Does Japan’s Economy Prove That Neoliberalism Lost?

Essay
Michael Hirsh
Former U.S. President Donald Trump points to the audience as he arrives to speak at the Road to Majority Policy Conference in Washington.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump points to the audience as he arrives to speak at the Road to Majority Policy Conference in Washington.

Trump’s Trials Are America’s Stress Test

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
Donald Trump signs Section 201 actions to impose tariffs with United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on January 23, 2018..
Donald Trump signs Section 201 actions to impose tariffs with United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on January 23, 2018..

Trump’s Most Enduring Legacy Isn’t What You Think

Essay
Michael Hirsh
Sullivan is seen speaking at a lectern in front of a sign that says "Arms Control Association."
Sullivan is seen speaking at a lectern in front of a sign that says "Arms Control Association."

Are We Back to Nuclear Brinkmanship for Good?

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
An illustration showing a tank firing rows of binary code to represent digital warfare
An illustration showing a tank firing rows of binary code to represent digital warfare

How AI Will Revolutionize Warfare

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
U.S. Marines walk past a toppled statue of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
U.S. Marines walk past a toppled statue of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.

The Lessons Not Learned From Iraq This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Michael Hirsh

Insider Iraq Must Not Squander Another Opportunity to Rebuild By Mina Al-Oraibi

Biden speaks at a podium with a U.S. flag behind him.
Biden speaks at a podium with a U.S. flag behind him.

Spoiler Alert: Foreign Policy Won’t Be a U.S. Election Issue

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
Cold-War-Kennan-China-Russia-US-foreign-policy-illustration-3-2
Cold-War-Kennan-China-Russia-US-foreign-policy-illustration-3-2

Is Cold War Inevitable? This article has an audio recording

Essay
Michael Hirsh
Hirsh-Good-Guys-2022-site-3-2
Hirsh-Good-Guys-2022-site-3-2

2022: The Year the Good Guys Struck Back This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
Early morning fog envelops the U.S. Capitol.
Early morning fog envelops the U.S. Capitol.

Biden’s Foreign-Policy Agenda Is Still Alive

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
Supporters attend a primary election night event for J.D. Vance, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Ohio, in Cincinnati on May 3.
Supporters attend a primary election night event for J.D. Vance, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Ohio, in Cincinnati on May 3.

How a Republican Victory Could Help, Not Hurt, Biden

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
Former U.S. Federal Reserve chair Ben Bernanke speaks during a news conference.
Former U.S. Federal Reserve chair Ben Bernanke speaks during a news conference.

Bernanke Won the Nobel, but Is His Bubble About to Burst?

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
Workers transfer goods at a port in China amid an ongoing trade war with the United States.
Workers transfer goods at a port in China amid an ongoing trade war with the United States.

Who’s Winning the U.S.-China Trade War? No One

Deep Dive
Michael Hirsh
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