The United States Forgot Its Strategy for Winning Cold Wars
The plan that worked to defeat the Soviet Union can work today against China—it’s just not what you think.
We Weren’t Ready for a World Without Walls
The fall of the Berlin Wall 30 years ago was a giddy moment, but the subsequent rush to tear down walls everywhere has yielded a global system in which bad actors are no longer held accountable.
How the U.S. Found Out About Russia’s First Nuclear Test 70 Years Ago
A newly published report shows it took the Truman administration nearly two weeks to confirm the news.
The U.S.-China Cold War Is a Myth
The 20th century’s great standoff doesn’t explain the emerging dynamic between Washington and Beijing.
Yesterday’s Cold War Shows How to Beat China Today
The Trump administration has been ignoring the playbook that produced the downfall of the Soviet Union.
Document of the Week: When Sweden Wanted Nukes
A 1963 U.S. intelligence assessment underscores how many countries—even Sweden—were exploring nuclear weapons programs at the height of the Cold War.
The Real Origins of the U.S.-China Cold War
The only way to win the next superpower showdown is to understand what exactly caused it.
The Soviets’ Unbreakable Code
The hidden history of the Fialka espionage machine.
How Russia Sows Confusion in the U.S. Vaccine Debate
Not content to cause political problems, Moscow’s trolls are also undermining public health.
Germany’s Cold War Enemies May Become Partners
In eastern Germany, center-right Christian Democrats are considering teaming up with far-left former Communists.
South Korea Is an Ally, Not a Puppet
Washington's image of Seoul is stuck in the 1970s. It's time to move on.
The Books We Read in 2018
Some of Foreign Policy’s favorite reads of the year.
The Death of Global Order Was Caused by Clinton, Bush, and Obama
America’s post-Cold War presidents could have taken a road that didn’t end at Donald Trump.
George H.W. Bush’s Misunderstood Presidency
The late 41st U.S. president’s prudence was once derided as the wimp factor, but it has aged well.
What Would Reagan Do on Iran?
If Washington wants to pressure Tehran, the White House should stop alienating allies, empowering hard-liners, and harming regular Iranians.
Thank You, Jimmy Carter
Restoring the reputation of America’s most underrated foreign-policy president.
Who’s Afraid of Judith Shklar?
Meet the American philosopher who showed that Western politics could only move forward by first taking a step backward.
The Trump-Putin Summit’s Potential Nuclear Fallout
When the U.S. and Russian presidents meet in Helsinki, the biggest risk won't be on everyone's radar.
What a Secret Cold War Game of Nuclear Hide-and-Seek Teaches Us About North Korean Verification
Making sure that Pyongyang actually destroys its nuclear weapons may be impossible.
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