All Commentaries

Biden Won’t Reset U.S. Foreign Policy On His Own
The foreign policy team Biden appoints matters less than the world they inherit, policies they pursue, and the pressure they get from progressives.

Will the World Community Condemn the Murder of Iran’s Nuclear Scientist?
The only way to stop this crisis from spiraling out of control is for the world community — and Joe Biden — to condemn the act.

Book Review: Dissidents of the International Left
A book of interviews with progressives from all over the world challenges received notions, tackles complex questions, and explains what solidarity really means.

Ten Foreign Policy Fiascos Biden Can Start Fixing on Day One
Biden can immediately reverse some of Trump’s most disastrous decisions. And each one can set the stage for broader progressive foreign policy initiatives.

I was Invited to Join the G20 Think Tank Summit. Here’s Why I Declined.
My participation in a session on climate and energy policy hosted by the Saudi government would have “greenwashed” the summit.

What Will a Biden Presidency Bring to the Asia Pacific?
Biden may tone down Trump’s trade war and bring back some limited human rights advocacy, but there may be more continuity than either administration admits.

Who Needs Zombies When We Have Republicans?
How else would you describe Americans who deny a pandemic that’s killed 250,000 people and the election that repudiated Trump?

With the Election Over, Congress Must Remember the Rest of the World
Even a lame-duck Congress must remember their actions have global consequences too.

If Biden’s Serious About Bringing Back Diplomacy, He Should Make These Appointments
No one expects Biden to tap dedicated anti-imperialists for his foreign policy team, but several Obama-era diplomats would be a welcome alternative to “the blob.”

The Return of the Goldilocks Apocalypse
There’s no returning to normal after Donald Trump.