Is international humanitarianism an act of charity or an act of duty? In fact, it is both -- a gift we have to give. Stateless Jews in the Diaspora developed a good conceptual framework for handling such two-in-one moral obligations, one that can be used to think clearly about humanitarianism in international society today.
Although the U.S. economy is no longer in a recession, recovery has been painfully slow. The outlook is still bleak: Congress is likely to cut spending and raise taxes, while the Fed is in no mood to lower interest rates.
More than six years after former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was murdered, the UN-backed court charged with investigating his assassination and associated attacks has released its indictments. Now, if the tribunal fails to punish the masterminds of the conspiracy, it will end up setting back Lebanese politics and the cause of international justice around the world.
The July/August 2011 issue of Foreign Affairs is now online and will be on newsstands June 28.
Comment
In the wake of Islamabad's decision to ban the United States from using the Shamsi airbase to launch drone attacks, Washington will need to rethink its drone program. Unless the strikes become more transparent and control over them is transferred from the CIA to the military, they won't help Washington win the larger war. |
Snapshot
In an update to their 2009 Foreign Affairs article, "The Death of Dayton," McMahon and Western write that Mladic's recent arrest is an opportunity for the international community to renew its commitment to the Balkans. |
Letter From
In his recent speech, President Obama said that Afghanistan is ready to stand on its own. But where Obama sees success, Afghans see fragility -- and many fear for their lives once the United States leaves. |
Snapshot
Ollanta Humala's surprise victory in Peru's recent presidential elections had less to do with his policies and more to do with mainstream candidates' inability to ally. |
Snapshot
The ruling AKP won Turkey's recent legislative elections, but lost the supermajority it has enjoyed since 2002. This will force the party will to seek consensus on domestic policy, but may allow it to harden its eastward-leaning foreign policy. |
Snapshot
When Tunisia and Egypt hold elections this fall, international election monitors will face pressure to validate the results as a proof that the Arab Spring is yielding democratic dividends. They must resist that pressure -- both to maintain their independence and convince Egyptians and Tunisians of it. |
Books & Reviews
Two recent books on the Israeli settlements explore their corrosive effect on Zionism and Israeli society. But despite the problems settlements cause, Washington should not overstate their importance for the peace process, argues a former U.S. deputy national security adviser.
In the Magazine
NATO's success in Libya shows how important and effective the alliance remains, writes its secretary-general. But with Europe rocked by the economic crisis and slashing military budgets, future missions will be imperiled unless NATO members get smarter about what and how they spend.