Robert W. Merry

Robert W. Merry is editor of The National Interest and the author of books on American history and foreign policy. His most recent book is Where They Stand: The American Presidents in the Eyes of Voters and Historians.


Essays

Politics

The Myth of a Moderate Obama

| 05.01.13

The president is no pragmatic centrist. In fact, he has the most expansive and leftist vision in the history of the presidency.

Society

A Sadly Simplistic Afghan Debate

| 03.01.13

Nixon's handling of Vietnam and China could offer insights for Obama in Afghanistan.

Society

Spengler's Ominous Prophecy

| 01.02.13

An interbellum German intellectual's work is a powerful warning to Americans about the perils of our interventionist foreign-policy trajectory.

Politics

American Interest, American Blood

| 10.24.12

The price America pays in blood for its overseas initiatives rarely gets mentioned in political debates surrounding such policies, but it deserves more attention.

Politics

Interview: U.S. Fate Is in U.S. Hands

| 08.22.12

Zbigniew Brzezinski, a leading foreign-policy expert, discussed with TNI his recent book and his views on America’s world posture. He speculates on U.S. decline, the 2012 presidential campaign and more.

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Reviews

Society

The Revenge of Kaplan's Maps

| 08.22.12

Kaplan explores the potent role of geography in shaping the survival instincts and geopolitical sensibilities of nations and peoples in The Revenge of Geography.

Commentary

Security

A TNI Classic: Kenneth Waltz on Nuclear Zero

| 05.20.13

The late theorist debated Scott D. Sagan on the future of the ultimate weapon in 2010.

Society

The Degraded Correspondents' Dinner

| 04.30.13

It wasn't always about Hollywood celebrities and swag bags.

Society

The Morality of Kissinger's Realism

| 04.25.13

Contrary to conventional wisdom, Henry Kissinger produced more moral outcomes than his idealistic enemies.

Society

The Failure of Pluralism

| 04.24.13

The Boston bombers highlight one of the challenges of the new attitude toward immigration.

Society

John McCain and the Lessons of History

| 04.19.13

What happens when you conflate our values and our interests?

More

Blog Posts

Society

When Timbuktu Was Still the End of the Earth

| 01.29.13
Politics

Learning From The Wire

| 10.22.12
Security

Who Sold Rothkopf a Two-Hour Iran Raid?

| 10.16.12
Politics

Obama's Dreams from Frank Marshall Davis

| 10.09.12
Politics

Kesler Gets Executive Power Right

| 10.02.12
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May 22, 2013