Robert W. Merry

Robert W. Merry is editor of The National Interest and the author of books on American history and foreign policy.


Essays

Society

Why We Exist

| 01.04.12

The National Interest stands for realism in U.S. international relations, a conviction that foreign policy should be based upon real-world considerations—forces, pressures and passions emanating from factors of culture and geography.

Society

A Conversation Continued: Debating Democracy

| 07.01.07

In the opening round of an exchange on democracy promotion that will continue over the coming weeks, five TNI authors examine themes and questions raised in Paul Saunders's essay.

Security

The Freedom Crusade, Revisited

| 12.01.05

Leslie H. Gelb, Daniel Pipes, Robert W. Merry and Joseph S. Nye offer their reactions to Robert W. Tucker and David Hendrickson on the Bush Doctrine.

Commentary

Society

Understanding America's Fall

| 02.08.12

U.S. decline may be inevitable. But that doesn't mean there's nothing Washington can do about it.

Politics

Samuelson and Dionne: The Politics of Denial

| 01.03.12

The status quo cannot hold. The country must move past denial and grapple with a crisis that should have been addressed long ago.

Society

Kaplan and Mearsheimer: The Power of Realism

| 12.29.11

Robert Kaplan's new piece on John Mearsheimer is a testament to realism and a manifesto on lively political discourse.

Security

Michele Bachmann: The Search for Truth

| 12.22.11

Disregarding the facts, the self-professed "serious candidate" spreads fear and falsehoods on Iran.

Politics

Assessing Obama's Reelection Chances

| 12.20.11

Obama is in much better shape than his opponents and detractors profess to believe.

More

Follow The National Interest

February 13, 2012