Ted Galen Carpenter

Ted Galen Carpenter, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a contributing editor to The National Interest, is the author of nine books and more than 500 articles and policy studies. His latest book is The Fire Next Door: Mexico’s Drug Violence and the Danger to America.

Essays

Security

Delusions of Indispensability

| 03.01.13

The notion that America is the world's "indispensable nation" is hardly questioned, even as it fosters strategic overreach.

Security

Drug Mayhem Moves South

| 01.04.12

Mexico’s drug violence is spreading into Central American countries that lack the resources to cope with such dire challenges. The region is in danger of reverting back to turmoil.

Staying Alive

| 02.29.08

Is a state by any other name still a state? Nations’ risky operations to maintain de facto status.

Security

A View to a Coup?

| 03.01.07

Advocates of toppling the mullahs in Iran need a stiff dose of reality.

Security

Future War: Taiwan

| 06.01.06

A plausible scenario for a Sino-American clash in the Taiwan Strait.

Reviews

Security

The Hagiography of Mr. Holbrooke

| 04.25.12

Richard “The Bulldozer” Holbrooke left a deep mark on U.S. foreign policy. Yet this collection of essays by his friends and admirers, which gushes with praise, leaves out significant elements of the story.

Commentary

Security

Rational and Reckless Alliances

| 05.09.13

It makes sense for Europe to lean on America for protection. East Asia is a different story.

Security

Exploit Beijing's Nuclear Nightmare

| 04.19.13

China won't risk pressuring North Korea unless it fears Japan and South Korea might develop bombs of their own.

Society

Vigilantes Against Mexico's Cartels

| 04.11.13

People are taking their security into their own hands, a very worrisome sign.

Security

How Washington Encourages Nuclear Proliferation

| 03.18.13

Attacking Libya after it gave up its arms program sent the message that America's enemies should keep their nukes.

Security

Taiwan Challenges Its Neighbors

| 02.28.13

Beijing and Tokyo aren't the only ones puffing their chests out in the Senkakus.

Blog Posts

Society

Washington's Double Standard

| 09.18.12

Continuing U.S. support for the Bahraini monarchy exposes it to accusations of hypocrisy.

Security

Four Syrian Scenarios

| 08.07.12

Syria and the greater region are in for a very bumpy ride.

Security

Felipe Calderón’s Arrogant Call for U.S. Gun Control

| 07.31.12

The Mexican president shamelessly used the Aurora, Colorado tragedy to push his own agenda.

Politics

Romney’s Foreign-Policy Opportunity

| 07.23.12

To score points against Obama, the GOP candidate must break with his party's hawkish extremists.

Politics

Obama Is Right about Hugo Chavez

| 07.18.12