Civil Society

Commentary

A Second-Best President for Egypt

Khairi Abaza | May 24, 2012

Two certainties about Egypt's elections: the winner won't be anyone's first choice, and he will have a hard road ahead.

The Future of Middle Eastern Christians

Yoel Guzansky

Benedetta Berti

| May 15, 2012

The Arab Spring and the rise of Islamist parties present both opportunities and threats to the region's religious minorities.

The Dilemma of American Terrorists

Amitai Etzioni | May 14, 2012

U.S. citizens who raise arms against us commit an extra offense compared to other terrorists. They should be treated accordingly.

More Commentary

Essays

America's Civic Deadlock and the Politics of Crisis

Robert W. Merry | Apr 25, 2012

Congress is paralyzed. National debt is skyrocketing. America’s political consensus can no longer address the country’s most basic problems. We must resolve the question of what will replace it.

Iraq's Federalism Quandary

Sean Kane

Joost R. Hiltermann

Raad Alkadiri

| Feb 28, 2012

Iraq faces major questions about the power-sharing agreements between Baghdad and Iraq's various regions. A solution may require granting greater autonomy to the country's Kurds than to other regions.

Why We Exist

Robert W. Merry | Jan 04, 2012

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.

Reviving the Peace Process

Daniel Kurtzer | Jan 04, 2012

Obama can take credit for several foreign-policy triumphs, but he has failed to revive the moribund Mideast peace process. Arguments for why it can’t be done crumble against the imperative of American presidential leadership.

Drug Mayhem Moves South

Ted Galen Carpenter | Jan 04, 2012

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.

We Bow to the God Bipartisanship

Leslie H. Gelb | Oct 25, 2011

Bipartisanship: the Holy Grail of American politics. Long the go-to buzzword for presidents, elusive cross-aisle support at home has all too often been purchased at the price of good policy abroad.