By Jordan Michael Smith
28 Oct 2009 |
World Politics Review
In breaking off relations with Iran almost 30 years ago to the day, the U.S. lost its most valuable source of information about the Islamic regime. To fill the void, the Obama administration has turned to scholars and experts for insight. Indeed, President Barack Obama's policy of outreach toward Tehran has been decisively shaped by the wide array of Iran experts from whom he has taken advice.
By Jordan Michael Smith
23 Jul 2009 |
World Politics Review
The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on July 10 seems like a long overdue project for the State Department, which has lost ground in recent decades to the Pentagon in steering U.S. foreign policy. But some observers say it will likely produce underwhelming results -- for Clinton, for the State Department, and for U.S. foreign policy itself.
By Jordan Michael Smith
18 Jun 2009 |
World Politics Review
Criticism of President Barack Obama's muted response to the Iranian opposition movement echoes
charges that he downplays human rights more generally in
his foreign policy approach. It's true that Obama has
prioritized the shoring up of U.S. power over the vocal
advocacy of human rights. But paradoxically, the more Obama de-emphasizes
human rights, the more he is likely to advance
them.