Robert McMahon

Editor
Contact Info:
E-mail: rmcmahon@cfr.org
Location:
Washington, DC
Robert McMahon has covered foreign affairs since 1990 for the Associated Press, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and CFR.org. As Editor of CFR.org, Mr. McMahon oversees publishing of daily news-related content on the web site, supervising an editorial team and coordinating with CFR Fellows to produce web-only publications. Mr. McMahon also contributes analysis and background reporting to the web site and regularly participates in a weekly podcast series, "The World Next Week."
In his time at CFR.org, the web site has garnered multiple media awards, in particular for its interactive crisis guide series. Crisis Guide: Pakistan won the 2011 Overseas Press Club award for multimedia and an honorary citation from the 2011 Webby Awards. The Crisis Guide on the Global Economic Crisis won an Emmy Award and a 2010 honorable mention citation from the Overseas Press Club. The Crisis Guide on Darfur won an Emmy Award. In addition, the web site's work won a 2007 Online News Association award.
Prior to joining CFR.org, Mr. McMahon held senior editorial positions at RFE/RL, including news director in Prague, Czech Republic, where he was founding editor of RFE/RL's web site, and UN correspondent. He has expertise in international organizations and has written extensively on U.S. foreign policy, democracy promotion, public diplomacy, human rights, UN peacekeeping, and issues related to nation-building. His work has been published in the Foreign Service Journal, Weekly Standard, and the Fletcher Forum, and he has been interviewed frequently by national and international media. Mr. McMahon has a master's degree in international relations from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Publications
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: President Obama presents the 2013 budget to Congress; the Senate Armed Services Committee debates worldwide threats; Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visits Washington; and the one-year anniversary of Mubarak's ouster is marked.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
Trade accounts for an increasing portion of the U.S. economy, and the Obama administration has embraced a ramped up export strategy. But debate persists over the merits of a vigorous free trade agenda.
See more in United States, Trade
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: The debate over intervention in Syria continues; an annual security conference convenes in Munich; and the twentieth anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty is marked.
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: UN nuclear inspectors visit Iran; a Republican primary is held in Florida; and Prime Minister Gilani's Supreme Court case resumes in Pakistan.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: President Obama delivers a State of the Union address; The debate over defense cuts heats up; South Carolina Republicans head to the polls; And the World Economic Forum convenes in Davos.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: U.S., Japan, and S. Korea foreign ministers discuss North Korea; Elections are held in Taiwan; The anniversary of Ben Ali's ouster is marked in Tunisia; And yet another GOP debate is held.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: Tensions mount in the Persian Gulf; A Republican primary takes place in New Hampshire; And Egyptians conclude the first free elections post-Mubarak.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
Sanctions over Iran's nuclear program have triggered threats involving the strategic Strait of Hormuz and new debate over the methods chosen to pressure Tehran.
See more in Iran, Energy, Proliferation
A preview of world events in the coming year from CFR.org.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
Vaclav Havel went from designing theater sets to choreographing the Czech Republic's entry into NATO. One constant in his improbable rise to president was a steely commitment to human rights, as reflected in selected excerpts.
See more in Central/Eastern Europe, Democracy and Human Rights
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: the Arab Spring's one year anniversary is marked; the U.S. Senate must pass a funding bill or face a government shutdown; and the Mercosur summit convenes in Uruguay.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
The eurozone and Saudi Arabia are elevated threats in 2012 under CFR's new Preventive Priorities Survey, while Afghanistan and Sudan are reduced. CFR's Micah Zenko discusses.
See more in United States, Defense Strategy, Conflict Prevention
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: Republican presidential candidates head to Iowa for a debate; President Obama hosts Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki; and Russia is expected to join the WTO.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
Robert McMahon argues that unresolved conflicts haunting former Soviet states could hold clues to how the region develops in the decades ahead — or doesn't.
See more in Europe/Russia, Caucasus, Central/Eastern Europe, Russian Fed.
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: EU leaders meet for a critical summit; the Greek parliament votes on a 2012 budget; a conference on Afghanistan's future convenes without Pakistan; and the UK embassy attack bolsters a push for sanctions on Iran.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: time runs out for the debt-reduction supercommittee; Egyptian parliamentary elections get underway; and the anniversary of the Nuremberg trials is marked.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: The eurozone debt crisis spurs speculation of a breakup; the IAEA board of governors meets to discuss Iran; a North American leaders' summit convenes; and Aung San Suu Kyi weighs a return to Myanmar politics.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: Hawaii hosts the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit; GOP candidates meet again in Michigan; and the International Energy Agency releases its annual World Energy Outlook.
See more in U.S. Strategy and Politics
The quest by Palestinian officials for full UN membership has major repercussions for the peace process with Israel and the future of the Mideast. This Backgrounder outlines the procedures and potential impact of the UN vote.
See more in Palestinian Authority, UN
European leaders met in Brussels to craft a comprehensive solution to the eurozone sovereign debt crisis. Sebastian Mallaby, director of CFR's Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, and Benn Steil, CFR director of international economics, discussed the outcome of the summit, the role of the continent's banks, the Greek debt crisis, and the eurozone's financial rescue fund.
See more in EU, Financial Crises