Do the tools of social media make it possible for protesters to challenge their governments?

The ouster of General Stanley McChrystal does not suggest that U.S. political-military relations are in crisis. But the episode should remind the military's highest officers of the need for, and the requirements of, appropriate professional behavior.

The rise of American foreign reporting was marked by outsized personalities and an expansive sense of mission. Today, the craft is in steady decline. But what will be lost if journalism disappears?

Surrogate broadcasting was a central element of U.S. soft power in the Cold War. Today, it should take on a larger role in the United States' efforts to combat authoritarianism and extremism.

The real key to Washington's pro-Israel policy is long-lasting and broad-based support for the Jewish state among the American public at large.

The issue of anti-Americanism in the Muslim world offers an ideal case study of the issue of “soft power.”  This involves the aspects of international relations and foreign policy that focus on leadership through prestige, persuasion, and cultural and economic power, rather than hard power, the “bombs and rockets” that make up much of the traditional introductory international relations course or specialized course on US foreign policy. 

The Bush administration has increased resources for public diplomacy with a focus on Muslims. But criticism remains about how the "war of ideas" is waged.

Nation-branding consulting captures the imagination of countries embroiled in public-relations crises. But does it work?

Pakistan’s growing independent media finds itself under threat for its coverage of the crisis stemming from the president’s dismissal of the chief justice.

A wave of industry turnover is reorganizing the news business. International coverage could face consolidation, but talk of its demise may be overblown.

The Virginia Tech tragedy has dealt another blow to America ’s image abroad. While sympathy abounds, the shootings have also sparked outrage in societies where gun violence on this scale seems unimaginable.

U.S.-funded broadcasters are competing in a wide-open global environment, but some experts wonder about the message generated by these outlets.

The House bill calling on President Bush to bring troops home from Iraq next year sets the stage for a showdown on management of the war.

Al-Jazeera, the Arabic language satellite channel singled out for rebuke by the Bush administration, launched an English language channel this week aiming to "give an honest understanding of reality" in the Middle East to an audience it sees as starved for facts.

The murder of a prominent journalist reinforces Russia’s image as one of the planet’s most dangerous places to cover news. What it says about President Putin’s tenure is less clear.