John Harwood of the New York Times compares the current presidential candidates' different ideas of government and how they reflect the divergent ideologies and core constituencies of the two parties.

Jan Schaffer and Tom Rosenstiel discuss the future of the international news media, including the proliferation of media outlets, their changing business models, and the effects the new media landscape has on an informed public.

Jan Schaffer and Tom Rosenstiel discuss the future of the international news media, including the proliferation of media outlets, their changing business models, and the effects the new media landscape has on an informed public.

Britain's phone-hacking scandal is raising questions about the power and reach of Rupert Murdoch's media empire. For Columbia University's Nicholas Lemann, the episode proves the value of expanding public media.

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

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon discusses responses to the attack on news reporter Lara Logan in Egypt.

Max Boot and Peter Mansoor say the buildup of U.S. forces in Afghanistan is already having a considerable positive impact, although public opinion hasn't caught on yet.

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.

Forbes columnist and former Treasure Department economist Bruce Bartlett explains how federal financial planning has evolved over time.

President Obama has heralded a "new era of global engagement." But what do publics in the United States and around the world actually think about today's global challenges-and the international institutions to cope with them? Experts inaugurate the launch of Public Opinion on Global Issues (www.cfr.org/public_opinion), the most comprehensive digest ever assembled of existing polling data on U.S. and global public attitudes toward multilateral cooperation in the twenty-first century, by analyzing and discussing these questions.

Andrew Kohut and James M. Lindsay discuss the findings of a quadrennial survey of foreign policy and national security attitudes conducted by CFR and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Lydia Khalil writes that because of their national background, a surprising number of Arabs are able to relate to the viewpoints of Fox News.

Walter Russell Mead examines the book of Job in the Old Testament and its meaning in today's political and cultural stage.

Leslie H. Gelb comments on the passing of New York Times columnist, Bill Safire, "the best friend and the worst enemy to friends and foes."

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 Obama campaign is managing to evoke many hopes from past presidential campaigns, leaving candidate McCain with little to campaign on but fear.  In this Bloomberg op-ed, Amity Shlaes says that McCain has his own opportunity to call for more realistic hopes at next week's Republican Convention.

Barack Obama wants race to stay out of the campaign, instead choosing to focus on issues like the environment, gas prices, the Iraq war and almost anything else. Unfortunately for him, he is not going to get his wish, writes Peter Beinart, pointing to the McCain campaign's insistence on making race an issue any chance they get.

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.

Speaking honestly about the economy can be dangerous politically, as Phil Gramm found out last week.  In this Washington Post article, Amity Shlaes argues that the way to strengthen the economy right now is to elect leaders who dare to talk frankly about our problems, and then act on them.

Americans are much less afraid of military threats today than they were in 2004 and that has fundamentally changed the politics of foreign policy, argues Peter Beinart. Because of this, Barack Obama and the Democrats should not worry about being called “soft” if they advance policies that defend civil liberties, reduce troop presence in Iraq and engage Iran in unconditional negotiations.