Jean Edward Smith, senior scholar at Columbia University's history department, discusses his new book, Eisenhower in War and Peace.

Jean Edward Smith, senior scholar at Columbia University's history department, discusses his new book, Eisenhower in War and Peace.

Elliott Abrams says, "The next three to six months in the Middle East will make Obama administration officials look back to 2012 with nostalgia as a quiet time when they were able to focus on the campaign. The coming year will be much tougher—starting now."

Throughout the Middle East, Micah Zenko finds blistering criticisms of U.S. foreign policy alongside serious misunderstandings about the limits of American power.

Joshua Kurlantzick examines how the Obama administration relies on the Pentagon to serve as diplomatic interlocutor in Southeast Asia and argues against U.S. military cooperation with the region's most oppressive countries.

Tim Weiner and film director Carl Colby discuss the film The Man Nobody Knew, which uncovers the secret world of a lengendary CIA spymaster William Colby.

Tim Weiner and film director Carl Colby discuss the film The Man Nobody Knew, which uncovers the secret world of a lengendary CIA spymaster William Colby.

In this IIGG Working Paper, the authors argue that the United States should initiate a new phase of democratic internationalism based on the "pull of success rather than the push of power."

A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: U.S. President Barack Obama visits Myanmar; elections take place in Catalonia, Spain; and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is marked.

American diplomacy has changed dramatically in the past few decades, and has taken on a more conflict-prone direction, according to this New York Times piece.

President Obama gave this press conference at the White House on November 14, 2012.

Chronic mismanagement by local governments has left a number of California cities teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

An enumeration of the five most plausible scenarios for the outcome of the fiscal cliff crisis.

In his upcoming term President Barack Obama will have to adopt a softer stance on many issues in the Middle East to avoid conflict that could have large domestic implications.

Max Boot says David Petraeus's intellectualism was crucial to the U.S. military. Now the nation loses his skills.

President Obama gave these remarks regarding the fiscal cliff on November 9, 2012.

House Speaker John Boehner gave these remarks regarding the fiscal cliff on November 9, 2012.

A preview of world events in the coming week from CFR.org: the U.S. Congress returns for its lame-duck session; the Greek parliament votes on a critical budget; and California holds the nation's largest auction of carbon pollution allowances.

In the aftermath of the 2012 U.S. elections, Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei comments on and compares the political systems in the U.S. and China.

"Principled compromise, prioritizing China, compassion, democracy-support, addressing detainee and drone policy as blemishes on our brand, and re-balancing soft and hard power tools ought to be touchstones of a post-2012 GOP foreign policy," says Mark P. Lagon.