civilization & order

Cities and Their Consequences William H. McNeill
The rise of cities shaped Western history. Now it may be reshaping the world.

Empires and Barbarians Jakub Grygiel
Pre- and postmodern "barbarians" have much in common, with sobering implications for U.S. strategy and the War on Terror.

On Civil War Steven R. David
Relations among states are characterized by anarchy, relations within states by civil order, right? Not any more.

The Sovereignty Solution Anna Simons, Don Redd, Joe McGraw & Duane Lauchengco
The assertion of U.S. sovereignty, coupled with a pledge to stop interfering in the affairs of others, will produce a more peaceable world.

exit interview

Exit Interview The former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations talks of political philosophy, foreign policy and bureaucratic craft.

here's looking at us

Schlock and Awe Paul Knox
A short history of Suburbia, its discontents and its ironies.

We Will Bury Them! Stephen Connors
Most American towns put hideous power lines up in the air, where they are predictably battered by storms. Why?

Little Start-up on the Prairie Joel Kotkin
Technological change and small-town nostalgia are combining to revive America's Heartland.

the russia enigma ii

Liberal Is as Liberal Does Michael McFaul
Pace Allen Lynch, it's both possible and wise for Western policy to challenge Putin's anti-democratic ways.

Don't Feed the Bear Hugh Ragsdale & Paul Stephan
Nope, it's neither possible nor wise.

The Myth of Russian Resurgence Rajan Menon & Alexander J. Motyl
Fear of revived Russian power is exaggerated.

reviews

Monopolizing History David Parlett
How a Quaker lass invented the most famous board game in American history, and how a big, wolfish company came to own it.

Can Anybody Play This Game? Michael Mandelbaum
American professional baseball is increasingly international in flavor, but its popularity overseas will remain limited.

Raider of the Lost Art Arthur Ryel-Lindsey
Two new books put Steven Spielberg on an undeserved pedestal.

Talking Dirty Mary Douglas
How Culture Theory happened, and what it means.

letters & notes

A Letter To Our Benefactors Joel Fleishman
America's charitable foundations are benign, influential—and endangered.

Democracies of the World, Unite: Cont'd.' Comments by Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Evgeny Primakov, Bruce Jentleson, James Traub, Tod Lindberg, and David Yang. Ivo Daalder & James Lindsay reply.

Not with My Thucydides, You Don't Richard K. Betts
A sometimes realist takes issue with a sometimes idealist over a long-deceased Greek.