The preeminent journal of foreign policy and international affairs, has provided government and business leaders, students, and the general public with insightful, thought-provoking analysis on world events for over 80 years. Before it becomes policy, it's in Foreign Affairs.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Eye-Opening
Comment: "Foreign Affairs" presents a gold mine of articles about subjects that span the globe, printed in somewhat large type and easy on the eyes. It is published by the Council on Foreign Affairs, an independent national membership organization and nonpartisan center for scholars. In their words, "We hold that while keeping clear of mere vagaries, 'Foreign Affairs' can do more to inform American public opinion by a broad hospitality to divergent ideas than it can by identifying itself with one school."

Among the in-depth essay offerings in the July/August 2008 issue:

*a defense of the Bush policy for the past eight years by Condoleezza Rice, disguised as a defense of the "New American Realism."

*why pro-Israel policies of the United States reflect public opinion - not just the result of a powerful lobby over the public will.

*two articles about China - one concerning their stressful efforts to impress the world with their Olympics; the other concerning their resistance toward becoming a responsible member among the world's important states.

*why the US stockpiles massive amounts of oil but manages these stocks based on an outdated vision of the market.

*Nafta and the US relationship with its two most important neighbors - Canada and Mexico, touching on how much public opinion has been influenced by Lou Dobbs.

*how the next president should go about repairing our heavily damaged relationship with Europe as a result of the Bush years.

Next are Book Reviews and lengthy responses to articles in prior issues.

*several articles about the middle east and the Iraq war, including how to properly go about any proposed attempt to democratize an arab state:
1. Foreign powers should focus on encouraging these countries to protect political freedoms and civil liberties.
2. Islamists must be included in the political process. To make any efforts to circumvent them is folly.
3. The United States must make any aid, trade, and security agreements contingent on improvement in political and civil liberties.
4. The United States must revise its desire for instant gratification. The last hundred years should have told us democratization does not happen overnight. Forceful regime change is not a realistic option.

*legal issues about the so-called "war on terror."

*a complimentary article about Chavez (authored by the Venezuelan ambassador to the US), followed by a rebuttal by another author.

*should the US stay the course in Iraq, do as Ron Paul says: "We walked in there, we can walk right back out," or somewhere in between.

*a pro/con discussion as to whether ethnic conflict is inevitable.

After most articles and in the "Bestseller" section, current books appropriate to the topic are suggested. This magazine is perfect for those who want a thorough understanding of US and world issues and are disenchanted with the usual partisan fare. I just read the reviews and see that I am not alone in being impressed with this unusual magazine.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Essays on Foreign Policy - Usually Proposals for Policy
Comment: This periodical contains useful articles by and for the U.S. foreign policy community (as well as concerned citizens). From a range of authors, but often preeminent scholars and policymakers, the essays usually provide a good, solid foundation and context on recent historical issues and then put forward prescriptive policy options - i.e., providing suggestons for what current or future policy should be.

I also like the book reviews contained at the end. Written by established and preeminent scholars in foreign policy, they survey the recent foreign policy literature by category and provide good, cogent, and useful reviews and summaries - useful for further reading.

Due to the recent Iraq war, issues concenring the Iranian nuclear program and uranium enrichment (and the UN, US, and EU responses - economic sanctions so far), and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, turmoil and unrest in Pakistan, Lebanon, and the ongoing Israeli and the Palestinian conflict, it would be good if more Americans familiarized themselves with the complex issues in international relations. This periodical is a start (along with, perhaps, Foreign Policy - another magazine).

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Customer Rating:
Summary: foreign affairs
Comment: I still haven't received my mag. I'm thinking Foreign Affairs does not issue to APO, but then again I don't know if FA is tracking me as me or Amazon has another name for my account.

It's been a little over a month and I still haven't seen an issue.

-Eugene

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Customer Rating:
Summary: An intelligent read
Comment: "Foreign Affairs" provides engaging views on foreign policy concerns and current events. It is an intelligent read, and, the slightly larger type makes it easy on the eyes.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellence
Comment: I subscribed to the magazine at the beginning of 07 and have been extremely happy with the consistently high level that each issue attains. FA consistently brings together under one roof the brightest minds the U.S. has to offer to speak on topics that they are uniquely qualified to speak on.

The magazine is a bipartisan meeting ground for professional thinkers on the right and left, and even when I find myself disagreeing with a particular article I still find those articles to be very well thought out and educational. The articles that I disagree with I find very challenging and they really help me to challenge and refine my own ideas. I am a better, more well rounded person for reading this magazine.

This is the best professional journal I have yet come across. Anyone who is interested where U.S. foreign policy is going and should go needs to be reading Foreign Affairs.

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