Foreign Affairs

In all, I'd call it a well-rounded, worthy read for anyone wanting more information about world affairs than you get in the typical American newspaper or news journal.


Know the future now but don't expect entertaining reading.   October 12, 2005
Mark E. Baxter (Layton, UT United States)
10 out of 13 found this review helpful

In the years I have taken this magazine, I have noted that often covered material becomes tomorrow's news from the latest hot-spot in the world. So prescient, it is eery - if you have any interest in current events, news or foreign affairs, this journal is a must read. The contributors are a Who's Who of politics, science and business in the world. Often the author list will become the under-secretary of state list in the next administration. For example, the last issue discussed Avian Flu virus. As a physician, I can tell you that these were excellent informative articles that explained clearly what was happening and what the danger was. And now this stuff is on TV every day and I can amaze my patients with how much I know about the issue that no one else does. Reading this will definitely make you look smart. Try this experiment and see if I'm right. This article is written in October 2005, days after receiving the October issue with multiple articles about China written by Chinese authors. Of course that means that these articles aren't really useful for facts so much as they are useful for seeing what China wants us to believe. I predict that China will be much more in the news in the next 6 to 12 months. So put this magazine to the test and see.

One negative is that although the authors are bi-partisan regarding party, they are not "conservative". You won't ever find pro-tariff, anti illegal immigration, isolationist, anti judicial activism or pro-life articles in here. Indeed, regardless of which party an author supports, you can pretty much count on expanded government, especially one-world government presented as the solution.

And lastly, some of the articles are deadly boring and contain stilted, obfuscated, diplomatic jargon. You will rarely find a simple, eloquent phrase, but you will often find ideas that will pop up in any analysis of the news. Just realize many of these authors are diplomats and politicians whose careers depend on obfuscation and plausible deniability.

All in all, this is an extremely influential journal that is full of cutting-edge ideas. Just realize that many of them may be wrong.


You can know what's going to happen before it happens   March 15, 2003
9 out of 13 found this review helpful

Foreign Affairs is an excellent journal published by the Council on Foreign Relations which is a foreign policy think tank that has included pretty much every Secretary of State since it was founded. There are people around the world who think that this think tank is part of a conspiracy that controls the world and despite the fact that the statement is absurd, the Council does pretty much dictate what the US government is going to do, and since the US is by far the most influental nation in the world I guess there are some grains of truth to this, although I wouldn't call it a conspiracy since they are telling you exactly what they want to do in this journal. Nevertheless, I guess that makes it a more interesting read.

After you start reading this for a while you'll start to understand what's going on around the world with respect to our actions abroad and you'll understand what the people making the decisions were thinking when they made them.


Best Journalism in Print Neutrally Covering All Aspects of Foreign Relations   August 27, 2006
Barbara Rose (BornToInspire.com)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

I've been reading Foreign Affairs since 1980 and have always admired the well rounded scope covering everything from Social & Cultural issues, Media/Public Opinion, International law, Human rights, Economics, Trade & Finance, Science & Technology, Intelligence, Energy, resources & environment, International organizations, and the list goes on.

What I love most about this journal is that there is no agenda - the journalism is highly ethical and thorough. You'll also find out about great new books. I've loved and studied International Relations since 1980, and this is the one magazine that has never let me down. Its coverage is the pinnacle in print journalism.

Deserves 10 stars!



Excellent periodical!   August 23, 2003
Super Trader
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

I enjoy this magazine. Politicians, professors, and political world figures contribute to this magazine consistently. As a trader and an author in one of the most fast paced investments in the world, Futures and Foreign Exchange. I need to round out my perspective of how geopolitical events affect my money now and will affect my money 10 years from now.

I wish it came out more frequently, nevertheless I enjoy it everytime I read it.