By Lee H. Hamilton It sometimes seems that Americans are hopelessly divided by politics, but I believe it will take politics to make our country work. More specifically, it will take political skills. We need elected officials with the political skills to bring together diverse factions and address America’s challenges. What are political skills? They… Read more »
Lee Hamilton Column
Hamilton on Foreign Policy #201: Gorbachev sought reform, got more than that
By Lee H. Hamilton September 14, 2022 Not many people can say that they changed the course of history. Mikhail Gorbachev, who died last month at age 91, is one of those few people. He had a profound impact on world affairs. It may not have been the impact he intended, but he changed the… Read more »
Hamilton on Foreign Policy #200: India’s success matters to the US
By Lee H. Hamilton August 31, 2022 India celebrated 75 years as an independent nation this summer. That was an extraordinary milestone for the giant, diverse and democratic nation, one that was rightly celebrated around the world. India is the world’s largest democracy, with 1.4 billion people, four times as many as the United States…. Read more »
Hamilton on Foreign Policy #199: Taiwan conflict highlights US-China challenges
By Lee H Hamilton August 18, 2022 America’s policy toward Taiwan is complicated to say the least. Taiwan is a democratic society in the shadow of autocratic China. It’s an economic and technological power and a key U.S. trading partner. We have similar values and strong people-to-people ties. We support Taiwan’s self-defense. But we don’t… Read more »
Hamilton on Foreign Policy #198: Africa deserves our attention
President Joe Biden announced last month that the United States will host African leaders late this year for a summit focused on food security, climate change and other pressing matters. That’s a positive development. Africa doesn’t get near the attention it deserves.
Hamilton on Foreign Policy #197: U.S. relations with the Americas deserve attention
Some of the United States’ most important relationships are with other countries in the Americas. They often receive less attention than they deserve. These relationships can be challenging, but there are few challenges more important than working effectively with our neighbors. The promise and challenge of forging meaningful collaboration with Mexico and the nations of… Read more »
Hamilton on Foreign Policy #196: US leads search for peace and prosperity
The United States contributes more than any other nation to the search for global peace and prosperity. Our leadership is essential in dealing with the world’s difficult and confounding problems. We are the foremost guardian of that peace and prosperity, shaping the international order more than any other nation. We have strong partners, especially the… Read more »
Hamilton on Foreign Policy #195: Fixing Hunger Is Everybody’s Business
by Lee H. Hamilton The world is seeing the effects of Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine in rising oil and natural gas prices. A much more serious impact is coming: a global food catastrophe.
Hamilton on Foreign Policy #194: America’s Promise is Ordered Liberty
by Lee H. Hamilton American representative democracy holds out a valuable promise to the world. We can sum it up in a phrase: ordered liberty. And this promise is the essential promise of America. Our system of government offers a beacon of hope to the world with its ideal of ordered liberty. As Americans, we… Read more »
Hamilton on Foreign Policy #193: Voters’ fears and worries should be taken seriously
By Lee H. Hamilton A recent column in the New York Times argued that American voters “haven’t been worried like this in a long time” and that their fears could have a big influence in the 2022 elections. It’s certainly true that voters have a lot to be concerned about – and that our fears… Read more »