Patrick Lawrence

@thefloutist

Patrick Lawrence is a longtime columnist, essayist, critic, and lecturer, whose most recent books are Somebody Else’s Century: East and West in a Post-Western World and Time No Longer: America After the American Century. His website is patricklawrence.us.

John McCain on Ukraine

The Perils of Russophobia The Perils of Russophobia

Anyone too young to remember HUAC and the destruction the Cold War wrought should study up. We are a few short steps away from both.

Dec 29, 2016 / Patrick Lawrence

How American Exceptionalism Has Undermined Foreign Policy

How American Exceptionalism Has Undermined Foreign Policy How American Exceptionalism Has Undermined Foreign Policy

End-of-history triumphalism will get us nowhere as the new century advances.

Dec 21, 2016 / Feature / Patrick Lawrence

Tsai Ing-wen Calling Trump

Trump’s Taiwan Kerfuffle—and How the Policy Wonks Got It Wrong Trump’s Taiwan Kerfuffle—and How the Policy Wonks Got It Wrong

The claim that he had no idea of the political and diplomatic implications when he took his call from Taipei does not hold water.

Dec 9, 2016 / Patrick Lawrence

US aircraft carrier

The Militarization of Diplomacy and Other Corruptions of US Empire The Militarization of Diplomacy and Other Corruptions of US Empire

In part two of our interview, former ambassador Chas Freeman gives a master class in foreign policy.

Nov 22, 2016 / Patrick Lawrence

NATO Defense Meeting

Will Trump Break the Post–Cold War Order? Will Trump Break the Post–Cold War Order?

Much will depend on whom he surrounds himself with. But at least he’s put the question on the table.

Nov 11, 2016 / Patrick Lawrence

Duterte in China

The Filipino President Just Set Off a Diplomatic Earthquake The Filipino President Just Set Off a Diplomatic Earthquake

Rodrigo Duterte’s tilt toward China is a fundamental shift in the Western Pacific power balance.

Oct 27, 2016 / Patrick Lawrence

Former Ambassador Chas Freeman

Meet the Man Who Should Be the Next Secretary of State Meet the Man Who Should Be the Next Secretary of State

Former ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chas Freeman is that rare thing, an honest and wise diplomat—which is why he’ll probably never be appointed.

Oct 14, 2016 / Patrick Lawrence

Airstrikes in Syria

The Russian Blitzkrieg on Aleppo Is a Direct Challenge to Washington The Russian Blitzkrieg on Aleppo Is a Direct Challenge to Washington

The Syrian cease-fire was already in tatters. But the new offensive is also early preparation for a hawkish Clinton presidency.

Sep 29, 2016 / Patrick Lawrence

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