They…
You’ve heard of “They.” “They” did this, “They” did that. “They” are running the show.
But just who are the mysterious, nefarious “They”? The truth is, I don’t really know who all of “Them” are. But, I do know that many of “Them” are associated with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), America’s most significant foreign policy think-tank.
Since 1921, the CFR has influenced the United States’ domestic policy as well as its role around the world, largely from behind-the-scenes. That’s not to say the CFR is a “secret organization”; on the contrary, it is a very well-respected American institution, having even been referred to by a former Secretary of State as the “mothership” of State Department activity. No no – I say it operates “behind-the-scenes,” not because its existence is hidden, but because it is an institution that the vast majority of Americans are totally unaware of.
And that is what we hope to rectify here. Each month, my wife Alice and I will review a selection of articles from the CFR’s official journal, Foreign Affairs, in order to foster a deeper understanding of the context behind the day-to-day news and behind key policy decisions.
In other words, we’re bringing you what “They” actually say.
EPISODE 1: INAUGURAL ISSUE (SEPT. 1922)
In our very first show together, Alice and I give a little bit of background on the Council on Foreign Relations, and then jump right into three very intriguing articles from the very first issue of its journal, Foreign Affairs. We cover topics such as: the purpose of studying foreign policy, the role of America globally following World War I, the Progressive project to position the United States as the “policeman” of the world, the issue of post-WWI debt, and the redefinition of war itself.
EPISODE 2: JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
In this episode, Alice and I discuss five essays from Volume 100, Issue 1 of Foreign Affairs. We cover America’s international image in the wake of the Trump presidency, issues posed by COVID-19, rising tensions in America as juxtaposed to the Civil War/Reconstruction Era, and, finally, the Chinese Communist Party. And there are some rants too, of course!
EPISODE 3: THE GODDAMNED NEO-CONS (VARIOUS ISSUES)
Neo-Conservatism has dominated American politics for four decades, and has left nothing but death and misery in its wake. In this episode, Alice and I cover three Foreign Affairs articles written by various Neo-Cons over the years, attempting to make sense of their bellicose imperial ideology.
In this episode, Alice and I summarize the big picture of global trends and events, through the eyes of the Council on Foreign Relations. Namely, we look at the ever-increasing push toward “public-private partnerships” – that is, the merging of state power with corporate and “philanthropic” power – in pursuance of a new and technologically efficient global order.
EPISODE 5: THE FOREVER TYRANNY (2001 & 2021)
For the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Alice and I compare two “Foreign Affairs” articles: one from 2001 and one from 2021. We look at the similarities between the specter of global terror and the specter of COVID-19, and discuss how both of these events did (and do) guarantee the perpetual centralization of power.
