July 23, 2022 | View in Browser
Sponsored by University of Notre Dame Keough School of Global Affairs
As the Cold War drew to a close, a debate opened up about what would
replace the bipolar international system—and what the United States’ new
global role would be. In “!e Unipolar Moment,” an in"uential essay
published in Foreign A!airs in 1990, the columnist Charles Krauthammer
argued that to see the United States as anything but the world’s “unchallenged
superpower” was fantasy. U.S. policymakers may “dress unilateral action in
multilateral clothing,” he wrote, but for the foreseeable future, the United
States would be “the only country with the military, diplomatic, political and
economic assets to be a decisive player in any con"ict.” Washington could not
a#ord to retreat from the world, even if it wanted to, Krauthammer urged.
“!e alternative to unipolarity is chaos,” he wrote. “If America wants stability,
it will have to create it.”
— Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, Editor
!e Unipolar Moment
By Charles Krauthammer
Advertisement: University of Notre Dame Keough School of Global Affairs
Lead the change you want to see
A Master of Global Affairs degree empowers you to become an agent of change in today’s
world. Get hands-on experience working with international organizations to address
conflict, racial injustice, climate change, migration and displacement, and other threats to
human flourishing. Learn to bridge cultures, disciplines, and sectors—because the
toughest global challenges require our best collective thinking. At the University of Notre
Dame, you will leverage all the resources of a major research university with global
connections and small, diverse classes.
Generous funding is available.
Learn more >
Is there a Foreign A!airs essay you want to see in this newsletter? Let us know.
Follow to stay up to date:
© 2022 Council on Foreign Relations | 58 East 68 Street, New York NY | 10065
To celebrate our centennial year, we'll be sending you the Foreign Affairs: 100 Years newsletter every week
until our anniversary issue in September. You can change your newsletter preferences at any time here.
Have questions about your subscription? Learn more about all your subscriber benefits here or visit
our Frequently Asked Questions.
Click here to manage your email preferences.
This email was sent to fmudde303@[Link]. To be removed from ALL Foreign Affairs emails,
including newsletters, unsubscribe here.
To ensure we can contact you,
please add us to your email address book or safe list.
