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Michael McFaul

Michael McFaul

Michael McFaul, a member of the editorial board of American Purpose, is director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies, Department of Political Science, and Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, all at Stanford University. He also works as an international affairs analyst for NBC News and writes a monthly column for the Washington Post. He served five years in the Obama Administration, first as special assistant to the President and senior director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council (2009–12), and then as U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012–14). He has authored several books, including Advancing Democracy Abroad: Why We Can and How We Should (2009) and the New York Times bestseller, From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia (2018). His forthcoming book is titled, American Renewal: Lessons from the Cold War for Competing with China and Russia Today (2021).

Articles and Events

Sell It Again, Uncle Sam

Sell It Again, Uncle Sam

America has yet to design its artillery for today’s War of Ideas. It’s on, and the stakes are as important as ever.

Michael McFaul
It’s Time to Up Our Democracy Promotion Game

It’s Time to Up Our Democracy Promotion Game

It’s not enough to support activists. We need to create a competition in ideas if we want to end the worldwide recession in democracy.

Michael McFaul

Mar. 25, 2021: Michael McFaul on his three-part series in American Purpose

Join us on March 25, 2021 to hear Michael McFaul discuss his three-part series on diplomacy and international affairs published in American Purpose. Read his series below. Michael McFaul, a member of the editorial board of American Purpose, is director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Ken Olivier

Michael McFaul
Sometimes You Get Another Chance

Sometimes You Get Another Chance

Donald Trump took us out of the Democracy Business. This is the time to get back in. The second in a series of three articles from the author’s forthcoming book.

Michael McFaul
Dressing for Dinner

Dressing for Dinner

We can’t reclaim our place at the head of the table if we’re dragging our grandfathers’ State Department behind us. The first in a series of three articles from the author’s forthcoming book.

Michael McFaul