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Gideon Rachman became chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times in July 2006. He joined the FT after a 15-year career at The Economist, which included spells as a foreign correspondent in Brussels, Washington and Bangkok. He also edited The Economist’s business and Asia sections. His particular interests include American foreign policy, the European Union and globalisation. - -
Back Obama for commander-in-chief
While Washington’s armchair generals will denounce the Democratic candidate for weakness on Iran, the real generals support his position. The US top brass has no appetite for launching yet another war in the Middle East. Bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq, the last thing the US military needs is a third front, writes Gideon Rachman
American journalism, still a model
The Americans are stuffier and more cautious but they are also more careful and take the idea of journalism as a civic duty much more seriously – much as it pains me to say this, I fear that the Americans are closer to being right than the British, writes Gideon Rachman
When peace and justice collide
As it celebrates its 10th anniversary, the International Criminal Court is facing its own indictment. Its critics charge that its work is often counter-productive, politicised and plain incompetent. Gideon Rachman considers the future
How Obama can avoid the Carter trap
Mr Obama’s relentless emphasis on hope and optimism owes much to Ronald Reagan. But when it comes to foreign policy, he is in clear danger of being branded with the mark of Carter, writes Gideon Rachman
Paths out of Zimbabwe’s dead end
Britain, the US and the EU need to cut off the access to hard currency and international banks that allows Mugabe to float above Zimbabwean hyper-inflation. But the biggest source of pressure has to come from his southern African neighbours, writes Gideon Rachman
Ireland’s bold blow for democracy
The EU is like some hideously persistent suitor who will not take No for an answer. Europe’s political leaders should resist the temptation to ‘respect’ the country’s referendum by seeking to overturn it, writes Gideon Rachman
A Choice of Enemies
This account of US engagement with the Middle East gives a sense of the pressures and trade-offs facing American presidents, writes Gideon Rachman
Respect for the law is in Russia’s interest
The biggest reason for the Russian government to get serious about the rule of law is the welfare of its own citizens. Wealthy foreign businessmen can look after themselves. It is ordinary Russians who suffer most from a lawless environment, writes Gideon Rachman
We cannot go on eating like this
On the subject of per capita consumption, western politicians struggle to find a convincing response to complaints from the developing world. But they will struggle just as hard to persuade their voters to cut back to accommodate the rise of a richer China and India, writes Gideon Rachman
On Israel and the campaign bus
Dealing with accusations of anti-semitism or anti-Israeli sentiment is draining and time-consuming for a presidential candidate. It is easier to chuck a controversial adviser under the bus. But America’s absolutism on the Middle East is reducing its influence, writes Gideon Rachman
