Canter Bridge

This recently-launched intellectual journal has a most promising masthead. Chock full of news-, policy-, and even history-makers, it suggests that the publication taking shape under the influence of such notables will soon be a must-read for those who don’t leave home without Foreign Affairs. Fukuyama, Brzezinksi, Applebaum, Berger, Ferguson, Huntington, Mead, Rabinovich, Vargas Llosa … The jaw drops.

My first few issues have lived up to the promise, which is not to say the journal has yet reached its stride. A generally realist editorial line jostles with neo-con voices in a medley that thus far sounds robust.

A conversation with the never-at-a-loss-for-words John Bolton allows the ex-UN ambassador to suggest some of the nuanced thought that fuels his words. He comes off looking somewhat the principled polemicist, though Bolton himself would prefer the adjective to the noun.

An exceedingly idealistic proposal for a colloquy of democracies receives perhaps over-earnest but representative treatment and response across a pair of issues.

The writing and editing are strong, the article choice has rarely missed a beat thus far. The connections and penumbra of the editorial board alone probably guarantee regular submission and publication of entries by influential thinkers and policy-makers.

Thought it’s still early innings, The American Interest seems to date to have been a bargain.