Episode 1: Dawn of Unipolarity

American foreign policy after the Cold War

The 1990s were a decade of transformation and optimism. Teenagers were listening to grunge rock and hip hop on their walkmans. Flannels and jean jackets became staples of ‘90s fashion. And seemingly without warning, the Cold War was over, the Soviet Union had dissolved, and the United States emerged as the sole superpower. America’s unipolar moment had arrived. Today’s world seems more dangerous and competitive than that of 30 years ago. So how did we get here?

In this episode of None Of The Above, the Institute for Global Affairs’ Mark Hannah revisits some of the most pivotal events of the 1990s, from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the Gulf War, with the help of Stephen Walt, a professor of international relations at Harvard University. They discuss successes and failures of America’s efforts to shape the new world order. Former NPR correspondent Deborah Amos and retired ambassador Thomas Pickering also provide personal insights and commentary.

Stephen Walt is the Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a columnist at Foreign Policy magazine. He is the author of several books on international relations including The Hell of Good Intentions, Revolutions and War, and The Origins of Alliances.

Deborah Amos is a Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University. Over the course of her award-winning career, she served as an international correspondent for NPR, ABC, and PBS. Her reporting has largely focused on the Middle East and refugees. She was awarded the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.

Thomas Pickering is a retired diplomat who served as US ambassador to the United Nations, India, and Russia throughout the 1990s. He also served as Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs under President Clinton from 1997 to 2000. He achieved the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in American diplomacy.

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