Mark Falcoff
Encyclopedia
Mark Falcoff is an American
scholar and policy consultant who has worked with a number of important think tank
s, such as the American Enterprise Institute
(AEI), the Hoover Institution
, and the Council on Foreign Relations
.
Falcoff earned a B.A.
in political science
from the University of Missouri
in 1963, and would later earn a Ph.D.
and M.A.
at Princeton University
. He served as a consultant and staff member on a number of important committees and commissions, including the 1983 National Bipartisan Commission on Central America
and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
. He has taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Oregon and lectured at several universities.
The focus of Falcoff's work is Latin America
and related US policies
. He has authored numerous publication on subjects ranging from the causes of the Juan Perón
period of Argentine
politics to the controversial US handover of the Panama Canal
to Panama
. Many of his books are published in conjunction with AEI; the latest of these is Cuba the Morning After: Confronting Castro's Legacy, which attempts to challenge common assumptions pertaining to Cuba-United States relations
and the impact on Cuba of Fidel Castro
's eventual demise.
In a 2003 article for Commentary
, Falcoff defended former Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger
(who served as the head of the 1983 commission on Central America which Falcoff consulted) against claims, most notably made by Christopher Hitchens
in The Trial of Henry Kissinger
, that Kissinger, as the US Secretary of State, was the chief architect for the Chilean coup of 1973
, and subsequent atrocities committed by the forces of President
Augusto Pinochet
. http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=10612
Falcoff's articles have appeared in a number of influential newspaper
s and academic journal
s, such as The Washington Post
, The New Republic
, and Foreign Affairs
. He is currently Resident Scholar Emeritus of AEI.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
scholar and policy consultant who has worked with a number of important think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
s, such as the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
(AEI), the Hoover Institution
Hoover Institution
The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace is a public policy think tank and library founded in 1919 by then future U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, an early alumnus of Stanford....
, and the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
.
Falcoff earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1963, and would later earn a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. He served as a consultant and staff member on a number of important committees and commissions, including the 1983 National Bipartisan Commission on Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. The Foreign Relations Committee is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid programs as...
. He has taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Oregon and lectured at several universities.
The focus of Falcoff's work is Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and related US policies
Foreign relations of the United States
The United States has formal diplomatic relations with most nations. The United States federal statutes relating to foreign relations can be found in Title 22 of the United States Code.-Pacific:-Americas:-Caribbean:...
. He has authored numerous publication on subjects ranging from the causes of the Juan Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
period of Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
politics to the controversial US handover of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. Many of his books are published in conjunction with AEI; the latest of these is Cuba the Morning After: Confronting Castro's Legacy, which attempts to challenge common assumptions pertaining to Cuba-United States relations
Cuba-United States relations
Cuba and the United States of America have had an interest in one another since well before either of their independence movements. Plans for purchase of Cuba from the Spanish Empire were put forward at various times by United States...
and the impact on Cuba of Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
's eventual demise.
In a 2003 article for Commentary
Commentary (magazine)
Commentary is a monthly American magazine on politics, Judaism, social and cultural issues. It was founded by the American Jewish Committee in 1945. By 1960 its editor was Norman Podhoretz, a liberal at the time who moved sharply to the right in the 1970s and 1980s becoming a strong voice for the...
, Falcoff defended former Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
(who served as the head of the 1983 commission on Central America which Falcoff consulted) against claims, most notably made by Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Eric Hitchens is an Anglo-American author and journalist whose books, essays, and journalistic career span more than four decades. He has been a columnist and literary critic at The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Slate, World Affairs, The Nation, Free Inquiry, and became a media fellow at the...
in The Trial of Henry Kissinger
The Trial of Henry Kissinger
The Trial of Henry Kissinger is Christopher Hitchens' examination of the alleged war crimes of Henry Kissinger, the National Security Advisor and later Secretary of State for President Nixon and President Ford...
, that Kissinger, as the US Secretary of State, was the chief architect for the Chilean coup of 1973
Chilean coup of 1973
The 1973 Chilean coup d'état was a watershed event of the Cold War and the history of Chile. Following an extended period of political unrest between the conservative-dominated Congress of Chile and the socialist-leaning President Salvador Allende, discontent culminated in the latter's downfall in...
, and subsequent atrocities committed by the forces of President
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
. http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=10612
Falcoff's articles have appeared in a number of influential newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s and academic journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
s, such as The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
, and Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
. He is currently Resident Scholar Emeritus of AEI.
Published works
- Prologue to Peron: Argentina in Depression and War, 1930-1943, 1976.
- The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939: American Hemispheric Perspectives, 1982.
- Small Countries, Large Issues, 1984.
- The Continuing Crisis: U.S. Policy in Central America and the Caribbean, co-editor Robert Royal, 1987.
- Chile: Prospects for Democracy, co-authors Susan K. Purcell, Arturo Valenzuela, 1988.
- A Tale of Two Policies: U.S. Relations with the Argentine Junta, 1976-1983, 1989.
- Modern Chile: A Critical History, 1989.
- Latin America after the Cold War: Implications for U.S. Policy, co-authors Douglas Payne, Susan K. Purcell, 1991.
- Searching for Panama: The U.S.-Panama Relationship and Democratization, co-author Richard L. Millett, 1993.
- A Culture of Its Own: Taking Latin America Seriously, 1998.
- Panama's Canal: What Happens When the United States Gives a Small Country What it Wants, 2000. A PDFPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
version is available at AEI's website. http://www.aei.org/books/filter.all,bookID.504/book_detail.asp - The Cuban Revolution and the United States: A History in Documents, 1958-1960, 2001.
- Cuba the Morning After: Confronting Castro's Legacy, 2003.
External links
- American Enterprise Institute profile
- Ashbrook Center profile
- Latin American Outlook - AEI monthly newsletter authored by Mark Falcoff through 2004.