R. Nicholas Burns

Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government

Nicholas Burns, a career foreign service officer, is Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He is the faculty chair of the school’s Middle East Initiative, India, and South Asia Program, and the director of the Future of Diplomacy Project. After 27 years of service in the U.S. Foreign Service, he retired in April 2008 as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the third-ranking official in the State Department. Prior to that, he was Ambassador to NATO (2001–2005), Ambassador to Greece (1997–2001), State Department Spokesman (1995–1997), and worked on the National Security Council staff (1990–1997). Currently, Burns is the director of the Aspen Strategy Group and a senior counselor at the Cohen Group. He also writes a biweekly foreign affairs column for the Boston Globe and is a senior foreign affairs columnist for GlobalPost.

Debates Featuring R. Nicholas Burns

The U.S. Has No Dog In The Fight In Syria

With Graham Allison, R. Nicholas Burns, Richard Falkenrath, Sir Nigel Sheinwald

August 9, 2013

There are certain international crises that on their face demand the immediate and urgent attention of presidents. We all know them when we see them—and so does the man in the White House. Saddam's invasion of Kuwait comes to mind—an easy call. But there are other situations where the call may be tougher to make. Bosnia got a president's attention; Rwanda did not. And what about Syria—now in the midst of a civil war and humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions.…

The U.S. Has No Dog In The Fight In Syria

With Graham Allison, R. Nicholas Burns, Richard Falkenrath, Sir Nigel Sheinwald

August 9, 2013

Diplomacy With Iran Is Going Nowhere

With R. Nicholas Burns, Liz Cheney, Kenneth Pollack, Dan Senor

May 12, 2009

Though the Obama administration has offered direct, unconditional talks to the Iranian regime, Iran has failed to respond. Does America’s continued attempts to pursue diplomacy, at the expense of more forceful interventions, portray the U.S. as weak on a global stage? Or is diplomacy the best of bad options and the only legitimate way to garner international support?

Diplomacy With Iran Is Going Nowhere

With R. Nicholas Burns, Liz Cheney, Kenneth Pollack, Dan Senor

May 12, 2009

Features

Topics

Upcoming debates

SUPPORT OPEN-MINDED DEBATE

R. Nicholas Burns

Debates Featuring R. Nicholas Burns

The U.S. Has No Dog In The Fight In Syria

The U.S. Has No Dog In The Fight In Syria

Diplomacy With Iran Is Going Nowhere

Diplomacy With Iran Is Going Nowhere

Be Curious. Be Open-Minded. Be Open to Debate.