Robert McMahon

Managing Editor

Browse My Work
Profile picture

Expert Bio

Robert McMahon has covered foreign affairs since 1990, writing for the Associated Press, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and CFR.org. As managing editor of CFR’s Digital Content department, McMahon oversees publishing of daily news-related content on CFR.org, supervising an editorial team that produces Backgrounders, In Briefs, long-form interactives, videos, and other multimedia content. He coordinates with CFR fellows to produce web-only publications. McMahon also contributes analysis and background reporting to the website and cohosts the weekly podcast The World Next Week with Senior Fellow Carla Anne Robbins. Under his guidance, CFR.org has garnered multiple media citations, including Emmy, Overseas Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists, Webby, and Online News Association awards.

Prior to joining CFR.org, McMahon held senior editorial positions at RFE/RL, including as news director in Prague, Czech Republic, where he was a founding editor of RFE/RL’s website, and as a UN correspondent. He has written extensively on democracy promotion, public diplomacy, human rights, UN peacekeeping, and nation-building. He is a contributing writer to the Foreign Service Journal. McMahon has a master’s degree in international relations from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Clear All
Regions
Topics
Type

Explore More on International Relations

World Order

The World
An invaluable primer from Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, that will help anyone, expert and nonexpert alike, navigate a time in which many of our biggest challenges come from the world beyond our borders.

Book by Richard Haass May 11, 2021

Global Governance

Don’t Show the Parents: The 2018–2019 Report Card on International Cooperation
How did world leaders do in managing global challenges in 2018? Experts from twenty-eight think tanks around the world grade international cooperation a middling C.

Blog Post by Terrence Mullan May 14, 2019 The Internationalist

Turkey

Why I’m Sick of Turkey
Washington continues to claim Ankara as “strategic partner.” Let’s stop pretending it is.

Article by Steven A. Cook November 27, 2018 Middle East Program

Top Stories on CFR

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Few Options for Gazans as Israel Enters Rafah
An impending Israeli ground invasion of Rafah could threaten more than a million civilians seeking refuge in the city and further restrict humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

In Brief by Christina Bouri and Diana Roy May 8, 2024

Maldives

The Maldives Is Moving Toward China. Here’s What to Know.
Once a close Indian partner, the Maldives is now aligning more with China. Is the island nation becoming a flash point in the China-India relationship? 

In Brief by Rhea Basarkar May 2, 2024

Public Health Threats and Pandemics

What Is Avian Flu?
A global surge in avian flu outbreaks in birds and some mammals is worrying poultry farmers, scientists, and health experts. The trend is provoking questions about the future of the disease and global public health.

Backgrounder by Mariel Ferragamo May 7, 2024