The United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural, and Communications Organization (UNESCO) grew from seeds planted during World War II and enjoyed bipartisan Congressional support as it joined the UN family in the 1940s. But controversy overtook it; the United States withdrew by 1984. It re-entered nearly twenty years later, but objecting to the agency’s 2011 vote to admit the Palestinian Authority, it began extracting itself once again. Barring a political miracle, the United States will assume observer status by this time next year. What will be the consequences?   

A scholar of the French Enlightenment, Richard T. Arndt joined the United States Information Agency in 1961 after receiving his doctorate from Columbia. He served as a cultural diplomat until 1985, working in Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Iran, Italy, and France. He has taught at the University of Virginia and George Washington University. Besides The First Resort of Kings (2005), his publications include The Fulbright Difference, 1948-92 (1993).

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Monday November 26: Max Holland on Mark Felt as “Deep Throat”