Andrew Bast is a journalist who has reported from four continents for several publications including the Village Voice and the New York Times. Currently, he reports on international affairs for Newsweek. Throughout 2009, he wrote the weekly ‘Under the Influence’ column for World Politics Review. He earned a master's degree in international relations from the City University of New York Graduate Center, where his research concentrated on the international regime emerging in response to failed states. He wrote his master's thesis about the Army Field Manual on Stability Operations, examining the paradox of soldiers being tasked as state-builders. For a time, he lectured on American foreign policy at Baruch College. Andrew lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter.