The Weekly Standard

The Weekly Standard
source
Title	The Weekly Standard
Editor	William Kristol
Frequency	Weekly
Publisher	News Corporation
Firstdate	1995
Lastdate	2018
Country	United States
Language	English

The Weekly Standard was a American conservative magazine that played a significant role in shaping the country's Republican political landscape, with notable contributors including William Kristol, Fred Barnes, and David Brooks. The magazine was known for its in-depth analysis of politics, foreign policy, and culture, often featuring articles by prominent thinkers such as Irving Kristol, Norman Podhoretz, and Midge Decter. With its roots in the neoconservative movement, The Weekly Standard was closely associated with influential figures like Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Paul Wolfowitz, who were key architects of the George W. Bush administration's foreign policy. The magazine's editorial stance was shaped by its founders' involvement in the Project for the New American Century, a think tank that advocated for a more assertive United States foreign policy.

● History

The Weekly Standard's history is closely tied to the Republican Party and the neoconservative movement, with its founders, including William Kristol and John Podhoretz, playing key roles in shaping the party's platform. The magazine's early years were marked by its strong support for the Newt Gingrich-led Republican Revolution and its advocacy for a more assertive United States foreign policy, as seen in its coverage of the Gulf War and the Bosnian War. The Weekly Standard was also a vocal supporter of the Iraq War, with contributors like Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle advocating for regime change in Iraq. The magazine's influence extended beyond the United States, with its ideas and perspectives shaping the foreign policy debates in countries like Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia, where it was often cited by prominent thinkers like Mark Steyn and Niall Ferguson.

● Founding_and_Early_Years

The Weekly Standard was founded in 1995 by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, with William Kristol as its first editor, and was closely associated with the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank that has hosted prominent scholars like Christopher DeMuth and Arthur Brooks. The magazine's early years were marked by its strong support for the Republican Party and its advocacy for a more assertive United States foreign policy, as seen in its coverage of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the impeachment of Bill Clinton. The Weekly Standard's founding was also influenced by the National Review, a conservative magazine founded by William F. Buckley Jr., which has featured prominent contributors like George Will and Charles Krauthammer. The magazine's early contributors included notable thinkers like David Frum, Andrew Sullivan, and Peggy Noonan, who have all played significant roles in shaping the conservative movement in the United States.

● Editorial_Stance

The Weekly Standard's editorial stance was shaped by its founders' involvement in the neoconservative movement, which emphasized the importance of a strong United States foreign policy and the promotion of democracy and free markets around the world, as seen in its coverage of the Arab Spring and the Ukrainian crisis. The magazine was a strong supporter of the George W. Bush administration's foreign policy, including the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, and featured prominent contributors like Victor Davis Hanson and Thomas Sowell. The Weekly Standard was also a vocal critic of liberalism and progressivism, with contributors like Mark Levin and Ann Coulter advocating for a more conservative approach to politics and culture, as seen in its coverage of the Tea Party movement and the 2016 United States presidential election. The magazine's editorial stance was influenced by the ideas of prominent thinkers like Leo Strauss, Friedrich Hayek, and Milton Friedman, who have all had a significant impact on the conservative movement.

● Notable_Contributors

The Weekly Standard featured a wide range of notable contributors, including William Kristol, Fred Barnes, David Brooks, Irving Kristol, and Norman Podhoretz, who have all played significant roles in shaping the conservative movement in the United States. Other notable contributors included Peggy Noonan, Michael Barone, and Stephen Hayes, who have all been influential voices in the Republican Party and the conservative movement. The magazine also featured contributions from prominent thinkers like Niall Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson, and Andrew Roberts, who have all written extensively on history, politics, and culture. The Weekly Standard's contributors have been widely published in other prominent magazines and newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and National Review, and have included notable figures like Charles Krauthammer, George Will, and Karl Rove.

● Closure

The Weekly Standard ceased publication in 2018, after 23 years in print, due to declining circulation and revenue, as well as the challenges posed by the digital media landscape, which has led to the decline of many print magazines, including National Review and The New Republic. The magazine's closure was widely reported in the media, with many prominent figures, including Mike Pence and Mitch McConnell, paying tribute to its influence and legacy, and noting its significant contributions to the conservative movement and the Republican Party. The Weekly Standard's archives remain available online, and its influence can still be seen in the conservative movement and the Republican Party, with many of its former contributors continuing to write and comment on politics and culture for prominent outlets like Fox News and The Wall Street Journal.

● Legacy

The Weekly Standard's legacy is complex and multifaceted, with its influence extending beyond the United States to shape foreign policy debates and conservative movements around the world, including in countries like Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. The magazine's advocacy for a more assertive United States foreign policy and its support for the Iraq War have been widely debated and criticized, with many arguing that its influence contributed to the United States's involvement in costly and unpopular wars, including the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. However, the magazine's contributions to the conservative movement and its influence on prominent thinkers and politicians, including George W. Bush and Donald Trump, are undeniable, and its legacy continues to shape the Republican Party and the conservative movement in the United States. The Weekly Standard's influence can also be seen in the work of prominent think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation, which have both played significant roles in shaping the conservative movement and the Republican Party.

Category:Defunct magazines