Introduction

This issue of The Forum explores the potential causes and consequences of partisanship within two American institutions, the news media and universities, where partisanship rubs against institutional norms. Another article comments on the Bush Administration's foreign policy, arguing that the Pentagon's project to remake the military is in sharp conflict with the task of nation-building that the U.S. has undertaken recently without support from Allies. Additional articles focus on elections, with one speculating about the progress of the Green Party relative to other third parties and another responding to an earlier piece about the role of race in the 2003 Louisiana gubernatorial campaign between Bobby Jindal and Kathleen Blanco.

As always, we welcome thoughtful responses to these articles which The Forum will consider publishing.