The Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, serves to directly advance the Scowcroft Center’s core mission by developing sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and its allies and partners. Its competencies in long-range foresight and strategy development are vital assets to government and business leaders as they navigate a complex and unpredictable world. Through its work, the initiative strives to revitalize, adapt, and defend a rules-based international system in order to foster peace, prosperity, and freedom for decades to come.

Practice areas

Strategy

Foresight

The new decade is in rapid flux and is characterized by geopolitical turbulence, economic complexity, technological disruption, demographic shifts and social interconnectedness. In this changing environment, we focus on identifying the key trends and risks which will fundamentally shape the future of humanity and global affairs. Our work encompasses a wide range of issues, from demography and urbanization to migration, power transitions and global governance, but is always driven by the principle that foresight is a key mindset for decision-making.

Technology and innovation

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is already underway. Technological development will fundamentally alter the global geopolitical landscape by changing governance structures, challenging human ingenuity and demanding innovative policy responses. Our team analyzes the political, socioeconomic, ecological, and security implications of emerging technologies, maps the evolution of innovation ecosystems and distills blueprints for entrepreneurship, in the Unites States and globally.

Geopolitics

The global power shift towards Asia, the United States’ relative decline and the emergence of transnational threats such as climate change are pulling at the threads of the post-World War II international system. Our team’s research discerns the outline of the dawning multipolar order by exploring power transitions, geopolitical shifts, and civil society movements. At the same time, we seek to challenge the assumptions which have been underpinning US foreign policy for the last 70 years and adapt them for current times.

Non-traditional security challenges

In the 21st century, the definition of security and its global architecture are changing under the pressure of transnational, non-traditional threats such as migration, climate change and inequality, in an unresponsive global governance system. SSI is reframing security policy paradigms by bringing into the fold cutting-edge issues such as environmental security, peacebuilding, resilience and illicit trade, and providing policy solutions for the international community, states and citizens.

What world post-COVID-19? interview series

us navy military what world post-covid 19 kim roberts

Blog Post

Jul 20, 2020

What world post COVID-19?: A conversation with Dr. Kim Roberts

By Anca Agachi, Peter Engelke

Dr. Kim Roberts, security studies expert, discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed thinking around national security and the US role in the world, and outlines the uncertainties ahead.

China Coronavirus

Blog Post

Jul 29, 2020

What world post COVID-19?: A conversation with Dr. Joe Mascaro

By Peter Engelke, Anca Agachi

Dr. Joe Mascaro, director of education and research at Planet, discusses the effects of the pandemic on the environment, and its implications for energy transitions and earth sciences research.

Climate Change & Climate Action Coronavirus

Blog Post

Aug 20, 2020

What world post COVID-19?: A conversation with Dr. Conrad Tucker

By Peter Engelke, Anca Agachi

Dr. Conrad Tucker, professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, explains how the pandemic is changing the conversations around higher education and emerging technologies.

Coronavirus Education

Blog Post

Sep 3, 2020

What world post COVID-19?: A conversation with Mr. John Raidt

By Peter Engelke, Anca Agachi

Mr. John Raidt, security and public policy expert and practitioner, discusses political dysfunction in the US and the need for democratic renewal in light of the pandemic.

China Civil Society

Democratic Order

Team

Experts

Content

Blog Post

Mar 15, 2024

State of the Order: Stresses on the world order mounted in February. Here’s where the biggest impacts are coming from.

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Issue Brief

Mar 14, 2024

Leveraging generative artificial intelligence to outcompete strategic rivals

By Jeffrey Cimmino, Andrew A. Michta

The United States and its allies must leverage generative artificial intelligence to outcompete strategic rivals.

China International Organizations

Blog Post

Mar 6, 2024

State of the Order: Assessing November 2023

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 6, 2024

Bayoumi and Mowla in The Globe and Mail and Canadian Forces College on the Canadian-Caribbean partnership

On October 24, Imran Bayoumi, associate director at the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, and Wazim Mowla, associate director and fellow of the Caribbean Initiative at the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, were published in The Globe and Mail and featured on the Canadian Forces College’s Spotlight on Military […]

Caribbean Climate Change & Climate Action

Blog Post

Feb 8, 2024

State of the Order: What the past month’s events foretell about the world order in 2024

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Blog Post

Feb 7, 2024

State of the Order: How the final month of 2023 shaped the democratic world order

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Feb 2, 2024

Michta in City Journal and RealClearWorld on how the United States can achieve national renewal

On February 1, Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow in the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, was published in City Journal and RealClearWorld on how the United States can revitalize itself. He argues that US leaders must consider how each of their decisions will help American citizens, bring to an end the ideological polarization dividing the country, […]

National Security Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jan 17, 2024

Bayoumi in The New York Times on a paint that can reduce emissions

By Atlantic Council

On January 17, Imran Bayoumi, Associate Director of the Scowcroft Security Initiative, was quoted by The New York Times DealBook newsletter on one of the six ‘snow leopards’ to watch for in 2024, a super-reflective white paint that can reflect 98% of sunlight, lowering air-conditioning needs and emissions.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Jan 17, 2024

The top risks and opportunities for 2024

By Peter Engelke, Paul Saffo

2023 was marked by war in the Middle East and in Europe. What else looms on the horizon? The Atlantic Council’s top experts brought their globe-spanning expertise to the task of forecasting the near future.

Artificial Intelligence China
Snow leopard in the rain

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Jan 17, 2024

Six ‘snow leopards’ to watch for in 2024

Atlantic Council foresight experts spot the underappreciated phenomena that could have outsize impact on the world, driving global change and shaping the future.

Climate Change & Climate Action Defense Technologies