Atlantic Council blogs

NATO Summit Special Series: Canada

By Stephen M. Saideman

Because Canada is far away from the two biggest threats facing NATO, Russia and the Middle East, the concern in Ottawa is probably less focused on what NATO should do, but more on what NATO will ask of Canada.

Factionalism in South Africa’s ANC Fuels Violent Protests

By Chloë McGrath

On June 20, violent protests broke out in Tshwane, the metropolitan municipality encompassing South Africa’s executive capital, Pretoria. The death toll associated with the chaos that ensued cost five people their lives. While violent protests are not an unusual occurrence in the embattled democracy, last week’s events are particularly significant. With just six weeks to […]

On the Anniversary of Hafez al-Assad’s Death: How He Divided the Alawite Sect

By Saleem al-Omar

This month marks the sixteenth anniversary of the death of Hafez al-Assad, a man who built the foundation of Syria’s civil war and still influences its course today. He had supported his Alawite sect along with other minorities to secure their support for him and as a counterweight to the Sunnis, showing favoritism towards those […]

The Dangerous Perspective of Theo Sommer

By Alexander J. Motyl

This time, Theo Sommer has outdone himself. After closing his eyes to the mass murders of the Soviet regime in an article published on May 31, the editor-at-large of Germany’s prestigious Die Zeit newspaper has now demonstrated in a just-published piece an alarming ignorance not just of Ukraine but of elementary strategic logic. The former […]

NATO Summit Special Series: United Kingdom

By Lisa Aronsson

The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union, exposing the depth of anti-European sentiment across the country, raising questions about the UK’s future security strategy, and about its orientation vis-à-vis its European partners.

The United Kingdom’s Long Kiss Goodbye

Here’s what Atlantic Council analysts and guests had to say about the British referendum on June 23 to leave the European Union. In the Week After the Vote: “British support for taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union came as a tremendous shock to the world. Global financial markets were roiled for two […]

Brexit: An ‘Earthquake’ in London

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A vote by the British to leave the European Union should not be viewed as an isolated incident. It should, instead, set off alarm bells about the future of the European project. British Prime Minister David Cameron’s campaign to keep the United Kingdom in the EU was defeated by 52 percent to 48 percent despite […]

In Post-Brexit Era, a New Vision for the EU is Necessary

By Fran Burwell

Boarding the Eurostar from Brussels to London on June 24, the British passengers still went through the “EU Members” line at passport control, while we Americans went through “All Other Passports”—for how much longer? Possibly, for quite some time, if some British leaders—including top campaigners to Leave—have their way. At the core of the issue […]

EU’s Salvation a Priority

By Anders Åslund

David Cameron will go down as one of the most foolish prime ministers in British history. By placating populist sentiment and agreeing to hold a referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership in the European Union to manage tensions in his own Conservative Party, he has taken his country out of relevant international politics, forced himself […]

Despite Fallujah Victory, Baghdad Remains in Political Quagmire

By Nussaibah Younis

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi appears to have launched the sudden assault on the city of Fallujah last month in an effort to distract from the political turmoil in Baghdad. And to some extent, it has worked. Popular support for the fight has won the prime minister a short political reprieve, and the media landscape has […]