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Atlantic Council blogs provide short-form analyses from Council experts and a wider community of global voices on the world’s most important news stories.
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New Atlanticist

Mar 17, 2021

For WTO reform, most roads lead to China. But do the solutions lead away?

By Mark Linscott

As US President Joe Biden moves quickly in his first one hundred days to address key priorities, one issue is crying out for urgent action: the precarious state of the World Trade Organization, which is confronting a variety of immediate and long-term crises.

China Economy & Business

Event Recap

Mar 17, 2021

Event recap | Coordinating data privacy and the public interest

By the GeoTech Center

Data usage and the employment of data trusts has maximized individual privacy and private sector benefits. Both the government and the private sector are working towards developing strategies that emphasize individual privacy more than ever before, as the public continues to express greater interest in protecting their data. However, few institutions have landed upon successful solutions in practice that can protect user privacy while allowing for the high levels of analysis they have come to expect. As our digital landscape continues to evolve, panelists in this episode of the GeoTech Hour discuss intentional policy and design choices that could allow for greater data ownership within people-centered structures.

Digital Policy International Norms

BelarusAlert

Mar 17, 2021

How do you sanction a problem like Lukashenka?

By Brian Whitmore

The West is looking to increase sanctions against Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka but must also tread carefully to avoid creating opportunities for Russia to expand its geopolitical influence.

Belarus European Union

UkraineAlert

Mar 17, 2021

New documentary chronicles the plight of Crimean Tatars under Russian occupation

By Elina-Alem Kent

The recently released documentary film “Crimean Solidarity” chronicles the inspirational efforts of the Crimean Tatar community as it struggles against the oppressive reality of Russian occupation.

Civil Society Conflict

MENASource

Mar 17, 2021

Down the rabbit hole of Israel’s electoral wonderland

By Shalom Lipner

Nothing is certain at this point other than the fact that Israel's leadership is up for grabs. It will be ugly and could conceivably end in a stalemate.

Elections Israel

MENASource

Mar 16, 2021

The many paths to Syrian-Israeli reconciliation

By Samir Altaqi

A reported January meeting between several senior Syrian, Israeli, and Russian intelligence officers in Syria failed to advance bilateral discussions between the parties despite allegedly being attended by Bashar Al-Assad.

Israel Middle East

IranSource

Mar 16, 2021

Larijani has credentials but not charisma as Iran’s presidential candidate

By Barbara Slavin

Ali Larijani is a veteran official in the Islamic Republic whose long service in a variety of key posts would make him a plausible—if not especially charismatic—candidate in Iran’s upcoming June 18 presidential elections.

Iran Middle East

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2021

A mom’s guide to coercion and deterrence

By Emma Ashford, Erica Borghard

There’s a silver lining to parenting in a pandemic: It’s an education in the core concepts of international relations, as well as a useful reminder that we’re all operating in a condition of anarchy. Here's a mom’s primer on deterrence, coercion, credibility, and reassurance.

Conflict Crisis Management

BelarusAlert

Mar 16, 2021

Belarus human rights crisis: Concerns grow for political prisoners

By Vladislav Davidzon

Human rights concerns are mounting over the plight of hundreds of Belarusians currently being held on politically motivated charges by the regime of dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

MENASource

Mar 15, 2021

Here’s how Amman can boost women’s workforce participation

By Stefanie Hausheer Ali

Jordan must climb out of an economic pit exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. One key to promoting long-term economic growth is achieving greater female labor force participation.

Economy & Business Education