Atlantic Council blogs

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

Jan 6, 2021

Learning from the abyss on Capitol Hill. What now?

By Frederick Kempe

The trauma should prompt us to redouble our efforts within the United States and among allies and partners to simultaneously strengthen our principles and our bonds.

Elections International Norms

Event Recap

Jan 6, 2021

Event recap | Tech and data recommendations for the new administration

By GeoTech Center

In this episode of the GeoTech Hour, hosted Wednesday, January 6, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST, panelists make recommendations on how the new administration can prioritize data and tech applications.

Digital Policy Technology & Innovation

MENASource

Jan 6, 2021

MENA’s post-COVID resilience depends on using the talent pool of women

By Nadereh Chamlou

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where gender-based inequalities are many and deep-rooted, the concern for women’s setbacks could be more serious due to the pandemic.

Economy & Business Middle East

IranSource

Jan 6, 2021

The rise and fall of the ‘crocodile ayatollah’

By Raz Zimmt

With the death of Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, hardliners lost their most outspoken representative.

Iran Middle East

EconoGraphics

Jan 5, 2021

Tracking the COVID-19 economy

By Nitya Biyani

Key economic indicators for Japan, UK, European Union, and the United States.

Coronavirus Economy & Business

SouthAsiaSource

Jan 5, 2021

Taliban 2.0. – Have the Taliban really changed and learnt their lesson?

By Tamim Asey

With negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban under way, many in the West and Afghanistan are banking on the fact that the Taliban movement has changed and that, having failed to defeat them militarily, it is time to embrace them. Although the latter is indeed true – that we have failed to defeat the Taliban militarily – the former deserves more scrutiny.

Afghanistan Human Rights

UkraineAlert

Jan 5, 2021

All roads lead to Ukraine in Putin’s global hybrid war

By Peter Dickinson

For the past seven years, Russia has been waging a campaign of hybrid hostilities against the West. This confrontation began in Ukraine, and events in Ukraine remain central to what has become a new Cold War.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

MENASource

Jan 4, 2021

A more serious agreement to end the Gulf rift would yield a bigger political payout for Saudi Arabia and the UAE

By Kirsten Fontenrose

Everyone wins if the rift ends now. Any later, and MBS loses his shot at immunity and the UAE loses its chance to please both political parties in the US. The time to act is this week.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Jan 4, 2021

Experts react: The US brokers another deal to end the Gulf rift

By Atlantic Council

On January 4, it was reported that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states are expected to sign a deal towards ending the “Gulf rift.” Atlantic Council experts react to the agreement and what it means for the wider region.

Democratic Transitions Middle East

Fast Thinking

Jan 4, 2021

FAST THINKING: What’s Iran thinking?

By Atlantic Council

Tehran seized a South Korean tanker while also announcing that it had begun increasing its uranium enrichment levels to 20 percent. Why?

Iran Korea