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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FutureSource

Dec 7, 2013

Can We Harness Disruption to Improve Our World’s Future?

By Mariette DiChristina

At Scientific American, we take it as a given that science and technology form a key underpinning for human advancement. But all anybody needs to do to be convinced about their importance is to scan today’s headlines about pressing global concerns of our finite world. Consider, for instance, the coming food-water-energy crisis, the ongoing transformation of […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 6, 2013

Pham Remembers Mandela on Fox News

Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham spoke with Fox News on the passing of former South African President and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

Africa South Africa

SouthAsiaSource

Dec 6, 2013

This Week in South Asia: November 30 – December 6

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week.

Afghanistan India

MENASource

Dec 6, 2013

Unintended Consequences in Syria

By Faysal Itani

The most significant development in the Syrian conflict is neither chemical weapons disarmament nor international posturing over the Geneva II process, but US engagement with the newly-formed Jabha al-Islamiyya, or Islamic Front—a coalition of Islamist nationalist militia. After two and a half years of hand-wringing, meandering, and denial, US strategy in Syria finally began to […]

Syria

MENASource

Dec 6, 2013

The ‘New’ Draft Constitution Part I: A Flawed Beginning

By Yussef Auf

As the fifty-member committee tasked with amending the suspended 2012 Constitution has finished its work, criticism of the committee, its formation and its amended text have continued. Undoubtedly, the most significant criticism of the committee is the fact that it was appointed by the July 3 authority responsible of theouster of former president Mohamed Morsi. […]

North Africa Political Reform

FutureSource

Dec 6, 2013

Robots: Out of the Factory and Into Our Lives

By Banning Garrett

While 3D printing is changing the when, where and how of things are made in the Third Industrial Revolution (TIR), the new robotics is enhancing productivity and changing the role of humans in the production process and the overall economy. The development of a new generation of robots that are easier to program and are […]

MENASource

Dec 6, 2013

English Translation of Egypt’s 2013 Draft Constitution

By EgyptSource

With a popular referendum on Egypt’s draft constitution expected in January, the final draft has been submitted to interim President Adly Mansour for his approval. The referendum is expected to take place in the first or second week of January. Doing away with much of the original 2012 constitution drafted under ousted president Mohamed Morsi, […]

North Africa Political Reform

MENASource

Dec 6, 2013

Top News: Al-Qaeda-claimed attack in Yemeni capital kills fifty-two

By MENASource

At least fifty-two people were killed and 167 wounded after a car bomb rocked the defense ministry in the capital Sana’a on Thursday, an Al Arabiya correspondent reported. Six doctors, including a Venezuelan and two from the Philippines, were among the people killed, Agence France-Presse quoted medical and security sources as saying.

Euromaidan in Kyiv

NATOSource

Dec 6, 2013

US Calls for Leaders Responsible for Violence in Ukraine to be ‘Brought to Justice’

By Victoria Nuland, Department of State

[I]t’s past time for the leadership in Ukraine to listen to the voices of its people, and to restore a path to European integration and economic health.

Ukraine United States and Canada

MENASource

Dec 6, 2013

Ambassador Fred Hof Address to the Harvard National & International Security Program on Syria

By MENASource

After months of tentative dates, preliminary conferences, and backroom wrangling, the Geneva II peace talks are now penciled in for January 22. Considering the track record of delays, it is fair to wonder if this new date will stick. But the larger question facing the Geneva process is whether a diplomatic solution to the Syrian […]

Syria