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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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MENASource

May 18, 2021

Factbox: Iranian presence in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province

By Navvar Saban

Since the beginning of 2018, Iran has been directly involved in the battle against ISIS in eastern Syria. Through its participation, Iran has been able to carry out its expansion project specifically in Deir ez-Zor, a province bordering Iraq that is troubled by a fragile security situation.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

IranElections2021

May 18, 2021

For Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s presidency is a step toward Supreme Leader

By Anonymous

For Ebrahim Raisi, an election win also puts him one step closer to the real top job in Iran.

Iran Middle East

Fast Thinking

May 17, 2021

FAST THINKING: Mars, with Chinese characteristics

By Atlantic Council

What does China's arrival on Mars mean for the great-power space race? What are the military implications? Our space experts phoned home with the answers.

China Security & Defense

Event Recap

May 17, 2021

Event recap: “Understanding Russian and Iranian perspectives on the Afghan peace process”

By Emily Carll

On May 28, 2021, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, the Eurasia Center, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty hosted an event to discuss Russian and Iranian perspectives on the Afghan Peace Process.

Afghanistan Democratic Transitions

New Atlanticist

May 17, 2021

How to leverage the Quad to counter China’s Digital Sinosphere

By Mark Linscott, Anand Raghuraman

China’s growing ambition to recode the rules of cyberspace should serve as a wake-up call for the Indo-Pacific’s leading digital democracies to cooperate.

Australia China

Event Recap

May 17, 2021

Event recap: “Post-pandemic South Asia: How the COVID-19 pandemic will affect Bangladesh’s politics, economy, and healthcare”

By Kaveri Sarkar

An event recap/analysis on the wide-ranging conversation hosted by the South Asia Center on the future of Bangladesh’s economic, political, and healthcare landscapes in the context of the evolving COVID-19 landscape.

Bangladesh Civil Society

Blog Post

May 14, 2021

Let’s talk about informality!

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

The US economy added 266,000 jobs in April, well below experts’ forecasts of one million jobs. April numbers suggest that there were about 1.1 people unemployed for every job opening in the economy, pointing to a shortage story in labor supply.

Inclusive Growth Macroeconomics

The future is here

May 14, 2021

The post-COVID world this week: A win for the US, a duo that can save the world, and a guide to memorializing the pandemic

By Andrew R. Marshall

What can we expect from a post-COVID world after a pandemic that has reshaped international affairs? A world in which people will start to look back on this moment by erecting memorials, dedications, and more.

Coronavirus Education

EconoGraphics

May 14, 2021

Global Sanctions Dashboard: April

By Julia Friedlander, Michael Albanese and Castellum.AI

UN sanctions, UK’s new anti-corruption authority, the Kremlin’s use of sanctions as a law enforcement mechanism.

European Union Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

New Atlanticist

May 14, 2021

Czechmate? What’s behind the downward spiral in Czech-Russian relations

By Petr Tůma

After Czech officials exposed Russia's involvement in the 2014 explosions at the Vrbětice arms depot, diplomatic tensions have spiked. A Czech diplomat previews what's coming next.

Central Europe Corruption