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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

Sep 5, 2019

Is the early presidential election a political turning point for Tunisia?

By Haykel Ben Mahfoudh

The results of the next Tunisian presidential election may change the political spectrum for the subsequent legislative elections too. During the last eights years, the political paranoia has been the rule, leading public opinion to discredit politicians and political parties.

Middle East North Africa

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2019

Purveying arms through carrot and stick

By Sarosh Bana

US arms sales to India have risen more than fivefold over the last five years and now account for 12 per cent of India’s defense imports, according to a recent study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Defense Industry India

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2019

Democratic hopefuls show enhanced dedication to fighting climate crisis

By David A. Wemer

What united all of the candidates was a recognition that climate change would need to be a major focus of the next president.

Climate Change & Climate Action Elections

UkraineAlert

Sep 4, 2019

Danger ahead

By Willem Aldershoff

Although every Ukrainian understandably wishes a quick end to the war in the Donbas and a lasting settlement of the conflict, Ukraine is strongly advised to approach any Minsk Summit with the greatest care.

European Union International Norms

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2019

Westminster tries to rein Johnson in and avoid no-deal

By David A. Wemer

Arguing that the bill would mean he would lose all leverage with Brussels over a new withdrawal agreement, Johnson said “there is only one way forward for the country…there must now be an election.”

Elections European Union

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2019

Rising regionalism: A new trend or an old idea in need of better understanding?

By Richards Kols

The success of regionalism in Europe can be an important example for the nations of Central Asia, who remain hesitant about regional cooperation despite their shared economic, cultural, and geopolitical characteristics, and need for greater internal cohesion.

Central Asia International Organizations

UkraineAlert

Sep 3, 2019

So far, so good

By Oleh Havrylyshyn and Basil Kalymon

The Zelenskyy administration’s very positive statements, if translated into policies, would open a new era of economic growth and opportunity for Ukraine.

Macroeconomics Political Reform

UkraineAlert

Sep 3, 2019

Want investors to take Ukraine seriously? The solution is obvious

By Mykhailo Zhernakov

Now is time to change Ukraine’s courts, and we can make it happen, so long as our Western friends speak out loudly and forcefully at the right moments.

Corruption Political Reform

IranSource

Sep 3, 2019

Iran counters ‘Maximum Pressure’ by reaching out to the Kurds

By Tamer Badawi

Sensing the immense geopolitical challenges Iran is facing, these Kurdish groups—which seek autonomy through armed struggle—might be testing the waters amid mounting regional pressure on Tehran.

Crisis Management Iran

New Atlanticist

Sep 3, 2019

US-Taliban negotiations: How to avoid rushing to failure

By James Dobbins, Robert P. Finn, Ronald E. Neumann, William Wood, John Negroponte, E. Anthony Wayne, Ryan Crocker, James Cunningham, Hugo Llorens

A major troop withdrawal must be contingent on a final peace. The initial US drawdown should not go so far or so fast that the Taliban believe that they can achieve military victory. In that case, they will not make compromises for peace with other Afghan political forces.

Afghanistan Democratic Transitions