New Atlanticist

Sharp insights and bold ideas from across the Council

From climate change to the China challenge and the contest between democracy and dictatorship, the New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challenges—and the US role in addressing them alongside allies and partners.

The Council’s flagship section features big ideas, groundbreaking research, lightning-fast expert reactions, in-depth analyses, and thought-provoking commentary to shape public policy.

GM 2025: Will General Motors Survive the Revolution in Energy Affairs?

New Atlanticist
Jul 29, 2025

The Russia pressure menu: Options to convince Putin to negotiate on Ukraine

As the US president cuts his deadline for Russia to ten days, there are several options for him to increase pressure on Moscow to pursue peace.

New Atlanticist
Jul 24, 2025

Dispatch from Manila: A lesson in calling out Chinese maritime aggression

By
Markus Garlauskas, Philip W. Yu

As the Philippines has focused more on Chinese threats to itself, Manila also seems increasingly inclined to see its own security as connected to that of the broader region.

China
Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist
Jul 1, 2025

The US must enforce sanctions to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program

By
Kimberly Donovan

To ensure that Tehran cannot get its hands on the financial resources it would need to rebuild its nuclear program, Iran sanctions enforcement should start with China.

Economic Sanctions
Iran

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New Atlanticist

Jun 23, 2009

GM 2025: Will General Motors Survive the Revolution in Energy Affairs?

By Robert Manning

The fate of General Motors, and perhaps the U.S. auto industry more broadly, will ultimately hinge on its success in the transition to the post-petroleum era, a process in its very early stages. Is there a new GM emerging from the ashes of the old, and will it survive beyond the public dole? It is […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2009

New Afghanistan Commander Limits Predators

By James Joyner

The new commander of forces in Afghanistan has announced he will be much more cautious than his predecessors in using Predators in situations that put civilian life at risk.

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2009

Iran: Why 2009 is Not 1979

By Don Snow

The images coming out of Tehran the past week–and especially today–are intoxicating. What is going on? Is there a new Iranian Revolution in the making? Is George W. Bush’s policy of democracy promotion being vindicated on the streets of Iran’s capital? Is there a fundamental change about to break out in Iran? Will 2009 be […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 21, 2009

‘Watching the Fall of Islamic Theocracy’

By James Joyner

The protests in Iran have entered a third week and the state media acknowledges that the death toll has reached 19 and that hundreds have been injured. Fareed Zakaria, a man not noted for idle leaps, proclaims, “we are watching the fall of Islamic theocracy.”

New Atlanticist

Jun 19, 2009

Comparing French and American Secondary Schools

By James Joyner

The blogosphere has had a bit of fun with a reports on the difficulty of the baccalauréat, the national qualification examination for entries into French universities. The questions seem impossibly hard to some American eyes and raise questions about the comparative quality of the two school systems.

New Atlanticist

Jun 19, 2009

Albright on the Complexity of International Relations

By James Joyner

At the inaugural Bronislaw Geremek Lecture last night, Dr. Madeleine Albright give those of us in attendance some keen insights into the complexity of foreign policy decision-making.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 19, 2009

Barroso Faces Battle to Keep Job

By James Joyner

European Commission president José Manuel Barroso’s bid for re-election may be in trouble even though he has no challenger, represents the bloc that did best in the recent elections, and has the pledged support of the EU’s leaders.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 18, 2009

Soros Donates $100 Million to Europe

By James Joyner

George Soros is “giving $100m to central and eastern Europe to counter the impact of the economic crisis on the poor, voluntary groups and non-government organsations,” Stefan Wagstyl reports for FT.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 18, 2009

Pakistan’s Summer of Chaos

By Shuja Nawaz

As the summer solstice draws near, it seems as if all the evil spirits are coming out to haunt the body politic of Pakistan. The country faces an escalation in hostilities on many fronts. And unlike in the past, when sweet deals and concessions could woo militants and protesters into silence, this time no amount […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2009

Knowing When to Act

By Harlan Ullman

If you are president of the United States, how do you know when things are going wrong, and what to do about it, especially when the evidence is hidden in clear sight? These may be the toughest questions and conditions any president will face. Given the extraordinary pace with which the Obama administration has attacked […]

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