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SyriaSource

Mar 5, 2018

Syria at Seven: Part One

By Frederic C. Hof

For the United States and its allies, the beginning of wisdom in Syria is to accept and act upon two points. First: so long as civilians are targeted effortlessly by a terrorist regime, nothing good can result; not for Syrians, not for their neighbors, not for the West. Second, the defeat of the Islamic State […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2018

On Security, the Nordics Should Cooperate, not Compete

By Anna Wieslander

When Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven meets US president Donald J. Trump for the first time on March 6, security and defense collaboration will likely be at the top of the agenda. A number of Nordic leaders have already met with Trump, and in their first meeting, he and Löfven have an opportunity to ensure […]

Northern Europe

UkraineAlert

Mar 5, 2018

Why Ukrainians Are So Upset about New Electricity Tariffs

By Anders Åslund

Energy tariffs are a serious concern in Ukraine. Before the 2014 Euromaidan, gas prices were too low and cost the government 8 percent of GDP in subsidies. Worse, most of that went to a few privileged gas traders. Low electricity tariffs left the owners of generation and distribution companies no incentive to invest. From 2014-17, […]

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2018

In Germany, Social Democrats Give Merkel a Fourth Term

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The political uncertainty that had gripped Germany for the past five months was lifted on March 4. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) rank-and-file voted in favor of another grand coalition that would keep Angela Merkel chancellor of Germany for a fourth term. Sixty-six percent of the SPD’s members voted in support of a grand coalition; […]

European Union France

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2018

#ElectionWatch: How Russia-Italy Relations are Impacting the Italian Elections

By Lauren Speranza

Covert influence operations are not as necessary when overt influence already exists Russian interference in Western democratic elections remains a top concern for the transatlantic community following a series of recent consequential votes on both sides of the Atlantic. Over the past several months, campaigns in the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, and elsewhere […]

Italy Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 2, 2018

Trump May Get His Trade War After All

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US President Donald J. Trump’s surprise decision to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, and a tweeted declaration that “trade wars are good” have set off alarm bells across the globe while causing the stock market to plunge.

China Economy & Business

EnergySource

Mar 2, 2018

The grid’s ability to meet electric vehicle demand

By Branko Terzic

When it comes to electric vehicles, while there is no question sales will continue to rise, there are real questions about whether the electric power industry can keep up with new demand. However, past experience suggests it is a question that can be answered with a resounding yes for two reasons. First, the timing of […]

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions
Capture

Trade in Action

Mar 2, 2018

TRADE IN ACTION March 2, 2018

By Global Business & Economics Program

HEADLINESOn the EU side: Brexit negotiations resume between U.K. and EU officials on the thorny issue of the transition period.   

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

SyriaSource

Mar 2, 2018

Speaking, Acting, and Unintended Consequences

By Frederic C. Hof

If one were to write an account chronicling, analyzing, and critiquing the unintended negative consequences of American policy toward Syria since March 2011, it would be a long and depressing read. If this writer were to highlight the deadliest and most damaging of unintended consequences, it would be this: the Assad regime’s interpretation of the […]

Syria

IranSource

Mar 1, 2018

Wrestling Chief Joins Others Refusing to Play Iran’s Game

By Barbara Slavin

For 40 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has imposed strict rules about a wide variety of matters, from personal appearance to contact with people from adversarial nations. In this winter of discontent, however, more and more Iranians are refusing to abide by regulations that they regard as stifling and self-defeating. The latest is Rasoul […]

Iran
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