Category: Blogs

In 2016, All Eyes on Britain’s In-Out EU Referendum

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Vote will have serious consequences either way, says Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell As 2015 draws to a close, our experts take a look back at the year that was and look ahead to 2016. This interview is part of a series. Fran Burwell is the Vice President of European Union and Special Initiatives at the […]

Breakdown of Global Order Had Far-Reaching Consequences in 2015

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Americans more fearful of terrorism now than at any time since 9/11, says Atlantic Council’s Barry Pavel  As 2015 draws to a close, our experts take a look back at the year that was and look ahead to 2016. This interview is part of a series. Barry Pavel is the Vice President, Arnold Kanter Chair, […]

Armenia’s (Rigged) Constitutional Referendum

By David Grigorian

A heavily rigged constitutional referendum that transforms Armenia into a parliamentary form of governance only serves to extend the rule of President Serzh Sargsyan who, nearing the end of his second and final term in office, is more than likely to be appointed Prime Minister. It is not clear where the vote’s outcome leaves the […]

Russia’s Intervention in Syria Biggest Story in 2015

By Ashish Kumar Sen

But Putin’s growing problems will dominate 2016, says Atlantic Council’s John E. Herbst As 2015 draws to a close, our experts take a look back at the year that was and look ahead to 2016. This interview is part of a series. John E. Herbst is the Director of the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia […]

Stumbling Into Sensibility: How America Got a Sensible Energy and Environment Policy Despite Our Political Polarization

By David L. Goldwyn

After a year of posturing and polarization, President Barack Obama and Congress have agreed on measures that will strategically alter and enhance the US energy system and global energy security. Winston Churchill’s supposed adage that Americans always do the right thing, after exhausting all the alternatives, was never truer. The key measures that have set […]

Top News: Iraqi Troops Storm ISIS-held Ramadi

Iraqi security forces advanced Tuesday into the center of Ramadi for a final push aimed at retaking the city they lost to the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) in May.

EconSource: Qatar National Bank to Buy Turkey’s Finansbank for $2.95 Billion

By EconSource

The Gulf Arab region’s largest bank Qatar National Bank (QNB) has agreed to buy Turkey’s Finansbank from National Bank of Greece (NBG) for 2.7 billion euros ($2.95 billion).

Libya’s Peace Deal Will Need Western Support to Succeed

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A UN-brokered Libya peace agreement is hamstrung by security challenges, the uncertainty that it may actually end up producing a third power center in a country that already has two rival governments, and questions about whether the envisaged national unity government would even be able to operate from Tripoli. But these challenges are not insurmountable. […]

Civil Service Reform May Revolutionize Ukraine

By Josh Cohen

It took a staggering sixteen months and it wasn’t easy. The old guard resisted it every step of the way. Ukraine’s parliament passed civil service reform, one of the highest priorities of the Euromaidan’s young reformers, on December 10. The Reanimation Package of Reforms (RPR), a civic group, described the development as “a real miracle.” […]