Category: Timely Commentary & Analysis

US-Iran Relations Past, Present, and Future

Lessons can be learned from 30 years of mistrust, misperception, and misconception that has persisted between the United States and Iran. While rapprochement is far from inevitable, Seyed Hossein Mousavian, diplomat and author, outlined the path to success for current negotiations while speaking at a South Asia Center panel.

Ukraine and the Logic of Civil Resistance: Confronting Russian-Fueled Insurgency

By Maciej Bartkowski and Maria J. Stephan

As Ukraine and its supporters consider how the country can best confront Russia’s violent aggression, two scholars focus on non-violent resistance. Here, they explore some lessons of history that suggest how Ukraine might non-violently defend its unity and independence. See their companion article, which notes that Ukraine’s EuroMaidan movement (as well as the Orange Revolution […]

How Ukraine Ousted an Autocrat: The Logic of Civil Resistance

By Maciej Bartkowski and Maria J. Stephan

As Ukraine and its supporters consider how the country can best confront Russia’s violent aggression, two scholars focus on non-violent resistance. They write that the EuroMaidan movement and the Orange Revolution of 2004 show the Ukrainians’ ability to force change with this approach. A companion article notes lessons of history that suggest how Ukraine might […]

Afghan Leader Ashraf Ghani: Obama Pullout Plan Poses New Challenge

Ashraf Ghani, the former World Bank official who is one of two candidates in the June 14 presidential runoff election, said that President Obama’s West Point speech this week on foreign policy sharply compresses the time available for US troops to complete their mentoring of Afghan security forces. President Obama’s “West Point speech telescopes a […]

Algeria Needs Reform Strategy to Avoid Upheaval

Just weeks after Algeria’s sitting President Abdulaziz Bouteflika was confirmed to serve a fourth term in an election highly criticized by the opposition, the question is raised: what are the prospects for economic and political reform in the North African country in light of mounting economic pressures?

What’s Next? Missile Defense in 2030

After a full day of discussion on the regional aspects of missile defense, the conference’s capstone panel looked at missile defense in the world of 2030. James N. Miller, former under secretary of defense for policy and Atlantic Council board director, Robert Stein, a senior fellow of the US Defense Science Board, and Dean Wilkening, […]