Inflection Points

Inflection Points

A weekly column by Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe, Inflection Points focuses on the global challenges facing the United States and how to best address them.

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Inflection Points

Sep 19, 2021

Xi’s big bet helps explain the Australian submarine deal

By Frederick Kempe

It is only in the context of Xi’s increased repressions at home and expanded ambitions abroad that one can fully understand Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s decision

Australia China

Inflection Points

Aug 29, 2021

Biden can still salvage his legacy and US credibility. It won’t be easy.

By Frederick Kempe

Here's how President Joe Biden can correct course with allies and partners over Afghanistan—and beyond. 

Afghanistan Conflict

Inflection Points

Aug 22, 2021

Afghanistan threatens Biden’s shot at being a historic foreign-policy leader

By Frederick Kempe

At the end of the worst week of US President Joe Biden’s young presidency, this is the question he must urgently answer: Of all the problems that his Afghanistan troop withdrawal decision has generated, which is most significant?

Afghanistan Conflict

Inflection Points

Jul 11, 2021

Lessons from the Didi IPO ride: Xi faces a tradeoff between economic dynamism and authoritarian grip

By Frederick Kempe

This was a clarifying week for global investors—or for anyone concerned about authoritarian capitalism—of just how much the Chinese Communist Party would be willing to pay to ensure its dominance. The answer represents an immeasurable loss of economic dynamism.

China Economy & Business

Inflection Points

Jun 27, 2021

At age one hundred, Chinese Communist Party is both the authoritarian world champion—and vulnerable

By Frederick Kempe

The Chinese Communist Party, which turns one hundred this week, represents history’s most successful authoritarians. So, why does Chinese President Xi Jinping seem so uneasy?

China Politics & Diplomacy

Inflection Points

Jun 20, 2021

Biden’s Europe trip set the stage for his historic ambitions

By Frederick Kempe

Having repeatedly provided his diagnosis of the cancers endangering global democracies, Biden this past week accelerated the course of treatment.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Inflection Points

Jun 13, 2021

History’s warning for the Biden-Putin meeting

By Frederick Kempe

The dangers rest in the Biden administration’s understandable focus on China as the contest of our times and insufficient realization of the increased challenges Russia poses.

Politics & Diplomacy Russia

Inflection Points

May 9, 2021

Four Mideast signs of change offer historic opportunity. Here’s how Biden can build on them.

By Frederick Kempe

A positive series of loosely connected events across the Middle East offers the best opportunity in memory for reducing tensions, ending conflict, building economic progress, and advancing regional integration.

Iran Israel

Inflection Points

May 2, 2021

Here’s why China has gone on the offensive against Biden

By Frederick Kempe

The Chinese are more ready to push back against real and imagined slights, even as they escalate warnings and military activities around Taiwan. The question is how Biden will respond.

China Human Rights

Inflection Points

Apr 25, 2021

Without a trade strategy, Biden can’t win the contest with China

By Frederick Kempe

While President Xi Jinping’s China accelerates his efforts to negotiate multilateral and bilateral trade and investment agreements around the world, both Republicans and Democrats in the United States have grown allergic to such arrangements.

China Economy & Business
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