Content

Issue Brief

Jun 24, 2021

No, the US shouldn’t withdraw from the Middle East

By William F. Wechsler

Wechsler responds to the New American Engagement Initiative's latest publication. Read his recommendations and analysis on why the US should not withdraw from the Middle East.

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

Jun 18, 2021

Colombia’s national strike: Overview of the situation and strategies moving forward

By Camila Hernandez, Jason Marczak

Amid the third peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colombia faces the longest and most destructive mass protests in recent history. The protests, which began on April 28, 2021, were triggered by a tax-reform bill proposed by the government to stabilize public debt and fiscal deficit. Despite the bill’s removal on May 2, 2021, protests continued […]

Americas
Civil Society

Issue Brief

Jun 16, 2021

Are dual-capable weapon systems destabilizing? Questioning nuclear-conventional entanglement and inadvertent escalation

By Matthew Kroenig, Mark J. Massa

Some fear that nuclear-conventional entanglement--the use of the same weapons or sensors for nuclear and conventional weapons--could lead to nuclear war. Are they right? This issue brief argues that fears of entanglement leading to nuclear war are misplaced and rest on poor logical and empirical foundations.

China
Conflict

Report

Jun 16, 2021

IN BRIEF: Fifteen takeaways from our new report measuring US and Chinese global influence

By Jonathan D. Moyer, Collin J. Meisel, Austin S. Matthews, David K. Bohl, and Mathew J. Burrows

The Formal Bilateral Influence Capacity Index tracks and quantifies the intensifying competition between China and the United States, measuring influence between pairs of states over the last six decades through the volume of their interactions and the dependence that countries have on one another.

China
Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

Jun 14, 2021

Financing the future: Measuring and reporting climate-related risks

By Barbara C. Matthews

Financial regulatory institutions around the world are exploring initiatives to expand the mandatory-disclosure framework to provide meaningful perspective on exposures to climate-related risks. However, the stakes here are high. Mismeasurement can lead to material adverse consequences for economic activity. As a result, any changes will require very careful analysis.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Jun 14, 2021

What choices remain for the United States in Syria?

By Nate Rosenblatt and Jomana Qaddour

In a new issue brief Nate Rosenblatt and Jomana Qaddour describe the challenges the United States faces in Syria, including Russia's attempt to expand the UN Strategic Framework as well the struggle to keep the UN humanitarian border crossings open in northern Syria.

Human Rights
International Organizations

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jun 11, 2021

The case for a Comprehensive Approach 2.0: How NATO can combat Chinese and Russian political warfare

By Kathleen J. McInnis, Clementine G. Starling-Daniels

Kathleen J. McInnis and Clementine G. Starling outline how NATO’s Comprehensive Approach program can serve as a model to counter political warfare at the strategic level.

Cybersecurity
Disinformation

Report

Jun 11, 2021

When sanctions violate human rights

By Peter Piatetsky and Julian Vasilkoski

Do sanctions violate human rights? Castellum.AI has developed a methodology to determine whether, and how, sanctions from particular countries violate human rights, designating Russia, Pakistan, and Turkey in that order as the biggest violators.

Economic Sanctions
Human Rights

Report

Jun 10, 2021

Shifting gears: Geopolitics of the global energy transition

By Robert J. Johnston

A peak in global oil demand would have significant geopolitical and geoeconomic consequences for oil-producing and importing states alike. And while oil resources have afforded leverage to producing nations, many of these countries have not diversified their economies and remain highly dependent on oil revenue for economic and national stability.

Energy & Environment
Energy Transitions

Report

Jun 8, 2021

Transformative priorities for national defense

By Franklin D. Kramer and Lt. Col. Matthew R. Crouch

Today, the United States faces multi-theater and multi-domain challenges different from any presented since World War II—and, in fact, ever. This report addresses these pivotal challenges by advancing key transformative priorities for an effective US national defense strategy, both in the "American theater" at home and in the forward theaters abroad.

China
Defense Industry