Insights and impact

About the Council

The Atlantic Council promotes constructive leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the Atlantic Community’s central role in meeting global challenges. The Council provides an essential forum for navigating the dramatic economic and political changes defining the twenty-first century by informing and galvanizing its uniquely influential network of global leaders. Through the papers we write, the ideas we generate, and the communities we build, the Council shapes policy choices and strategies to create a more secure and prosperous world.

Read our annual report
Learn more

Featured content

NATO 20/2020

Twenty bold ideas to reimagine the Alliance after the 2020 US election

More than two decades after NATO’s inspired decision to invite former adversaries to join its ranks, the Alliance is in need of equally captivating ideas. The essays in this volume are intended to push the Alliance to think boldly and creatively in the service of recapturing the public’s imagination.

Read our provocative essays on the future of NATO

Download PDF
Read the essays
sign up for more

Explore the podcast series

NATO 20/2020 Podcast

NATO 20/2020 is a weekly podcast that explores 20 bold ideas to push NATO to be more visionary, more capable, and more self-evidently valuable to the security of more people.

Making a difference

Learn more about the Atlantic Council’s insights & impact through these stories of how our regional and thematic programs are making a difference not only in shaping how we view global issues but also in shaping their outcome.

Artwork by Peter Kuper

In the News

Dec 17, 2020

The Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center partners with LEADERS Magazine to dedicate an entire issue to resilience

For its Fall/Winter issue of 2020, LEADERS Magazine, asked the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center to produce an issue dedicated to resilience. The Resilience Issue assembles a broad range of global thought leaders and experts who are currently tackling the challenges and crises facing the world from different perspectives.

Insights & Impact

Mar 3, 2020

Peering Around the Corner: The Geopolitics of Coronavirus

By Atlantic Council

On February 11, 2020 the DFRLab hosted "Peering Around the Corner: The Geopolitics of Coronavirus," a timely series of panels on the potential geopolitical and economic consequences of Coronavirus, and how misinformation about the crisis may influence its impact.

China Disinformation

Program Impact Story

Feb 6, 2020

US energy priorities abroad: A conversation with US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette

By Global Energy Center

On Friday, February 7, 2020, the Atlantic Council hosted newly appointed US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette for a public address and moderated discussion about US government energy priorities abroad.

view all Program impact stories

Latest commentary and analysis

UkraineAlert

May 1, 2026

Europe needs Ukraine as it looks to counter growing Russian threat

By Zahar Hryniv

More than a year since Trump returned to the White House, it is clear that Europe needs to develop its own strategic vision for the continent’s defense. It is equally apparent that Ukraine must be central to this vision, writes Zahar Hryniv.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Apr 30, 2026

Putin’s parade once projected power. Now it reveals Russia’s weakness.

By Peter Dickinson

Russia's annual Victory Day parade has traditionally been an opportunity for Putin to project power. This year, however, the parade has been scaled down amid fears of Ukrainian attack and risks becoming a symbol of Russian weakness, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Technologies

UkraineAlert

Apr 30, 2026

Zelenskyy refuses Russian demands to surrender Ukraine’s vital fortress belt

By Marc Goedemans

Ukraine rejects Russian demands to withdraw from northern Donetsk province as part of a peace deal and insists the region's fortress belt is absolutely indispensable for the defense of the country as a whole, writes Marc Goedemans.

Conflict Defense Policy
View all commentary & analysis

Latest in-depth research and reports

Issue Brief

Apr 30, 2026

How Colombia can reduce security threats ahead of its presidential election

By the US–Colombia Strategic Alignment Coalition

Though Colombia's recent legislative elections were largely peaceful, the security environment has worsened in recent weeks amid death threats against candidates and escalating violence by armed groups. The upcoming weeks present a narrow, but critical, window to reduce risks ahead of the May 31 presidential election.

Americas Civil Society

Issue Brief

Apr 29, 2026

Does liberal democracy drive inequalities?

By Yi Zhou

There has been much debate about the relationship between liberal democracy and social and economic inequality, but data shows that free societies remain more equal than their less free counterparts.

Freedom and Prosperity Inclusive Growth

Issue Brief

Apr 29, 2026

How information and communication technologies can empower women in Senegal

By Aminata Niang

Data and interview results show how information and communication technologies are empowering women in Senegal's informal economy.

Africa Freedom and Prosperity
View all In-depth Research & reports

Content

In the News

May 1, 2020

Bryza quoted in TRTWorld on US versus China during the COVID-19 crisis

By Atlantic Council

China Coronavirus

In the News

May 1, 2020

Sherman in WIRED: The Russian Doll of Putin’s Internet Clampdown

By Atlantic Council

Internet Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

May 1, 2020

Feng and Saha in China Brief: Global supply chains, economic decoupling, and US-China relations, part 2: The view from the People’s Republic of China

By Atlantic Council

On May 1, 2020, Ashley Feng and Sagatom Saha published a piece in The Jamestown Foundation’s China Brief.

China Economy & Business

In the News

May 1, 2020

Manning quoted in Ozy on Kim Jong Un’s disappearance from public view

By Atlantic Council

Korea Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

May 1, 2020

Nawaz joins the University of Lahore’s School of Integrated Social Sciences to discuss Pakistan-U.S. Relations

By Atlantic Council

ORIGINAL SOURCE

International Norms Pakistan
gtc people with their hands together in teamwork

In the News

May 1, 2020

Why COVID-19 requires both industry and nations to transform how they collaborate

By Atlantic Council

On May 1, 2020, Vala Afshar, Ray Wang, and David Bray, shared perspectives in a live video discussion titled "Why COVID-19 requires industry and nations to transform how they collaborate" about the transformative nature of the pandemic and post-COVID-19 era ahead.

Civil Society Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 30, 2020

Blakemore quoted in Al Jazeera on oil price crisis and US-Saudi relations

By Atlantic Council

Oil and Gas Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Apr 30, 2020

Pavel and Engelke in Euronews: Irresponsible wet market practices led to COVID-19. China hasn’t learned its lesson

By Atlantic Council

If another country accidentally unleashed a weapon of mass destruction, and it killed almost 200,000 people worldwide (including 60,000 Americans), there would be international outrage and urgent calls for that country to cease any and all activities related to that weapon and to conform to new, strict, immediate measures for transparency and constraints. Unfortunately, despite […]

China Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 30, 2020

Engelke in CBS News about Post-Covid scenarios

By Atlantic Council

China Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 30, 2020

Riaz as a panelist at the Center for International Private Enterprise: Assessing COVID-19 Control Measures & Prospects for Socio-Economic Recovery

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Coronavirus
Load More