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

Econographics

Apr 29, 2026

What swap, Gulf?

By Charles Lichfield and Maxamillian Rajaobelina-Phipps

Amidst the chaos of the conflict in the Middle East, there’s been a buzz around offering dollar currency swaps to allies. Those have traditionally been the territory of central banks, but this time around, Treasury is taking the lead.

Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Apr 28, 2026

Ukraine’s Zelennials have youth on their side in war against Putin’s pensioners

By Peter Dickinson

It is no exaggeration to state that the current war in Ukraine is a clash of generations pitting Russia’s staunchly Soviet leadership against the radically different post-Soviet mindset of the Ukrainian authorities, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Apr 28, 2026

Iran war could leave Ukrainian civilians exposed to Russian missiles

By Maksym Beznosiuk, William Dixon

With the Iran war depleting global stocks of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles, fears are mounting in Kyiv that Ukrainian civilians could be left exposed to Russian ballistic missiles during an anticipated summer bombing campaign, write Maksym Beznosiuk and William Dixon.

Conflict Critical Infrastructure Policy
View all commentary & analysis

Latest in-depth research and reports

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

Issue Brief

Apr 29, 2026

The clarity of the law differential: Channels to prosperity across income groups

By Achilles Tsirgis

Legal clarity increases prosperity through different mechanisms depending on a country's income level— high-income nations gain primarily through productivity and innovation, while lower-middle-income countries benefit most through credibility and reduced borrowing costs.

Economy & Business Inclusive Growth
View all In-depth Research & reports

Content

In the News

Apr 13, 2020

Carpenter in The Hill: Coronavirus is ultimate test of leadership in brave new world

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Resilience & Society

In the News

Apr 13, 2020

Charai in The Hill: Don’t despair America, you are stronger than you know

By Atlantic Council

While economists and investors rightly worry about the health of the US economy once quarantine ends, a more dangerous depression is revealing itself on America’s social media screens: a public loss of confidence in America itself and its unique place in the world. This nagging fear, the evidence shows, is wrongheaded. Read Atlantic Council Board Director Ahmed Charai's latest in The Hill on America's strength in the face of the coronavirus.

Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 13, 2020

Linscott interviewed in the Observer Research Foundation: COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Implications for Global Free Trade

By Atlantic Council

China Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 12, 2020

Book review of Nawaz’s “The Battle for Pakistan” in The Tribune: Insightful reading of Pakistan-US relations

By Atlantic Council

Human Rights Pakistan

In the News

Apr 11, 2020

Hudson in allAfrica: Sudan’s revolution one year after the fall of the dictatorship

By Atlantic Council

Africa Democratic Transitions

In the News

Apr 10, 2020

Binnendijk and Skaluba in Defense One: NATO Should Always Work From Home

By Christopher Skaluba, Hans Binnendijk

Christopher Skaluba and Hans Binnendijk co-published a commentary piece about how NATO has been impacted with stay at home orders from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Apr 10, 2020

Bechev in Ahval: Turkey joins soft power race during COVID-19 crisis

By Atlantic Council

China Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 10, 2020

Sherman in WIRED: The US Is Waging War on Digital Trade Barriers

By Atlantic Council

AS DIGITAL TRADE barriers rise throughout the world, so do swings at knocking them down. In the past two months, the US Trade Representative released two reports on China and Russia’s World Trade Organization compliance. Just last week, the European Union opened its landmark General Data Protection Regulation to public comments, many of which will surely attack perceived trade barriers. “Barriers to […]

Digital Policy Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Apr 10, 2020

Cohen in Forbes: Too Little Too Late? Russia And Saudi Arabia Reach Truce In Oil Price War

By Atlantic Council

Oil and Gas Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Apr 10, 2020

Should the European Left take on the populists at their own game?

By Atlantic Council

For Medium World, Alistair Somerville and Atlantic Council Resident Fellow Julian Mueller-Kaler go head to head on whether European center-left and left wing parties should take on the right wing populists at their own game.

Economy & Business European Union
Load More