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.

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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

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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.

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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
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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
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Content

In the News

Apr 8, 2020

Jamil in The National Interest: America Must Lead on Sanctions Relief for Coronavirus-Stricken North Korea

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus East Asia

In the News

Apr 7, 2020

Amin quoted in the Washington Examiner on boosting low-carbon energy

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Energy & Environment

In the News

Apr 7, 2020

Slavin quoted in Jewish News Syndicate on US-Taliban deal

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Iran

In the News

Apr 7, 2020

Charai in the National Interest: How Morocco is taking on coronavirus

By Atlantic Council

Moroccans have learned that to reach the horizon beyond the deadly virus that they must address the equality gap among themselves. Read Atlantic Council Board Director Ahmed Charai's latest in the National Interest on how Morocco is taking on the coronavirus.

Africa Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 7, 2020

Nooruddin quoted in Newsweek: India’s Modi Set To Supply Hydroxychloroquine To U.S. After Trump Threatens ‘Retaliation’

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus India

In the News

Apr 7, 2020

Connecting the unconnected for education, health, and employment

By Atlantic Council

On April 7, 2020, Dr. David Bray, Director of the Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center, participated in a live video discussion titled "Connecting the Unconnected" with Vint Cerf, Google's Chief Evangelist, Bill Callahan from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Samantha Schartman-Cycyk of the Marconi Society, and Linton Wells II, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's GeoTEch Center.

Civil Society Economy & Business

In the News

Apr 6, 2020

Real Leaders Podcast: The Impact of Pandemics with Dr. David Bray

By Atlantic Council

Dr. David Bray, inaugural director for the Atlantic Council’s new GeoTech Center and former IT Chief for the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, joins the Real Leaders Podcast to talk about the response, nature, and impact of pandemics. He lead the program’s technology response during 9/11, the […]

Resilience & Society Security & Defense

In the News

Apr 6, 2020

Bryza joins Azerbaijan’s CBC TV to discuss coronavirus in the Caspian region

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Apr 6, 2020

Blakemore quoted in Energy Wire on Trump’s oil meeting

By Atlantic Council

Energy & Environment Oil and Gas

In the News

Apr 6, 2020

Cohen in Newsweek: The Covid-19 Disaster Has Been Decades in the Making—and Both Republicans and Democrats are to Blame

By Atlantic Council

Human history is replete with unanticipated catastrophic events that come like a bolt from the blue. During World War II, both Nazi Germany’s attack on the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor came as strategic surprises. Then as now, intelligence warnings were ignored. Other shockers include the Egyptian and Syrian attack on […]

Coronavirus Politics & Diplomacy
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