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.

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

Explore the podcast series

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.

Latest commentary and analysis


Econographics

Jun 19, 2026

Central banks can’t afford to keep missing their inflation targets

By
Jack Muldoon

While the Iran war explains the sudden rise in inflation, relying on this excuse obscures that there is potentially a long-term problem central banks will need to confront as they manage the long tail of this crisis.


Economy & Business


Macroeconomics


UkraineAlert

Jun 18, 2026

Putin’s obsession with ‘denazifying’ Ukraine makes peace impossible

By
Peter Dickinson

Putin’s obsession with “denazifying” Ukraine makes a mockery of efforts to portray the Russian invasion as a mere land grab and helps explain why there has been no meaningful progress toward peace despite more than a year of US-led efforts, writes Peter Dickinson.


Conflict


Disinformation


Podcast

Jun 18, 2026

“Shoot everybody”: US contractors in San Diego court

By
Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 16 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by Daniel McLaughlin, an international lawyer and Legal Director of the Centre for Justice and Accountability (CJA), a California-based legal nonprofit working on behalf of victims of torture and other atrocity crimes. Daniel and CJA are leading a civil suit in San Diego against a Delaware-registered PMC, Spear Operations Group, for war crimes in Yemen. They represent the Yemeni parliamentarian Anssaf Ali Mayo, who was one of the targets of an alleged hit-squad in Yemen. Daniel talks us through the facts of the case, how it ended up in a California courtroom ten years later, and which US and international laws were ostensibly broken by the PMC. He also argues forcefully that the US government has a duty to regulate how former members of its military use their training and know-how.


Middle East


Rule of Law

Latest in-depth research and reports

Content

In the News

Sep 14, 2015

Ward on Writing Rituals and Routines

By Alex Ward

Military Writers Guild interviews Brent Scowcroft Center Associate Director Alex Ward on the routines that contribute to his writing and research:

In the News

Sep 14, 2015

Mardini on Russia’s Military in the Middle East

By Ramzy Mardini

Business Insider quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on Russian flights to Syria over Iran and Iraq:

Iraq Middle East

In the News

Sep 13, 2015

Itani and Barabandi: In Zabadani, Signs of a New and Worrying Iranian Strategy in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani and former Syrian diplomat Bassam Barabandi write for The World Post on Zabadani’s impact on Iran’s strategy in Syria, mentioning their recently release report on seizing local opportunities in Syria:

Iran Syria

In the News

Sep 13, 2015

Slavin: Will Iran Reach Truce with ISIS?

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Monitor on Iran’s regional policies, quoting Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab  on the perceptions of Iran’s neighbors and announcing Nasser Hadian’s report on Iran’s engagement in the region to be presented at the Atlantic Council: 

Iran

In the News

Sep 12, 2015

Stavridis: Migrants and the Road to Character

By James Stavridis

Adm. James Stavridis, Dean of The Fletcher School and Atlantic Council Board Director, writes for Foreign Policy on the migrant crisis and why the United States must do more to take in Syria’s refugees:

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Sep 12, 2015

Stein on Turkey’s Escalating Violence

By Aaron Stein

Vox quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on violence in Turkey between the government and the PKK:

Turkey

In the News

Sep 11, 2015

Hruby on Africa’s Path Forward

By Aubrey Hruby

The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies quotes Africa Center Nonresident Senior Fellow and coauthor of The Next Africa Aubrey Hruby on Africa’s place in the future of technology:

Africa

In the News

Sep 11, 2015

Herbst on Russia’s Buildup in Syria

By John E. Herbst

The Washington Post quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on the significance of Russia’s military buildup in Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 11, 2015

Karatnycky on Victor Levytskyy

By Adrian Karatnycky

The Daily Beast quotes Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky on Victor Levytskyy, head of the Ukrainian Institute of Strategies of Global Development and Adaption:

Ukraine

In the News

Sep 11, 2015

Hof on Assad’s Exit: “I Just Don’t See That Happening.”

By Fred Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof joins NPR’s All Things Considered to discuss Washington’s hopes of Russian and Iranian involvement in Syria leading to a favorable outcome:

Iran Russia