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

Podcast

May 1, 2026

The IEA’s Fatih Birol on ‘the greatest energy security threat in history’

By The Atlantic Council

The war in Iran continues with no clear end in sight, fueling economic turbulence and concerns of a global energy crisis. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol spoke at an AC Front Page event on April 13th, and argued the conflict is the greatest energy security threat in history. He warned that oil prices will soon “converge” with the on-the-ground reality, knocking the global economy further into disarray.

Economy & Business European Union

AfricaSource

May 1, 2026

What can save Mali from collapse?

By Hussein Ba and Rama Yade

The security situation in Mali is becoming critical in the wake of a large-scale, coordinated series of attacks across multiple cities on April 25.

Extremism North & West Africa

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
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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
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Content

In the News

Jul 2, 2020

Director Josh Lipsky Quoted in The Guardian on Progress in Jobs Report

By Josh Lipsky

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business United States and Canada

In the News

Jul 2, 2020

Deputy Director Julia Friedlander Quoted in USA Today on Jobs Report During the Pandemic

By Julia Friedlander

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business United States and Canada

In the News

Jul 2, 2020

Hudson quoted in African Business on the outcomes of the Sudan Partner’s Forum

By Atlantic Council

Africa Democratic Transitions

In the News

Jul 1, 2020

COVID-19 highlights how we need better internet access everywhere

By Atlantic Council

To help us better understand the future of the internet, data usage, privacy, and the impact of new technologies on social networks and the future of communication, Ray Wang, CEO and founder of a Silicon Valley-based advisory firm Constellation Research, and Vala Afshar of ZDNet invited both Atlantic Council GeoTech Center Director Dr. David Bray and GeoTech Center Commissioner Vint Cerf to join their weekly show DisrupTV. The panelists discussed digital disruption in the COVID-19 era, considering what flaws the pandemic has revealed in our current digital ecosystem.

Civil Society Coronavirus

In the News

Jul 1, 2020

O’Toole interviewed in AWOS on economic sanctions and U.S. foreign policy
Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Jul 1, 2020

Chhibber in The Economic Times: The time couldn’t be more ripe for Narendra Modi to cement a strategic India-US alliance
Economy & Business Inclusive Growth

In the News

Jul 1, 2020

Shaffer in RealClearReligion: US international religious freedom efforts should not promote Islamic extremism
Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jun 30, 2020

Lipner in the American Interest: Annexation and the dubious doctrine of wishful thinking
Israel Middle East

In the News

Jun 30, 2020

Fayyad in TIME: How Palestinians can reunite under a new agenda to counter Israel’s annexation
Israel Middle East

In the News

Jun 29, 2020

Busch in The Hill: Withdrawing from the WTO would punish the US, not China

By Marc L. Busch

Marc Busch writes that US “unilateralism” against China is giving rise to a very different approach to trade policy more harmful to US commerce than supportive of foreign policy objectives.

China Economy & Business
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