Elections 2020: America's role in the world

Inflection Points Jan 24, 2021

It’s Joe Biden’s America, but could it be Xi Jinping’s world?

As Joe Biden’s presidency enters its first one hundred days, he can’t take his eyes off Xi Jinping’s efforts to leverage the anniversary of the first one hundred years of the CCP’s power. Biden faces a wide array of international challenges, but this contest will be the one that will define his place in history—and whether democracy or authoritarianism will be the ascendant system for the future.

Fast Thinking Jan 20, 2021

FAST THINKING: Five big takeaways from Joe Biden’s inaugural address

By Atlantic Council

Joe Biden’s inaugural address was a call for unity—and also resilience. What did the speech signal about where his presidency is headed? Here’s key takeaways from five leading experts on international affairs.

Coronavirus Elections

Issue Brief Jan 22, 2021

The United States, Germany, and world order: New priorities for a changing alliance

By Roderick Kefferpütz, Jeremy Stern

Treating each divergence in security policy as an isolated incident may have allowed policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic to ignore the unpleasant fact that the United States and Germany could have increasingly disparate perceptions of threats and strategic cultures.

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

FAST THINKING: Rapid insight from our experts

Biden’s $1.9 trillion message to Congress

What’s next for the insurrectionists?

What Biden can do with a Democratic Congress

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Exploring five big questions for the administration

Five big questions as America votes: Europe

Five big questions as America votes: China

Five big questions as America votes: Latin America

See the Whole Series

NATO 20/2020: Twenty bold ideas to reimagine the Alliance after the 2020 US election

NATO 20/2020

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. Read our twenty essays on the future of NATO.

Top coverage

Research and analysis

Democracy

Elections 2020

Nov 16, 2020

We must face up to what is happening in the United States of America

By Mathew Burrows

Despite Joe Biden’s victory, the fallout from the 2020 election is posing a mortal threat to American democracy from within. We must not sugarcoat what is happening in our country. Instead, we should face up to it and the responsibility we all bear—whether we are Republicans, Democrats, or Independents—for our present predicament.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

Energy and the environment

EnergySource Nov 29, 2020

Which Trump Administration-era policies should the incoming Biden-Harris Administration continue?

By Global Energy Center

Amidst the Trump Administration’s empty talk of “energy dominance,” “freedom gas,” and “the cleanest air, the cleanest water,” the Administration developed a number of good policies that align with President-elect Biden’s climate, energy security, and foreign policy objectives. If the Senate remains in Republican hands, these areas might be some of the best opportunities President-elect Biden has to advance his climate and energy goals.

Energy & Environment United States and Canada

Elections 2020 Oct 30, 2020

Either way, this election is a major turning point for our climate future

As the nation braces for the presidential election next week, there’s arguably no issue beyond the COVID-19 crisis for which the stakes are higher than climate change policy.

Climate Change & Climate Action Elections

Content

Fast Thinking

Nov 23, 2020

FAST THINKING: Meet the picks for Biden’s national security team

By Atlantic Council

Joe Biden’s selections for his incoming national security team are coming in fast. But what’s the bigger picture that’s coming into focus?

Elections Intelligence

Fast Thinking

Nov 23, 2020

FAST THINKING: It’s Yellen for Treasury

By Atlantic Council

Janet Yellen could face an economy devastated by the coronavirus and the haphazard response to it in Washington. Josh Lipsky provides insight into how she might manage a difficult recovery.

Elections Financial Regulation

Fast Thinking

Nov 23, 2020

FAST THINKING: How Tony Blinken sees America

By Atlantic Council

Joe Biden is reportedly about to make his first major foreign-policy move by announcing that he’ll nominate Tony Blinken, his longtime advisor and a veteran of the Clinton and Obama administrations, as secretary of state. To answer the big questions about who Blinken is and how he might serve in the role, we turned to Dan Fried, a former US ambassador who spent forty years in the foreign service and has known Blinken for decades.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Nov 23, 2020

Why foreign election interference fizzled in 2020

By Scott Jasper

The lessons of 2016 seem to have been heeded by those looking to protect us from disinformation from abroad, but the real threat in 2020 came from misinformation within the United States.

Disinformation

Report

Nov 23, 2020

How the West should deal with Russia

By Alexander Vershbow, Daniel Fried

The United States must deal with Russia as it is, not as it wishes it to be. What does a policy framework to address both Russia’s dismal current realities and its better future potential look like?

Arms Control European Union

EnergySource

Nov 22, 2020

In states with key clean energy wins, utilities have a strong hand in driving or stalling progress

By Emily Burlinghaus

The 2020 US elections delivered some notable state and city-level wins for clean energy across the United States, notably in Nevada, Colorado, and Ohio. However, even in states that delivered victories for clean energy, utilities will still play a key role in driving—or stalling—the clean energy transition. The complex history of clean energy policy in each of these states points to the divergent paths both cities and states can take to decarbonize and the importance of striking a delicate balance between government, utilities, and public interests.

Climate Change & Climate Action Elections

Inflection Points

Nov 22, 2020

Record Asian trade deal is ‘wake-up’ call for Biden about declining US global leadership

By Frederick Kempe

The Biden administration has made as one of its top priorities the reinvigoration of common cause alongside global partners and allies. Reversing current trends, however, needs to begin with an understanding of where US “no-shows” have been most significant.

International Financial Institutions International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Nov 19, 2020

The Trump administration can still seal a trade deal with India—and cement a legacy

By Mark Linscott

An agreement may not be objectively huge in scope but it should be deemed sufficiently significant in resolving difficult market access issues on both sides, warranting a rapid conclusion during this lame-duck moment.

India Trade

IranSource

Nov 19, 2020

The risk of a too comprehensive deal with Iran

By Raz Zimmt

Any attempt to enforce restrictions on Iran’s regional activities under a new and more comprehensive JCPOA is likely to encounter several significant challenges.

Iran Middle East

Fast Thinking

Nov 17, 2020

FAST THINKING: Trump fires top DHS cybersecurity official over election protection

By Atlantic Council

Donald Trump escalated his attacks on the integrity of the US election process Tuesday night, firing a top Department of Homeland Security cybersecurity official who spent the last weeks debunking many of the president’s false claims about election fraud.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

Events

Online Event Thu, November 12, 2020 • 12:00 pm ET

The way forward: America’s role in the world after the US presidential election

China Coronavirus Economy & Business Elections

Online Event Tue, November 10, 2020 • 11:00 am ET

Initial Reactions: Disinformation in the 2020 Elections

Disinformation Elections Politics & Diplomacy United States and Canada

Online Event Wed, October 28, 2020 • 3:00 pm ET

2020 road to the White House: Why Latin America and the Latino vote matter

Elections Latin America United States and Canada

Public Event Wed, October 21, 2020 • 4:00 pm ET

Domestic violent extremism and the 2020 election

Disinformation Elections Extremism United States and Canada

Public Event Mon, October 19, 2020 • 10:00 am ET

The future of US national security

China Coronavirus Crisis Management Defense Policy

Public Event Wed, September 30, 2020 • 10:00 am ET

A conversation with Mayor Pete Buttigieg

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – Mayor Pete Buttigieg discussed the future of US leadership, reigniting support for American engagement and diversity in foreign policy.

Civil Society Coronavirus Defense Policy Elections

Public Event Tue, September 29, 2020 • 3:00 pm ET

2020 Election integrity and foreign interference

Disinformation Elections United States and Canada

Public Event Mon, September 21, 2020 • 1:00 pm ET

Reporting on 2020: Free press, disinformation, and election integrity

Disinformation Elections Media United States and Canada

Public Event Mon, August 31, 2020 • 10:00 am ET

Elections 2020: Foreign policy half-time report

Elections

Public Event Thu, August 27, 2020 • 4:00 pm ET

America’s role in the world: US views on the future, at home and abroad

Elections

Public Event Wed, August 26, 2020 • 10:00 am ET

US defense strategy and posture for an era of great power competition

Elections

Public Event Tue, August 25, 2020 • 1:00 pm ET

Are we ready? Foreign interference, disinformation, and the 2020 election

Disinformation Elections United States and Canada

Public Event Fri, August 21, 2020 • 10:00 am ET

The next four years: American leadership on the global stage

Elections

Public Event Thu, August 20, 2020 • 3:00 pm ET

Democracy vs. authoritarianism: The role of American foreign policy

Elections

Public Event Thu, August 20, 2020 • 12:00 pm ET

Cyber-insecurity: The coming digital disruption

Elections

Public Event Wed, August 19, 2020 • 3:00 pm ET

Digital crossroads: World choices for 2021 and onward

Cybersecurity Democratic Transitions Digital Policy Elections

Public Event Wed, August 19, 2020 • 12:30 pm ET

Energy and environment in the next administration

Elections

Public Event Wed, August 19, 2020 • 11:00 am ET

Divergent threats and emergent powers

Elections Security & Defense

Public Event Mon, August 17, 2020 • 12:00 pm ET

A conversation with former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed the key foreign policy priorities for the next presidential administration and the future of US leadership.

China Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Russia

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The Atlantic Council has experts covering the geopolitical implications of the 2020 US elections. To connect with any of our experts, members of the media can view our experts’ bios by issue area below and contact the Council’s media relations team at press@atlanticcouncil.org to arrange: