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

New Atlanticist

Nov 12, 2020

Where is the US still leading on democracy? Look beyond the government.

By Borzou Daragahi

More important than US government pronouncements are the scores of American organizations doing on-the-ground work to build up transparency and good governance around the world—entities and initiatives that a new US administration could champion and make central to America’s retooled role in the world.

Democratic Transitions Elections

New Atlanticist

Nov 12, 2020

Complex identities: Kamala Harris and US foreign policy towards the Caribbean

By Vicki Assevero

Due to both her experience and her story, Kamala Devi Harris, alongside President-elect Joe Biden, provides an important new symbol of what the United States stands for in the world and could usher in a new era for US-Caribbean relations.

Caribbean Climate Change & Climate Action

Report

Nov 11, 2020

Sovereign solidarity: France, the US, and alliances in a post-COVID world

By Jeffrey Lightfoot, Olivier-Rémy Bel

What allies does the United States need to compete in the emerging post-COVID geostrategic environment? And how can the United States best engage its allies to advance its national interests in this new environment? These are questions of major importance to a new US administration within a competitive geopolitical environment.

Coronavirus Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Nov 11, 2020

An opportunity for transformational leadership

By Damon Wilson

In combining attributes such as decency and respect with political acumen and long-term relationships, Biden is well-positioned to cultivate bipartisan consensus and earn public support at home, while forging a new model of US leadership in a world that has become more reluctant to follow America’s lead.

Coronavirus Economy & Business

MENASource

Nov 11, 2020

How the Biden administration will impact Middle East economies

By Amjad Ahmad

The Biden administration will not be a panacea for Middle East economies but will certainly have a positive impact.

Elections Middle East

IranSource

Nov 10, 2020

The US election was all Iranians talked about for the past week

By Holly Dagres

The Iranian establishment has repeatedly claimed that a Democrat or Republican wouldn’t matter for Iran, but the general Iranian population begged to differ as it watched the vote-counting process with bated breath.

Iran Middle East

Fast Thinking

Nov 9, 2020

FAST THINKING: Trump fires his defense secretary

By Atlantic Council

Two days after losing his bid for re-election, President Trump has removed Mark Esper, whose run as defense secretary was marked in its final stages by his defiance of Trump—on the idea of sending US troops to quell protests against police brutality and even on the question of wearing masks during the pandemic. How will his departure contribute to the post-election tumult? And is his successor likely to push back against the president?

Defense Industry Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Nov 9, 2020

Biden victory offers hope for Belarus democratic uprising

By Vladislav Davidzon

As the world prepares for a Joe Biden presidency, there are expectations in Belarus that the coming change in US leadership will mean greater American support for the country’s pro-democracy uprising.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

New Atlanticist

Nov 9, 2020

Biden will think globally to solve domestic issues. The post-COVID world will demand it.

By Erica Borghard

The president-elect’s commitment to looking for global solutions to common issues is all the more important as the United States faces a changed and more difficult global landscape.

Coronavirus International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Nov 9, 2020

The Biden administration can both look inward and provide leadership on the global stage

By Christopher Preble

Joe Biden’s victory could have far-reaching implications for America’s global role if he recasts US leadership in a new light. If the United States can demonstrate a capacity and will to tackle the most urgent challenges facing this country, it will be in a stronger position to work with others to solve global problems.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

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: