In-depth research and reports

Our programs and centers deliver relevant, policy-focused research that matters to inform debate and action. Our focus is always on moving debate forward, integrating analysis with active, relevant conclusions throughout our published work.

Image Credit: US Dept. of State

Issue Brief

Dec 12, 2013

Building a better US-Gulf partnership

By Richard LeBaron

A new Atlantic Council issue brief, “Building a Better US-Gulf Partnership,” contends that the United States and its Gulf partners must prioritize and build on their shared interests in light of ongoing erosion of ties, and a fundamental gap in expectations about the US role in the region and its commitment to security for the […]

The Gulf

External

Dec 11, 2013

IntelBrief: Mixing Oil and Water in Northern Kenya

By Adrienne Chuck

Bottom Line Up Front In the past 18 months, scientists and oil exploration companies have discovered an estimated 300 million barrels of crude oil and 250 billion cubic meters of water in the impoverished county of Turkana, in northwest Kenya

East Africa

Report

Dec 10, 2013

The Danger of Divergence: Transatlantic Financial Reform & the G20 Agenda

By Chris Brummer

Since the last report on this topic—The Danger of Divergence: Transatlantic Cooperation on Financial Reform, published in 2010 by the Atlantic Council and Thomson Reuters—the United States and Europe have worked to translate an ever-growing body of international financial regulations into legally binding domestic regulations. Although this process has been largely harmonious and remarkably consistent, […]

Economy & Business European Union

Report

Dec 9, 2013

Envisioning 2030: US strategy for the coming technology revolution

By Atlantic Council

Building upon this statement, this year’s Envisioning 2030: US Strategy for the Coming Technology Revolution, edited by Strategic Foresight Initiative Director Mathew J. Burrows, explores the consequences of major disruptions that will be caused by emerging technologies and recommends that the United States must prepare now if it wants to remain competitive on the global stage.

Technology & Innovation

Report

Dec 6, 2013

Training Our Future: Skilled Workers and the Revival of American Manufacturing

By Alexei Monsarrat

Despite the economic challenges facing the United States following the financial crisis, recent economic developments provide new hope for the future of the US economy. Cheaper energy from newly accessible domestic shale deposits is driving down the cost of manufacturing. Labor factors that once drove production overseas during the 1980s through the early 2000s are slowly beginning […]

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

External

Dec 4, 2013

EU-Turkish Energy Relations in the Context of EU Accession Negotiations: Focus on Natural Gas

By David Koranyi and Nicolò Sartori

The European Union (EU) and Turkey have been on a divergent path over the past five years, but energy security is one of those sectors where the two partners would clearly benefit from closer cooperation. This paper by Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Deputy Director David Koranyi and Nicolò Sartori, researcher in the security and defence department at […]

Energy & Environment European Union

Report

Dec 4, 2013

Yemen’s economic agenda: Beyond short-term survival

By Danya Greenfield

A new Atlantic Council report, Yemen’s Economic Agenda: Beyond Short-Term Survival, argues that if the Yemeni government fails to prioritize progress on the economic front, the country’s democratic transition risks derailment and may witness renewed conflict. Prioritizing the economy has been postponed because of political uncertainty and security problems, but the status quo can no […]

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business

External

Dec 2, 2013

Bridging the Transatlantic Economy: TTIP in Historical Perspective

By Jordan Smith and Garrett Workman

Each year, the University of Virginia’s Miller Center hosts the Caplin Conference on the World Economy, which assembles scholars, experts, government officials, and leaders in business and finance to examine the impact of US economic policy at home and abroad. The 2013 Caplin Conference, held on December 2 at the National Press Club in Washington, […]

Economy & Business European Union

External

Nov 26, 2013

India’s New African Horizons: An American Perspective

By J. Peter Pham

The forthcoming issue of Africa Review features an article by Atlantic Council Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on “India’s New African Horizons: An American Perspective.” Download PDF

Africa India

Books

Nov 21, 2013

A Eurasian Energy Primer: The Transatlantic Perspective

By David Koranyi

The Atlantic Council at its annual Energy and Economic Summit in Istanbul (November 21-22, 2013) published a study book: ‘A Eurasian Energy Primer: The Transatlantic Perspective.’ Download PDF

External

Nov 18, 2013

Lessons from Somalia

By J. Peter Pham

State Collapse, Insurgency, and Counterinsurgency In a monograph just published by the US Army War College, Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham argues that, after years as the world’s prime example of a failed state—one that gave rise to catastrophic humanitarian crises, a wave of maritime piracy, and Islamist militancy, including an al-Qaeda-linked insurgency—Somalia appears […]

East Africa Somalia

Report

Nov 18, 2013

The security of cities: ecology and conflict on an urbanizing planet

By Peter Engelke

A new report issued jointly by the Atlantic Council and the Stimson Center, The Security of Cities: Ecology and Conflict on an Urbanizing Planet, argues that the environmental security field has yet to incorporate global urbanization, the twenty-first century’s central demographic trend, fully into its purview.

Energy & Environment National Security

External

Nov 15, 2013

IntelBrief: Barclays and the Somali Remittances Crisis

By Amy Calfas

Bottom Line Up Front Since 2011, Somalia has struggled to maintain one of its most important revenue streams—remittances from Somalis in the diaspora—as one Western bank after another cuts financial ties with the country. Inadequate regulatory regimes have made money transfer organizations vulnerable to exploitation by terrorist groups, and financial institutions doing business with Somalia […]

Somalia

Issue Brief

Nov 12, 2013

Morocco’s Vital Role in Northwest Africa’s Security and Development

By J. Peter Pham

In the Africa Center’s most recent issue brief, “Morocco’s Vital Role in Northwest Africa’s Security and Development,” Director J. Peter Pham outlines the country’s increasing reengagement with Africa and its emergence as a key political, security, and economic actor integral to the continent’s future. He argues that Morocco’s willingness to shoulder the challenges in the […]

Issue Brief

Nov 8, 2013

Resolving regional sources of instability

By Fatemeh Aman and Barbara Slavin

Iran, Afghanistan, and South Asia While attention focuses on US nuclear talks with Iran, an improved US-Iran relationship could have major benefits for another US priority: shoring up stability in Afghanistan during the 2014 withdrawal of most US and NATO forces. A new South Asia Center issue brief by Fatemeh Aman and Barbara Slavin, “Iran, […]

Afghanistan Iran

Issue Brief

Oct 31, 2013

Global trends and the future of NATO: alliance security in an era of global competition

By Barry Pavel and Magnus Nordenman

The latest issue brief by Barry Pavel, Atlantic Council VP and director of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, and Magnus Nordenman, Brent Scowcroft Center deputy director, argues that global shifts in economic and military power, demographics, resource demand, and other critical megatrends will require NATO to overhaul its long-term strategy for the future. […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

External

Oct 30, 2013

IntelBrief: South African Peacekeeping – Punching Below Its Weight

By Bronwyn Bruton and Sam Fishman

Bottom Line Up Front South Africa, one Africa’s more successful democracies and its largest economy, has mostly resisted Western pressure to intervene in other nations’ conflicts President Zuma has shown some enthusiasm for foreign engagement, but has been stymied by the poor condition of South Africa’s undersized and under-resourced military, with limited capability to project […]

Issue Brief

Oct 29, 2013

A Transatlantic Perspective on Natural Gas Security in Central and Southeastern Europe

By David Koranyi

The latest Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center issue brief, “A Transatlantic Perspective on Natural Gas Security in Central and Southeastern Europe,” by Deputy Director David Koranyi, argues that the fundamentals of the natural gas sectors of the United States and European Union (EU) are on divergent paths. Download PDF

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

External

Oct 25, 2013

IntelBrief: West African Piracy

By J. Peter Pham

Bottom Line Up Front Gulf of Guinea piracy remains a persistent, potential danger, with significance for commercial shipping and local economic development The lucrative take from theft of cargo, fuel oil, and crew and vessel ransom drive the motivation of the criminal networks Frequent, local ‘seaway robbery’ and sale of stolen crude on the oil […]

North & West Africa

External

Oct 17, 2013

IntelBrief: Somalia – The Problem with Proxies

By Bronwyn Bruton

In the latest in the series of “IntelBriefs” on African security issues being produced by the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center in partnership with the Soufan Group, an international strategic consultancy, Africa Center Deputy Director Bronwyn Bruton argues that the US support of proxy forces in the conflict in Somalia has failed to achieve a number […]

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