In-depth research and reports

How Bangladesh can achieve its vision of prosperity

By Nina Dannaoui-Johnson, Joseph Lemoine, Annie (Yu-Lin) Lee

Bangladesh is forging ahead with its Vision 2041, aiming to transform into a developed and prosperous country by 2041.

Standards and interoperability: The future of the global financial system

By Ananya Kumar, Alisha Chhangani, Jennifer Lassiter, and Katherine Haar

Digital assets promise enhanced efficiency, inclusion, transparency, and choice to global payments. But to fulfill this promise, the international community must first develop interoperability standards.

Accelerating transatlantic defense innovation in an era of strategic competition

By John T. Watts

NATO’s warfighting edge will not be sufficient for the transatlantic community to weather today’s military and geopolitical realities.

The case for African social infrastructure

By Tom Koch

Investment in African social infrastructure can be defined as African real estate that serves an essential societal purpose.

Why Africans hold the future of global democracy in their hands

By Rama Yade

By the end of 2024, the face of political Africa will—theoretically—no longer be the same. With nineteen elections scheduled this year, the continent will see presidents leave who were elected more than ten years ago (in Senegal and Ghana), uncertain civilian transitions (in Chad, Mali, and Burkina Faso), high-stakes elections (as in South Africa), and strongmen hanging on (in Tunisia and Rwanda).

Retaliation and resistance: China’s economic statecraft in a Taiwan crisis

By Logan Wright, Agatha Kratz, Charlie Vest, and Matt Mingey

New research on Chinese resilience to and potential against G7 sanctions in the event of a Taiwan Crisis.

Bolstering cooperation among Quad and Pacific Island countries

By Parker Novak, Kyoko Imai

As the Pacific Islands’ relevance grows, there’s an influx of diplomatic attention and development assistance as external powers seek to curry favor with the sixteen countries. Australia, India, Japan, and the United States (the Quad) seeks to bolster regional engagement to address key regional issues including climate, connectivity, economic development, and maritime security.

Sanctions have become a tool of first resort. But enforcement needs upgraded and updated resources.

By David Mortlock and Alex Zerden

Enforcement remains a critical but underresourced element of economic sanctions.

Attracting foreign direct investments

By Jérémie Bertrand, Joseph Lemoine, Dan Negrea, and Caroline Perrin

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a pivotal objective for countries seeking to bolster their economic development and global competitiveness. By delving into the relationship between freedom and FDI using the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes and examining institutional mechanisms to influence investment, we shed light on the dynamics that determine a country’s attractiveness to foreign investors.

All the autocrat’s men: The court politics of Putin’s inner circle

By Mikhail Zygar

A new Atlantic Council report by journalist Mikhail Zygar explores how Russia's war on Ukraine has affected Vladimir Putin's inner circle.

Reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian energy imports: Key strategies under five scenarios

By Richard L. Morningstar, András Simonyi, Olga Khakova, Paddy Ryan

To better understand how the war’s conclusion—or lack thereof—will impact the options available to transatlantic policymakers, this report analyzes European security across five general scenarios—a Ukrainian victory, a negotiated settlement, a frozen conflict, a protracted conflict, and a Russian victory.

Leveraging generative artificial intelligence to outcompete strategic rivals

By Jeffrey Cimmino, Andrew A. Michta

The United States and its allies must leverage generative artificial intelligence to outcompete strategic rivals.

Inside Afghanistan’s gender apartheid: Listen as women reveal the impact of the Taliban’s oppressive decrees

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, women have battled against increasingly severe restrictions on education, employment, and daily public life. This report, a joint effort by the Civic Engagement Project and the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, underscores their remarkable resilience and unyielding spirit in the face of gender apartheid.

Stealth, speed, and adaptability: The role of special operations forces in strategic competition

By Clementine G. Starling and Alyxandra Marine

Clementine G. Starling and Alyxandra Marine discuss how special operations forces enhance US readiness in an era of strategic competition.

Not without her: A roadmap for gender equality and Caribbean prosperity

By Wazim Mowla, Valentina Sader

Caribbean development is intrinsically linked with women's equality. After a multi-month consultation process with Caribbean stakeholders, we offer a roadmap on how to achieve inclusive development in the region.

Policy on a spectrum: Guiding technology regulation through value tradeoffs

By Steven Tiell and Lara Pesce Ares

In a digital era where the constant flux of technology challenges our norms, "Policy on a Spectrum: Guiding Technology Regulation Through Value Tradeoffs" is a clarion call for discernment and action.

Cleveland, Ohio: Promoting a local and just energy transition

By Peter Engelke, Joseph Webster, Maia Sparkman

The issue brief focuses on the decarbonization pathway of Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland's history shows that a concerted, collaborative effort can accomplish major conservation and decarbonization goals.

The future of democracy in the Americas

By Breana Stanski and Diego Area

The Democracy and Governance commitment at the Ninth Summit of the Americas marked an imperative platform for strengthening the region’s democratic values and institutions.

In Europe and the South Caucasus, the Kremlin leans on energy blackmail and scare tactics

By the Digital Forensic Research Lab

Moscow tried to sow fear among Moldovans, Georgians, and Armenians that what happened to Ukrainians could happen to them.

In Ukraine, Russia tries to discredit leaders and amplify internal divisions

By the Digital Forensic Research Lab

On the information front, Russia had two goals in year two of its war: convince Ukrainians of their government’s inability to rule the country honestly, and persuade Ukraine’s allies that investing in Ukraine would be wasteful.