Report

Dec 20, 2021

The domestic challenges that threaten China’s superpower future

By Dexter Tiff Roberts

This report examines the key internal challenges Xi Jinping and the CCP face as China’s economy undergoes its biggest transition in decades, and how these challenges will affect how China deals with the world moving forward.

China East Asia

Issue Brief

Dec 17, 2021

The EU as a global actor in the Indo-Pacific

By Marie Jourdain

The coming French presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first semester of 2022 presents a great opportunity to turn commitments to deepen such cooperation into action, demonstrating that the transatlantic community can effectively deliver together in the Indo-Pacific region.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Issue Brief

Dec 16, 2021

What is “Common Prosperity” and how will it change China and its relationship with the world?

By Dexter Tiff Roberts

This issue brief examines the key reasons behind Xi Jinping’s drive towards “common prosperity” and how it will change China and its relationship with the world.

China East Asia

Issue Brief

Dec 15, 2021

Doing it his way: How Naftali Bennett could beat the odds and wind up transforming Israel

By Shalom Lipner

Israel is experiencing the throes of growing pain. After the uninterrupted, twelve-year reign of Benjamin Netanyahu – whom many Israelis considered irreplaceable as the country’s prime minister – Israelis have a new chief. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, virtually unknown on the global stage, is moving through this uncharted territory ambitiously.

Elections Israel

Issue Brief

Dec 15, 2021

Nuclear priorities for the Biden administration

By John Harvey and Robert Soofer

Former nuclear deterrence policymakers John Harvey and Robert Soofer, from Democratic and Republican administrations, respectively, propose a path for the Biden administration’s nuclear strategy and policy.

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Dec 14, 2021

Missile defense: The end of the interim solution

By Patrick O’Reilly

Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow and former US Missile Defense Agency director Patrick O’Reilly argues that the time is now to invest in directed energy missile defense.

China Defense Policy

Report

Dec 10, 2021

Event report: Transatlantic renewal in an era of strategic competition

By Ash Jain, Joel Kesselbrenner

As the world enters a new era of strategic competition, the United States, Canada, and Europe must work together to advance shared values and interests and foster a rules-based international order.

China European Union
Sign reading "Vote Here Vote Aqui"

Assumptions Testing Series

Dec 9, 2021

Assumption #4: The United States should prioritize the promotion of democracy around the world over other key US objectives

By Mathew Burrows, Evan Cooper

Policymakers should take a triage approach with regard to democracy promotion, starting first and foremost with the state of democracy at home.

Civil Society Democratic Transitions

Report

Dec 8, 2021

A plan for Colombia’s COVID recovery and why it matters for the United States

By Atlantic Council US-Colombia Task Force

The continuity of Colombia’s prosperity and role as a key US partner depends, in part, on the country’s ability to swiftly recover from COVID-19. In 2020, lockdowns and mobility restrictions led to a major recession in Colombia, exacerbating unemployment, poverty, and pre-existing inequalities.

Americas Civil Society

Report

Dec 8, 2021

Unpacking the geopolitics of technology

By Mathew Burrows, Julian Mueller-Kaler, Kaisa Oksanen, and Ossi Piironen

In this paper, authors from the Atlantic Council and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland examine the transformation of technology and work in a broader social and political context, look at strategies that different regions of the world employ, and evaluate the transition’s geopolitical impact through alternative futures.

China Cybersecurity

Report

Dec 7, 2021

An Alliance of Democracies: From concept to reality in an era of strategic competition

By Ash Jain, Matthew Kroenig, and Jonas Parello-Plesner

With the rules-based democratic order under threat, the United States and its allies need new entities that facilitate cooperation not just across the transatlantic, but among larger groups of democracies worldwide.

Australia Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Dec 6, 2021

Cybersecurity concerns for the energy sector in the maritime domain

By Andy Bochman, Ian Ralby

As a wide spectrum of energy companies continue to rely on the maritime domain or even increase that reliance, they must be mindful that traditional maritime threats—like piracy, theft, and weather events—are not the only threats they face today. Maritime cybersecurity concerns are among the most potentially disruptive to energy-sector interests, and yet are among the least understood and addressed.

Cybersecurity Energy Transitions

Issue Brief

Nov 30, 2021

Forward Defense symposium on deterring Chinese strategic attack

By Hans Binnendijk, Rebeccah Heinrichs, and Christopher Twomey

Hans Binnendijk, Rebeccah Heinrichs, and Christopher Twomey contribute issue briefs to a Forward Defense symposium on Chinese nuclear weapons and deterring Chinese strategic attack.

China Defense Policy

Report

Nov 30, 2021

Economic statecraft: Finance and money

By Dr. Carla Norrlöf

Using economics to achieve non-economic foreign policy objectives has become a dominant strategy for great powers in the post 9/11 world. The economic statecraft kit now includes a wide range of practices such as financial sanctions, coercive policies and inducements to defensive policies.

Australia China

Report

Nov 30, 2021

Transatlantic tools: Harmonizing US and EU approaches to China

By Noah Barkin and Agatha Kratz

Cooperation between the US and the EU is essential if they are to develop effective responses to the challenges presented by China. However, there has been a lack of coordination in recent years. Nevertheless, this paper argues there is now an opportunity under the Biden Administration for the United States and Europe to learn from each other and harmonize some of their China-related efforts. 

China Economic Sanctions

Issue Brief

Nov 23, 2021

China Pathfinder: Q3 2021 Update

By GeoEconomics Center and Rhodium Group

Over the past ten months, teams from the Atlantic Council and Rhodium Group have taken a dive into China’s economy to address a fundamental question: Is China becoming more or less like other open-market economies? 

China Fiscal and Structural Reform

Issue Brief

Nov 23, 2021

Competing data governance models threaten the free flow of information and hamper world trade

By Hung Tran

The EU framework is comprehensive and puts a strong emphasis on the protection of personal data both from the government and private companies. It also establishes that EU citizens’ data can be transferred only to countries with an adequate privacy protection regime (adequacy to be determined by the European Commission).

China Cybersecurity

Issue Brief

Nov 23, 2021

Generational dynamics of economic crisis and recovery: Prospects for younger and older persons

By Nicole Goldin

Economic shocks affect young and older age groups disproportionately and highlight the insecurity of the youth labor market and volatility of older people’s savings. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated youth labor market challenges and caused young people to either lose jobs or work fewer hours.

Coronavirus Digital Policy
An electric vehicle charger

Report

Nov 16, 2021

The role of minerals in US transportation electrification goals

By Reed Blakemore

Electric vehicles will play a pivotal role in US efforts to reduce emissions and meet climate commitments under the Paris agreement. For the United States to deliver on the “decade of ambition” President Biden declared at COP26 in Glasgow, it must tackle the 30 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions originating from transportation. To that […]

Geopolitics & Energy Security Renewables & Advanced Energy

Report

Nov 15, 2021

Data rules for machine learning: How Europe can unlock the potential while mitigating the risks

By Blanka Soulava, Hamish Cameron and Victoria Ying

Artificial intelligence (AI) will increasingly shape societies and the global economy. Machine learning—which is responsible for the vast majority of AI advancements—is enhancing the way businesses and governments make decisions, develop products, and deliver services. How will the European Union unlock the potential of AI, while mitigating the risks?

Cybersecurity Digital Policy