Issue Brief

Jan 14, 2021

Rejoining the Iran nuclear deal: Not so easy

By Brian O’Toole

President-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20, 2021, facing a litany of daunting foreign policy issues, from another massive cyber hack by Russian intelligence to alienated allies in Europe and beyond to a regime in Pyongyang that continues to proliferate weapons of mass destruction unchecked. But perhaps the stickiest—and most immediate—crisis the Biden administration […]

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jan 13, 2021

Relaunching the transatlantic trade agenda: A European perspective

By Emilie Bel

By analyzing the lessons learned from the failure of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations and drawing on interviews with European officials, this paper recommends adopting a step-by-step approach that pays greater attention from the start to the concerns of public opinion—notably, on climate change—the diversity of European sensitivities, and the need to rebuild trust progressively.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
GeoTech's Smart Partnerships report, image of a chessboard

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jan 12, 2021

Smart partnerships amid great power competition

By Mathew Burrows, Julian Mueller-Kaler

The report captures key takeaways from various roundtable conversations, identifies the challenges and opportunities that different regions of the world face when dealing with emerging technologies, and evaluates China’s role as a global citizen. In times of economic decoupling and rising geopolitical bipolarity, it highlights opportunities for smart partnerships, describes how data and AI applications can be harnessed for good, and develops scenarios on where an AI-powered world might be headed.

Africa Americas

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jan 6, 2021

Gone with the Muhasasa: Iraq’s static budget process, and the loss of financial control

By Ahmed Tabaqchali

A new Iraq Initiative report, authored by Ahmed Tabaqchali, chief investment officer at AFC Iraq Fund, outlines the inefficiencies inherent in Iraq’s current budget process and recommendations for a revamped, dynamic, and transparent budget mechanism.

Economy & Business Iraq

Issue Brief

Dec 29, 2020

The Future of DHS Project: Key Findings and Recommendations: Congressional Oversight

By Thomas Warrick & Mark J. Massa

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is overseen by more than ninety committees and subcommittees–an oversight burden far greater than any other cabinet department. This issue brief proposes that Congress streamline its oversight of DHS to increase its effectiveness as a department with national security responsibilities.

Defense Policy Infrastructure Protection

Issue Brief

Dec 23, 2020

Countering China’s challenge to the free world: A report for the Free World Commission

By Jeffrey Cimmino, Ash Jain, and Matthew Kroenig

The increasing assertiveness of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses a significant challenge to the interests and values of likeminded allies and partners and a rules-based internationa system.

China Human Rights

Issue Brief

Dec 23, 2020

Countering Russia’s challenge to the free world

By Edward Fishman and Ash Jain

Over the past decade, the Kremlin has executed a concerted strategy to undermine the cohesion of, and confidence in, democratically-elected governments in Europe and around the world. In response, leading democracies have acted to counter Russia by enacting sanctions and pursuing other measures aimed at defending frontline states against Russian aggression.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
U.S. Soldiers with Alpha Company, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, operating a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, conduct aviation operations around the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Army photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matthew Bean)

In-Depth Research & Reports

Dec 22, 2020

United States interests and policy choices in the Middle East: We didn’t start the fire…

By Michael S. Bell

In a new report, Dr. Michael S. Bell, a professor at the National Defense University’s Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, defines those interests, highlights major threats to them, and offers recommendations for US policy makers.

Middle East National Security

Issue Brief

Dec 18, 2020

Engaging Europe: A transatlantic digital agenda for the Biden administration

By Frances Burwell

Without engagement, Europe and the United States are likely to continue their disparate approaches to the digital economy. The Biden administration must meet the challenge of building better US-EU cooperation on digital issues, for the sake of transatlantic security, prosperity, and shared values.

Digital Policy Economy & Business
cctv building china

In-Depth Research & Reports

Dec 17, 2020

Countering Chinese disinformation reports

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

A series of reports on countering Chinese disinformation campaigns around the globe from the Digital Forensic Research Lab and Asia Security Initiative, housed in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

China Digital Policy

Issue Brief

Dec 17, 2020

Countering China’s crackdown on Hong Kong

By Anna Downs and Ash Jain

The implementation of the national security law has stifled the democratic movement in Hong Kong. This action sparked a series of democratic protests that China quickly attempted to dismantle—alarming observers worldwide. Can democracies mitigate the impact of the new national security laws on Hong Kong? Should Chine face penalties from the international community? Or will aligned democracies fail to defend other vulnerable democratic nations against Chinese malign influence?

China Civil Society

Issue briefs and reports

Dec 16, 2020

Dealmaking with China amid global economic uncertainty: Opportunities, risks, and recommendations for Latin America and the Caribbean

By Sergio Ley López and Salvador Suárez Zaizar

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is exerting extraordinary pressure on Latin American and Caribbean economies with reverberations that will be felt for years to come. October estimates point to a 8.1 percent contraction of regional GDP this year, accompanied by a 23 percent reduction in exports. Between January and May, Latin American and Caribbean exports to […]

Americas China

In-Depth Research & Reports

Dec 15, 2020

A guide to illicit Iranian weapon transfers: The Bahrain file

By Tim Michetti

A new report by illicit weapon flows expert Tim Michetti offers a comprehensive, field-based case study on illicit Iranian weapon flows. The report is based on a confidential assessment of the materiel procurement networks of militants operating inside Bahrain.

Iran Middle East

In-Depth Research & Reports

Dec 14, 2020

Iraq’s energy security strategy: A path to diversity and energy independence

By Abbas Kadhim and Sara Vakhshouri

A paper co-authored by Dr. Abbas Kadhim, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Atlantic Council, and Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, founder and president of SVB Energy International, outlines immediate and medium-term practical measures to tackle Iraq’s most pressing issues, in its quest to attain energy independence.

Energy & Environment Iraq

Report

Dec 14, 2020

Trade policy priorities for a COVID-19 era and beyond

By Barbara C. Matthews

Transatlantic trade policy stands at a crossroads as 2020 draws to a close. Challenged by populists across the political spectrum, disrupted by COVID-19, and potentially rendered irrelevant by the distributed digital economy, it is fair to question whether the multilateral trading framework crafted at the tail end of World War II is fit for the […]

Economy & Business Eurozone

Report

Dec 14, 2020

How do you fix a flying computer? Seeking resilience in software-intensive mission systems

By Trey Herr, Reed Porada, Simon Handler, Orton Huang, Stewart Scott, Robert Lychev, and Jeremy Mineweaser

Defense organizations, by nature, confront unanticipated and highly impactful disruptions. They must adapt complex mission systems to withstand these disruptions and accomplish defined objectives. To ensure mission systems like the F-35 remain available, capable, and lethal in conflicts to come demands the United States and its allies prioritize the resilience of these systems.

Cybersecurity Defense Industry

Report

Dec 11, 2020

The politics of pandemics: Evolving regime-opposition dynamics in the MENA region

By Frederick Kempe, Giampiero Massolo, Karim Mezran, Annalisa Perteghella, Emadeddin Badi, Yahia Mohamed Lamine Mestek, Hafsa Halawa, Abbas Kadhim, Gawdat Bahgat, Nadereh Chamlou

The politics of pandemics: Evolving regime-opposition dynamics in the MENA region.

Coronavirus Iran

Report

Dec 10, 2020

Closing the accountability gap on human rights violators in the Islamic Republic of Iran through global litigation strategies

By Gissou Nia

Gissou Nia presents recommendations for new laws, amendments to existing laws, and the creation of enforcement mechanisms to aid in the effort to combat impunity for the IRI’s human rights violations and atrocity crimes.

Human Rights International Norms

Report

Dec 9, 2020

North Macedonia on the threshold of Europe

By Damir Marusic, Dimitar Bechev

This report outlines the myriad challenges that face North Macedonia as it struggles to chart a path forward on EU accession and calls for Western leaders—especially those in Europe—to consider how they can be more productively and strategically engaged.

Democratic Transitions European Union

Report

Dec 8, 2020

Spotlight: The Biden-Harris Administration and the future of supply chains in the Americas

By Juan Carlos Baker, Maurice Bellan, Christina Conlin, Kerry Contini, Reagan Demas, Ildefonso Guajardo, Landon Loomis, Jason Marczak, Manuel Padrón-Castillo, Anne Petterd, Shunko Rojas, Lisa Schroeter, Alison J. Stafford Powell, Joyce Smith, Jennifer Trock, Omar Vargas, Carlos Alberto Vela-Treviño

The month of November 2020 marked a turning point for the United States as voters cast their ballots at rates not recently seen in a US election. The historic race saw around 65 percent of the voting population in the United States participating, the highest in more than one hundred years. With three hundred and […]

Economy & Business Latin America
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