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.

Issue Brief

Aug 7, 2019

Spotlight: President Bukele’s first six months

By María Eugenia Brizuela de Ávila and Domingo Sadurní

As Bukele continues to settle into office, what policies from his proposed Plan Cuscatlán should his administration prioritize?

Central America Elections
Iranian Weapons Materiel on Display at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Issue Brief

Jul 30, 2019

Avenues for conflict in the Gulf: A matrix game simulation

By John Watts

Iran faces increasing pressure domestically and internationally, while simultaneously perceiving a historic opportunity to reshape regional dynamics through multiple regional conflicts. This convergence creates conditions that could lead to a strategic shock, and which warrant serious consideration.

Conflict Crisis Management

Issue Brief

Jul 30, 2019

Chile against corruption: What can the region learn?

By Laura Albornoz Pollmann

The 2018 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index shows that, despite global efforts to curb corruption, cultural changes and the announcement of positive results have been slow.

Corruption Latin America

Report

Jul 16, 2019

Trade at a crossroads: A vision for the US-India trade relationship

By Mark Linscott, Trevor Cloen, and Nidhi Upadhyaya

Both countries should prioritize efforts to manage current tensions, reach an early agreement and build on successes to initiate a series of cooperative projects in areas such as intellectual property rights, digital trade and regulatory coherence, mirroring previous successes on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.

India Trade and tariffs

Issue Brief

Jul 16, 2019

Collective defense of human dignity: the vision for NATO’s future in cyberspace

By Christopher B. Porter

An alliance under tension, NATO today faces the challenges of burden sharing, a multipolar world full of old adversaries and emerging challengers. In “Collective Defense of Human Dignity: The Vision for NATO’s Future in Cyberspace,” Christopher Porter, a nonresident senior fellow in the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at the Atlantic Council analyzes member states struggling with […]

Issue Brief

Jul 15, 2019

After Sistani and Khamenei: looming successions will shape the Middle East

By Abbas Kadhim and Barbara Slavin

As Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani and Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei age, the international community of Shia Muslims faces a looming void in religious and political leadership.

Arabic Iran

Issue Brief

Jul 15, 2019

Deconstructing the Dragon: China’s commercial expansion in Africa

By Aubrey Hruby

The Trump administration has raised the alarm about China’s domination of large infrastructure projects in Africa, diagnosing the growing indebtedness of African nations to China as a threat to US national security, as well as the sovereignty of the countries affected. They also correctly bemoan the unfair advantages conferred on Chinese firms by Beijing’s multi-billion dollar […]

Africa China

Issue Brief

Jun 28, 2019

Beyond control: Iran and its opponents locked in a lopsided confrontation

By Borzou Daragahi

While facing sobering external challenges, Iran has not lost sight of its domestic and expatriate political opposition.

Iran

Report

Jun 28, 2019

Priority-based approach to the North Korean nuclear issue—An enlightened dose of self-centeredness

By Taisuke Mibae

From the time Chairman Kim Jong-Un started his “charm offensive” early last year until the fallout of the second summit meeting between Kim and President Donald Trump in Hanoi in February 2019, officials and experts have debated whether North Korea is ready for denuclearization on the terms of the United States and its allies. Rather […]

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Korea

Report

Jun 27, 2019

INFOGRAPHICS – Disinformation in democracies: Strengthening digital resilience in Latin America

2018 saw political tides turn in three of Latin America’s largest democracies. These elections also saw deep polarization and distrust in institutions among Brazilians, Mexicans, and Colombians in an information environment ripe with disinformation. And while disinformation and misinformation are nothing new, the spread o#f false information at alarming rates is more effective and worrisome […]

Brazil Colombia

Issue Brief

Jun 27, 2019

The Melians’ revenge

By Dr. T.X. Hammes

How can small, frontline, European states defend against Russia? Emerging, high-tech, and low cost systems can provide the answer.

Drones NATO

Report

Jun 25, 2019

Diplomacy surrounding the Korean peninsula

By Taisuke Mibae and James L. Schoff

For more than half a century, the US-Japan and US-ROK alliances have played critical roles for maintenance and enhancement of peace and security in Northeast Asia, the entire Asia-Pacific region, and even the world. The future course of US-North Korea and inter-Korea negotiations over denuclearization and building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula is […]

Korea Missile Defense

Issue Brief

Jun 24, 2019

European energy security and transatlantic cooperation

By Richard L. Morningstar, András Simonyi, Olga Khakova, Irina Markina

Transatlantic cooperation with a focus on energy security will be essential to addressing global challenges and should be prioritized by US and EU leadership, since energy security translates into national, political, and economic security on both sides of the Atlantic.

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
Operation Secondary Infektion

Report

Jun 22, 2019

Operation Secondary Infektion

By Nika Aleksejeva, Lukas Andriukaitis, Luiza Bandeira, Donara Barojan, Graham Brookie, Eto Buziashvili, Andy Carvin, Kanishk Karan, Ben Nimmo, Iain Robertson, and Michael Sheldon

A Russian-based information operation used fake accounts, forged documents, and dozens of online platforms to spread stories.

Disinformation English

Report

Jun 20, 2019

The “#Macron leaks” operation: a post-mortem

By Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer

“The #Macron Leaks Operation,” by Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer analyzes the coordinated attempt to undermine Emmanuel Macron’s candidacy, with a disinformation campaign consisting of rumors, fake news, and even forged documents; a hack targeting the computers of his campaign staff; and, finally, a leak—15 gigabytes (GB) of stolen data.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

Report

Jun 18, 2019

Hacking corruption: Tech tools to fight graft in the Americas

By María Fernanda Pérez Argüello and Tamar Ziff

América Latina tiene un problema de corrupción, especialmente en lo que se refiere a licitaciones públicas. Un nuevo informe del Atlantic Council y el Diálogo Interamericano presenta una hoja de ruta para abordar el problema de la corrupción en América Latina con la ayuda de la tecnología. Ahora es el momento de seguir construyendo sobre […]

Issue Brief

Jun 17, 2019

Russia and Iran in Syria—A random partnership or an enduring alliance?

By Ambassador Michel Duclos

Russia and Iran are allies in Syria not out of mutual sympathy, but for pragmatic reasons. Iranian leaders were instrumental in convincing Vladimir Putin to send his air force to Syria to support Bashar al-Assad in September 2015, and the two countries cooperate within Syria to this day. However, their various differences highlight the limits of what looks like an alliance of convenience.

Iran Russia

Issue Brief

Jun 14, 2019

Dark pharma: Counterfeit and contraband pharmaceuticals in Central America

By Peter Tinti

This working paper, the second in a series on the global illicit economy, focuses on the “dark pharma” trade in Central America, where no country has been spared the problem of counterfeit and contraband pharmaceuticals making their way to consumers.

Latin America Security & Defense

Report

Jun 13, 2019

Democratic defense against disinformation 2.0

By Alina Polyakova, Daniel Fried

As the speed and efficiency of influence operations increase, democratic societies need to further invest in resilience and resistance to win the new information war. Democratic Defense Against Disinformation 2.0 is a report card on efforts and a roadmap for policymakers and social media companies.

Disinformation Europe & Eurasia

Report

Jun 6, 2019

The United States and Central Europe: Tasks for a second century together

By Daniel Fried, Jakub Wisniewski, Denise Forsthuber, and Alena Kudzko

After a century of work together, of tragedy and achievement, Central Europe and the United States have much to celebrate and defend, but also much to do.

Central Europe Democratic Transitions
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