Report

Jul 30, 2024

Internationalized kleptocracy is on the rise in Libya

By Oliver Windridge

On April 16, 2024, UN Special Representative for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily announced he would resign, citing a “lack of political will and good faith” among Libyan leaders. Few would disagree with his diagnosis that the vested interests of Libyan leaders have created a roadblock for progress.

Conflict Libya

Report

Jul 30, 2024

The UN should take a bolder stance in Libya

By Álvaro de Argüelles

The two main armed conflicts of the last two years—in Gaza and Ukraine—have led to the belief that international politics are ruled again by sheer force and that the United Nations is no longer a relevant actor.

Conflict Libya

Report

Jul 30, 2024

Libya’s protracted crisis, ten years of electoral deadlock

By Ben Fishman, Alvaro de Argüelles Lugo , Mary Fitzgerald, Aldo Liga, Chiara Lovotti, Karim Mezran, Alissa Pavia

A decade has passed since the last elections were held in Libya, and the country remains mired in a stalemate and deeply divided.

Libya Middle East

Issue Brief

Jul 30, 2024

Effective US government strategies to address China’s information influence

By Kenton Thibaut

To mount the most effective response to Chinese influence and the threat it poses to democratic interests at home and on the international stage, the United States should develop a global information strategy, one that reflects the interconnected nature of regulatory, industrial, and diplomatic policies with regard to the information domain.

China Digital Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 29, 2024

Russia’s digital tech isolationism: Domestic innovation, digital fragmentation, and the Kremlin’s push to replace Western digital technology

By Justin Sherman

Russia’s technological isolation is both a reality and a desired goal for Moscow. This piece explores the impacts of this phenomenon and offers recommendations for how to deal with that evolving digital ecosystem.

Cybersecurity Internet

Issue Brief

Jul 24, 2024

OT cyber policy: The Titanic or the iceberg

By Danielle Jablanski

Current policy does not address the issue of cyber-physical security with a systemic approach, instead focusing with tunnel vision on specific events. This analysis uses the iceberg model for systems thinking to address policy gaps in the OT ecosystem, detailing recommendations for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Cybersecurity

Report

Jul 22, 2024

How Venezuela became a model for digital authoritarianism

By Iria Puyosa, Andrés Azpúrua, Daniel Suárez Pérez

As Venezuelans head to the polls on July 28, the massive online surveillance apparatus developed under incumbent Nicolás Maduro watches street video, monitors social media and phone communications, and gathers data from online movements. What’s behind this digital repression—and will it spread?

Corruption Latin America
Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS)

Issue Brief

Jul 15, 2024

Modernizing space-based nuclear command, control, and communications

By Peter L. Hays and Sarah Mineiro

While nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) is in the midst of a modernization overhaul, the space-based elements of NC3 face unique geopolitical, technical, and bureaucratic challenges. This paper focuses on space-based missions and elements of the existing NC3 system, analyzing how ongoing modernization programs are addressing these challenges as well as offering recommendations.

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 8, 2024

Turkey’s emerging and disruptive technologies capacity and NATO: Defense policy, prospects, and limitations

By Can Kasapoğlu and Sine Özkaraşahin

An issue brief exploring Turkey’s defense technological ecosystem and leveraging its capabilities for the benefit of NATO.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 8, 2024

Is Iran an ideological state?

By Mahmood Sariolghalam

Mahmood Sariolghalam argues that Islamic fundamentalism did motivate Iran’s international presence in the first decade of the revolution. However, after the death of its founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, the country’s foreign policy now prioritizes policies to guarantee its political survival.

Iran Middle East

Issue Brief

Jul 8, 2024

Why the EU needs US liquefied natural gas

By John M. Roberts, Ariel Cohen

Europe is facing tough choices as it confronts Russia’s unexpected reentry into European gas markets. In this issue brief, the authors argue that Europe will need gas imports from non-Russian sources such as the United States for many years to come.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a ceremony at which Xi received an honorary degree from St. Petersburg State University, in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 6, 2019.

Report

Jul 3, 2024

Advancing freedom, defeating authoritarianism: A democracy agenda for 2025-2029

By Patrick Quirk

This report provides actionable and measurable policy recommendations for the upcoming administration’s foreign policy to advance democracy and strengthen the US position in international development.

Economy & Business Freedom and Prosperity

Issue Brief

Jul 3, 2024

Caspian contributions to energy security in Europe

By John M. Roberts and Julian Bowden

This issue brief explores the potential for Caspian region fossil fuel developments to meet Europe’s energy needs, considering regional factors and challenges.

Central Asia Europe & Eurasia
Taiwan's landmark building Taipei 101

Report

Jul 2, 2024

Strengthening Taiwan’s resiliency

By Franklin D. Kramer, Philip W. Yu, Joseph Webster, Elizabeth Sizeland

Resilience is a nation’s ability to understand, address, respond to, and recover from any type of national security risk. Given the scale of risk Taiwan faces from mainland China, domestic resilience should be front and center in Taiwan’s national security strategy, encompassing areas such as cybersecurity, energy security, and defense resilience.

China Crisis Management

Issue Brief

Jul 2, 2024

Doing as the Romans do: Recommendations for the infrastructure development agenda for Italy’s G7 presidency

By James Batchik, Rachel Rizzo, Nicholas O’Connell

The West’s plans for infrastructure development, if done effectively, could be a strategic, economic, and geopolitical feat. The G7 now must take forward meaningful action to increase coordination and cooperation to turn this ambition into reality.

Africa Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Jul 1, 2024

The impact of corruption on cybersecurity: Rethinking national strategies across the Global South  

By Robert Peacock

As the Global South prepares for the next stage in ICT development, governments must prioritize policies that reduce corruption in critical network software procurement to protect those countries’ developing cyberspace.

Corruption Cybersecurity

Report

Jul 1, 2024

From greenfield projects to green supply chains: Critical minerals in Africa as an investment challenge

By Aubrey Hruby

This report provides a snapshot of Africa’s mineral wealth and mining industries, draws out the similarities between the mining and infrastructure investment attraction challenges, describes the competitive landscape African nations find themselves in, and makes innovative recommendations—namely to the US government—to rapidly accelerate investment in sustainable mining industries in African markets.

Africa Economy & Business

Report

Jul 1, 2024

Executing distributed operations in an increasingly contested maritime environment

By Dmitry Filipoff

As the United States looks ahead to increased maritime competition in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere, the US Navy needs to implement the right plans and capabilities. “Distributed maritime operations” is the warfighting concept at the heart of the Navy’s planning for current and future operations. How well is it poised for executing it?

Crisis Management Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jun 28, 2024

Los Angeles and California: Environmental policy as a catalyst for cleantech ecosystems 

By Peter Engelke

California and Los Angeles have addressed climate change through innovative policymaking and technology, but face challenges which could undermine their success as leaders in tech and climate innovation.

Energy & Environment United States and Canada
Turbines at an offshore wind farm near Nysted, Denmark.

Issue Brief

Jun 28, 2024

Accelerating the energy transition in the Eastern Caribbean

By Wazim Mowla

Countries in the Eastern Caribbean are among the world’s most energy insecure nations. These countries grapple with high electricity costs that undercut economic competitiveness and growth, are heavily dependent on petroleum products, and are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Americas Caribbean