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

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
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

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
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 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 Critical Minerals

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 Infrastructure
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

Report

Jun 27, 2024

Electrification of the road transport sector in Europe and the case of Italy

By Pier Paolo Raimondi

A report exploring the the European Union and Italy's ongoing progress in electrifying the transport sector in pursuit of broader decarbonization goals.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Issue Brief

Jun 27, 2024

Production diplomacy for deterrence, readiness, and resilience in the Indo-Pacific

By Andrew Brown, John T. Watts, Markus Garlauskas

Production diplomacy provides opportunities to protect supply chains, strengthen alliances and partnerships, enhance deterrence, and build defense readiness, though it is not without risks and challenges.

Australia Defense Industry

Report

Jun 27, 2024

Migration dynamics in the Atlantic basin: Case studies from Morocco and Nigeria

By Amal El Ouassif and Constance Berry Newman

This report seeks to provide valuable insights into the ongoing discourse on African migration trends in the global context.

Africa Migration

Issue Brief

Jun 25, 2024

A global strategy to secure UAS supply chains

By Matthew Kroenig, Imran Bayoumi

China exercises substantial control over the commercial drone market, which poses a security challenge for the United States and its allies and partners. What strategy will help the United States and its allies and partners counter China’s drone-market dominance?

China Defense Industry

Report

Jun 25, 2024

The path to prosperity: The 2024 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes

By Ignacio Campomanes, Nina Dannaoui-Johnson, Joseph Lemoine, Dan Negrea

In this “year of election,” freedom continues to decline globally. Political rights, judicial independence, and checks and balances are eroding. Prosperity growth has slowed, particularly in developing countries. The data underscores a strong link between freedom and prosperity, highlighting the need for data-driven policy reforms.

Democratic Transitions Freedom and Prosperity

Report

Jun 24, 2024

User in the middle: An interoperability and security guide for policymakers

By Maia Hamin, Alphaeus Hanson

When technologies work together, it benefits users and the digital ecosystem. Policymakers can advance interoperability and security in tandem by understanding how each impacts the other.

President Xi Jinping at the China-Africa Leaders Round Table at the conclusion of the 15th BRICS SUMMIT in Johannesburg.

Report

Jun 13, 2024

A Global South with Chinese characteristics

By Niva Yau

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has sponsored training programs overseas on trade, information security technologies, and more. Beijing uses these training programs to make a case for its authoritarian capitalism. Is it working?

Africa China

Report

Jun 12, 2024

“Reasonable” cybersecurity in forty-seven cases: The Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement actions against unfair and deceptive cyber Practices

By Isabella Wright and Maia Hamin

The FTC has brought 47 cases against companies for unfair or deceptive cybersecurity practices. What can we learn from them?

Cybersecurity

Report

Jun 12, 2024

Intentionally vague: How Saudi Arabia and Egypt abuse legal systems to suppress online speech

By Dina Sadek, Layla Mashkoor, Iain Robertson, Andy Carvin

Egypt and Saudi Arabia are weaponizing vaguely written domestic media, cybercrime, and counterterrorism laws to target and suppress dissent, opposition, and vulnerable groups.

Digital Policy Disinformation
Supporters of Kenya's opposition leader and presidential candidate Raila Odinga, of the Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) One Kenya Alliance, attend his final campaign rally ahead of the August 9th General election, at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, August 6, 2022.

Issue Brief

Jun 11, 2024

The missing piece: Political parties are critical to democracy in Africa

By Santiago Stocker, Patrick Quirk, and Dan Scaduto

As many as seventeen countries in Africa will head to the polls in 2024. This piece analyzes the state of political parties in Sub-Saharan Africa, using Freedom and Prosperity Indexes data to show why multiparty systems are key to democratic strength.

Africa Democratic Transitions
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