Issue Brief

Sep 9, 2022

Supporting Afghan refugees: A case for cultural sensitivity and humility in resettlement practices

By Halima Ahmadi-Montecalvo, Amanda Terry, Belquis Ahmadi

In recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Taliban retaking control of Afghanistan, the authors of this publication seek to raise awareness of the whole person needs of settled refugees in the United States by highlighting experiences of a number of newly resettled Afghan refugees.

Afghanistan
Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

Sep 9, 2022

Unlocking SME potential in Latin America and the Caribbean

By Eva Lardizábal, Pepe Zhang

This publication outlines practical, forward-looking policy recommendations needed for SMEs to fully become engines of socioeconomic prosperity.

Americas
Fiscal and Structural Reform

In-Depth Research & Reports

Aug 31, 2022

Europe home alone: Gaming out the future of transatlantic relations

By Liana Fix, Xenia Kelemen, and Jörn Fleck

The Atlantic Council partnered with Körber-Stiftung International Affairs on the 2022 Körber Policy Game to game out Europe’s reactions to any future rifts in the transatlantic relationship.

Europe & Eurasia
Politics & Diplomacy

Report

Aug 29, 2022

North Africa’s transatlantic relations amid change and continuity

By Karim Mezran, Roberto Menotti, Alessia Melcangi, Emadeddin Badi and Alissa Pavia

The purpose of this report is to identify a potential role for Italy and its diplomacy to play in North Africa, in full agreement and collaboration with the United States and the other main European actors.

Italy
Libya
CHINESE DISCOURSE POWER: ASPIRATIONS, REALITY, AND AMBITIONS IN THE DIGITAL DOMAIN

In-Depth Research & Reports

Aug 24, 2022

Chinese discourse power: Ambitions and reality in the digital domain

By Kenton Thibaut

The CCP has embarked on a concerted strategy to gain control over the global digital and information environment. Its goal: create an alternative global order with China at its heart.

China
Digital Policy
NATO, Finland and Sweden

Issue Brief

Aug 22, 2022

Sweden and Finland are on their way to NATO membership. Here’s what needs to happen next.

By John R. Deni

In response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden took the historic step of applying to join NATO. Both nations will bring modern capabilities that will help defend against malign actors. As Finland and Sweden’s membership is forthcoming, Alliance leaders, NATO watchers, and transatlantic security experts need to consider how to fully integrate the new allies, include them in operational plans, and best enhance defense of a longer border with Russia.

Europe & Eurasia
National Security

Issue Brief

Aug 15, 2022

Beyond munitions: A gender analysis for Ukrainian security assistance

By Cori Fleser

Allies need to incorporate human security into their bilateral military assistance to Ukraine.

Defense Policy
Europe & Eurasia

Issue Brief

Aug 11, 2022

China Pathfinder: Q2 2022 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

Aug 2, 2022

Space traffic management: Time for action

By Mir Sadat, Julia Siegel

Mir Sadat and Julia Siegel highlight challenges to and opportunities for addressing space traffic management in this Forward Defense issue brief.

China
National Security

Issue Brief

Aug 2, 2022

Behind the rise of ransomware

By John Sakellariadis

Between 2016 and 2019, cybercriminals shifted from automated ransomware campaigns that emphasized scale to targeted extortion operations against organizations. This adaption made ransomware more disruptive and more profitable, culminating in the 2021 surge in ransomware. Though the US government has devoted more attention to ransomware since 2021, ransomware remains a significant and long-term threat to the US economy.

Cybersecurity
data, public, ethical

Issue Brief

Jul 28, 2022

Principles to practice: Using ethical spectrums to guide decision-making

By Steven Tiell and Lara Pesce Ares

There is widespread awareness among researchers, companies, policy makers, and the public that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data raises challenges involving justice, privacy, autonomy, transparency, and accountability.

Digital Policy
Future of Work

Report

Jul 28, 2022

Cooperation with China: Challenges and opportunities

By Michael Schuman, David O. Shullman

Cooperation with China should focus on areas where our interests still align and where we can keep Beijing grounded in the international system. Like-minded allies and partners must pair such efforts with commitments to defend against China’s violations of international norms, impose costs on irresponsible behavior, and strengthen themselves and current global institutions to compete effectively and uphold liberal values.

China
Economy & Business

Report

Jul 25, 2022

Cybersecure the future: Ransomware

By Trent Teyema, Kiran S. Jivnani, David Bray

This report endeavors to examine key challenges in predicting, safeguarding against, and dealing with ransomware attacks, thereby better informing US and international policy to combat such attacks and their perpetrators.

Cybersecurity
Technology & Innovation

Conflict, Risk, and Tech

Jul 25, 2022

Hackers, Hoodies, and Helmets: Technology and the changing face of Russian private military contractors

By Emma Schroeder, Gavin Wilde, Justin Sherman, and Trey Herr

This issue brief explores the technological capabilities of Russian private military companies and how they are used across various types of missions in support of and in parallel with Russian policy.

Africa
Cybersecurity

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

Shifting priorities: The US and the Middle East in a multipolar world

By Jonathan Panikoff

Middle Eastern leaders view the bipartisan progression of US disengagement across the region as an abandonment of its allies and security commitments. However, in Washington’s view, deprioritizing the Middle East is not the same as declining to prioritize it.

Democratic Transitions
Middle East

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

Evolving MENA power balances: What is next for US engagement in the region?

By Karim Mezran, Valeria Talbot, Jonathan Panikoff, Sanam Vakil, Maha Yahya, Mark N. Katz, Gangzheng She, and Julien Barnes-Dacey

US President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s upcoming visit to the Middle East provides an opportunity to assess what role the United States will play in the Middle East and North Africa in the future. With the war in Ukraine further diverting US attention from the region, the big question is whether the region is entering a ‘post-US’ era.

Energy & Environment
Middle East

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

Risk or opportunity? How Russia sees a changing MENA region

By Mark N. Katz

Putin has assiduously courted all the United States’ traditional allies in the MENA region. However, if the war in Ukraine continues to go badly for Moscow, it is possible that Russian influence in the region will decline even if that of the West does not increase.

Conflict
Economic Sanctions

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

The rise of complex ‘intermediate zones’: the Ukraine War and China’s opportunity and dilemma in the Middle East

By She Gangzheng

Middle Eastern leaders are closely watching the United States’ strategic rivalry with China and Russia, worrying the region would remain vulnerable to the spillover effects of extra-regional great-power politics.

China
Economy & Business

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

A pivot point for Europe’s role in the Middle East

By Julien Barnes-Dacey

Amid an increasingly competitive and multipolar regional order—one in which longstanding European reliance on the United States can no longer be counted on—the bloc needs to grapple with how it can become a more relevant actor to help cement positive openings and forestall new dangers

Crisis Management
Europe & Eurasia

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

Washington and the Gulf: A new opportunity to engage differently

By Sanam Vakil

Rather than unequivocally supporting the West’s position on the war in Ukraine, Gulf monarchies have hedged, revealing their deep frustration with Washington and their profound concern over Iran’s aggressive regional posture.

Middle East
North Africa