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

Sep 20, 2022

PACC2030: Quick wins for a US-Caribbean partnership on climate and energy resilience

By Wazim Mowla, Riyad Insanally

PACC2030’s success is crucial for CARICOM countries and the United States, and it needs to deliver in the short term to generate confidence that the United States is committed to a sustainable partnership.

Caribbean Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Sep 19, 2022

Untangling the Russian web: Spies, proxies, and spectrums of Russian cyber behavior 

By Justin Sherman

This issue brief analyzes the range of Russian government’s involvement with different actors in the large, complex, and often opaque cyber web, as well as the risks and benefits the Kremlin perceives or gets from leveraging actors in this group. The issue brief concludes with three takeaways and actions for policymakers in the United States, as well as in allied and partner countries.

Cybersecurity Russia

Issue Brief

Sep 15, 2022

The impact of merging climate and trade policy on global demand for nuclear energy

By George David Banks

Trade tools that increase the price of carbon-intensive imports will likely lead to greater global interest in low-carbon technologies, including nuclear energy. This presents opportunities for investment in nuclear energy in developing, export-oriented countries along with potential risks for developed countries closing down nuclear generation and the international nonproliferation regime.

Nuclear Energy

Issue Brief

Sep 15, 2022

Democratic institutional strength before and beyond elections: The case of Brazil 

By Valentina Sader

Brazil—Latin America’s largest economy and the fourth-largest democracy in the world—will elect its next president, governors, congress, and state-level assemblies in October 2022. This is one of the most momentous elections in recent years, a result of the inflection point that Brazil faces.

Americas Brazil

Report

Sep 14, 2022

Dragon tails: Preserving international cybersecurity research

By Stewart Scott, Sara Ann Brackett, Yumi Gambrill, Emmeline Nettles, Trey Herr

A quantitative study on whether legal context can impact the supply of vulnerability research with detrimental effects for cybersecurity writ large through the coordinated vulnerability disclosure process (CVD), using recent regulations in China as a case study.

China Cybersecurity

Issue Brief

Sep 14, 2022

Sand in the silicon: Designing an outbound investment controls mechanism

By Sarah Bauerle Danzman and Emily Kilcrease

The stakes for rethinking the investment relationship between the United States and China are high. An outbound investment mechanism must be narrowly targeted, clearly defined, non-duplicative of existing tools, scoped proportionately to administrative capacity, and paired with meaningful multilateral engagement with allies and partners. 

China Economy & Business

Report

Sep 14, 2022

Detecting disruption in closed systems

By Natalie Barrett, David Bray, Mary Versa Clemens-Sewall, Kiran Jivnani, Anthony Scriffignano

This paper utilizes commercial data aggregation and data analytics to evaluate whether commercial data sets can be used to better understand the resiliency of closed military communities or other closed ecosystems of high value and importance.

Energy & Environment Security & Defense

Issue Brief

Sep 13, 2022

Alternative battery chemistries and diversifying clean energy supply chains

By Reed Blakemore, Paddy Ryan, William Tobin

In an ecosystem of growth for batteries for grid storage and electric vehicle applications, alternatives to the lithium-ion battery chemistry may play an increasing role in alleviating supply chain woes and enabling deep decarbonization.

Australia China

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 Inclusive Growth

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
Load More