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

Oct 8, 2015

Foreign policy for an urban world: global governance and the rise of cities

By Peter Engelke

In the latest FutureScape issue brief from the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security's Strategic Foresight Initiative, author Peter Engelke discusses the long-term economic, environmental, and policy implications of urbanization. Entitled "Foreign Policy for an Urban World: Global Governance and the Rise of Cities," the brief examines how urbanization is hastening the global diffusion of power and how cities themselves are increasingly important nodes of power in global politics.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Books

Sep 28, 2015

J. Peter Pham Authors Africa Chapter in John Hay Initiative’s “Choosing to Lead” Book

By J. Peter Pham

This chapter originally appeared in the book, Choosing to Lead: American Foreign Policy for a Disordered World, released by the John Hay Initiative. Africa is destined to present the United States with both significant challenges and extraordinary opportunities in the coming years, far more than has been the case in the recent past. It could hardly […]

Issue Brief

Sep 28, 2015

Ukraine: From Evolutionary to Revolutionary Reforms

By Olena Bilan, Mike Duane, Yuriy Gorodnichenko, and Ilona Sologoub

Read the Issue Brief (PDF) Since the Maidan revolution, the Ukrainian government has embarked on a comprehensive reform agenda. But almost two years since the revolution, reforms are still lacking in core areas. The most prominent achievements are the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau to fight high-level corruption, the introduction of a new police […]

Central Europe Ukraine

Report

Sep 25, 2015

A post-sanctions Iran and the Eurasian energy architecture: Challenges and opportunities for the Euro-Atlantic community

By Micha’el Tanchum

With the removal of international sanctions on Iran, different markets will have a great interest in importing Iranian gas, but which market will benefit the most? Lifting the sanctions carries the potential to radically restructure the Eurasian energy architecture and, as a consequence, reshape Eurasian geopolitics.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Issue Brief

Sep 25, 2015

Nordic-Baltic Security and the US Role

By Mark Seip

Read the Issue Brief (PDF) The United States and the Nordic states enjoy a strong, productive relationship. However, stability in the Nordic-Baltic area is under increasing stress, which has implications for both NATO and its partner members, Finland and Sweden. In “Nordic-Baltic Security and the US Role,” the Atlantic Council’s US Navy Senior Fellow Mark […]

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Report

Sep 16, 2015

China’s evolving role in Latin America: Can it Be a win-win?

By Enrique Dussel Peters

Weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President Barack Obama in Washington, the Atlantic Council’s Latin America Center launched a new report that unravels the complexities of the Latin America-China relationship. Titled China’s Evolving Role in Latin America: Can it Be a Win-Win?, the report provides five recommendations to help both China and Latin […]

China

Report

Sep 14, 2015

NATO’s new strategy: stability generation

By Franklin D. Kramer, Hans Binnendijk, and Daniel S. Hamilton

The new threat landscape the transatlantic community faces means that NATO must adapt its strategy to remain relevant. While many transatlantic policymakers and thought leaders have called for a new strategy for NATO, few have outlined what that strategy should actually entail. This report proposes that NATO adopt a new strategy called “Stability Generation,” built […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Issue Brief

Sep 14, 2015

Iran debates its regional role

By Nasser Hadian

Concerns in the United States and its traditional Middle Eastern allies about Iran’s expanding regional role in the aftermath of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and the P5+1 on July 14, 2015, fail to take into consideration a significant debate within the Iranian policy elite. In “Iran Debates Its Regional […]

Iran

Issue Brief

Sep 10, 2015

Energy sanctions and Russia: What comes next?

By Adnan Vatansever

The West has responded to the Kremlin's increasingly bellicose policy in the former Soviet space by imposing punitive measures against Russia's energy sector. The immediate impact of such measures appears limited as neither oil nor gas flowing from Russia is expected to suffer right away. However, the sanctions' long-term implications may prove more important.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Report

Sep 10, 2015

Risk Nexus: Overcome by cyber risks? Economic benefits and costs of alternate cyber futures

By Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Zurich Insurance Group, and The University of Denver’s Pardee Center on International Futures

In 2030, will the Internet and related information and communications technologies (ICTs) continue to drive global innovation and prosperity? Or will that bright promise be swamped by an unstable and insecure Internet, so overwhelmed by non-stop attacks that it has become an increasing drag on economic growth? The answers, as far as we can predict, […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

Issue Brief

Sep 2, 2015

Toward a sustainable peace in the South China Sea

By Wei-Teh Li

This issue brief argues that SCS countries need to work toward a "mutual confidence" and "mutual dependence" end state. In particular, the paper focuses on sharing meteorological data to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, including search and rescue operations, foreign disaster relief goods delivery, and medical care.

China Indo-Pacific

Issue Brief

Sep 2, 2015

Seizing local opportunities in Syria

By Bassam Barabandi and Faysal Itani

Despite the many external players involved, the Syrian war is ultimately a local conflict. In “Seizing Local Opportunities in Syria,” authors Faysal Itani of the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center and Co-Founder of People Demand Change Bassam Barabandi identify three opportunities on the ground for the United States to develop partnerships with segments of the […]

Syria

Report

Aug 5, 2015

Human rights abuses in Russia-occupied Crimea

By Andrii Klymenko

The “green men” who fanned out across Crimea in early 2014, establishing control over key infrastructure and clearing the way for once-marginal political actors to seize the reins of power, were the vanguard of a forced political change that has led to grave human rights abuses across the Crimean peninsula. Firmly in control of the executive and law enforcement bodies, […]

Conflict English

Issue Brief

Jul 31, 2015

To vote or not to vote: Examining the disenfranchised in Egypt’s political landscape

By Sarah Sirgany

The postponement of parliamentary elections in Egypt, scheduled for March 2015, marked a setback in the country’s democratic political process. Electoral politics are effectively on hold. Meanwhile, Muslim Brotherhood supporters have adopted a violent confrontational strategy toward the state, secular opposition parties are increasingly ineffectual, and voter fatigue remains a serious dilemma. In “To Vote […]

North Africa

Report

Jul 30, 2015

Empowering America: How energy abundance can strengthen US global leadership

By Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Mark Warner, Richard L. Morningstar, David L. Goldwyn, Bud Coote

This task force report makes the case for a more robust energy strategy that capitalizes on US energy resources to advance our foreign policy and economic interests. It calls on US policymakers to repeal the crude oil export ban, ease the process of licensing for LNG exports, sustain research and investment in clean energy technology, support energy diplomacy and technical assistance abroad, advance North American energy integration efforts, and more.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Books

Jul 14, 2015

The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse

By Jake Bright and Aubrey Hruby

It’s no coincidence that Kenya will host this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit in July, or that President Barack Obama will be there in person, as well as traveling next door to Ethiopia. Home to entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and artists who embody the spirit of innovation, Africa is rapidly commanding more influence on the global stage. The […]

Report

Jul 14, 2015

Cuba’s economic reintegration: Begin with the international financial institutions

By Pavel Vidal and Scott Brown

Cuba’s Economic Reintegration: Begin with the International Financial Institutions is the first major policy publication on Cuba’s role in the global economic community since the December announcement of new policies toward Cuba. The team of authors include Cuban economist Pavel Vidal and former Senior IMF Economist Scott Brown, a former mission chief for Albania. Beyond […]

Cuba

Report

Jul 13, 2015

The Naval Alliance: Preparing NATO for a maritime century

By Magnus Nordenman

For more than a decade, NATO has been engaged in expeditionary ground-centric operations that have shaped the strategic thinking, capabilities, and planning of the Alliance and its members. But moving forward, NATO must also consider its role in the global maritime domain as it relates to transatlantic security and interests, as well as NATO operations. […]

NATO Security & Defense

Issue Brief

Jul 13, 2015

Reviving Ukraine’s Private Sector: How US Leadership Can Yield Benefits

By Robert Monyak

Ukraine’s economy is flagging. But a Ukrainian economy, integrated with the rest of Europe and by extension, the world economy, is essential for the country’s political stability and its ability to withstand Russian aggression. While the international community is yet to develop a large-scale macro-economic assistance program on the order of the Marshall Plan, the […]

Ukraine

Report

Jul 9, 2015

The impact of Turkish Stream on European energy security and the Southern Gas Corridor

By John Roberts

Russia has proposed building a major new pipeline intended to carry gas to customers in both Turkey and the European Union. The project, dubbed Turkish Stream, is controversial and is of profound significance for European energy security.

European Union Geopolitics & Energy Security
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