Politics & Diplomacy

Politics & Diplomacy

Healthy democratic societies are governed through the holding of elections, passage of policies through government institutions, and equal application of the law to all citizens. These activities influence not only the internal decisions of these societies, but also inform the ways countries interact with their regional and global neighbors, whether through direct bilateral ties or encompassed in larger international organizations.

Explore
Can al-Zaidi separate the sects from the state in Iraq?

New Atlanticist Mar 18, 2025

The Gaza cease-fire is over. What’s next from Israel, Hamas, and the US?

By Atlantic Council experts

In the early hours of March 18, Israel launched air strikes on Gaza, ending the two-month cease-fire. Atlantic Council experts answer pressing questions about the resumed conflict.
Conflict Israel
Can al-Zaidi separate the sects from the state in Iraq?

New Atlanticist Mar 17, 2025

Enough carrots for Putin. For better negotiations, serve ‘maximum pressure’ instead.

By Benjamin L. Schmitt, Richard L. Morningstar, and Daniel Fried

Since Russia appears content for negotiations to move slowly, the Trump administration should turn up the pressure with new sanctions.
Conflict Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
Can al-Zaidi separate the sects from the state in Iraq?

Issue Brief Mar 13, 2025

Present without impact? How the Middle East perceives China’s diplomatic engagement

By Jonathan Fulton

Despite economic advancements and high-profile diplomatic engagements, China’s influence remains largely economic rather than political, Jonathan Fulton argues.
China Economy & Business

Content

MENASource

Aug 3, 2026

Can al-Zaidi separate the sects from the state in Iraq?

By Munqith Dagher

The biggest challenge facing Iraq's prime minister is how to curb the role of sectarian institutions in shaping Iraq's state decisions.

Conflict Iran

UkraineAlert

Aug 3, 2026

As Ukraine regains the initiative from Russia, Europe must seize the moment

By Lesia Ogryzko

Ukraine’s recent progress offers a rare window of opportunity to increase the pressure on Putin and push the Russian leader toward credible peace talks to end Europe’s largest war since World War II, writes Lesia Ogryzko.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Dispatches

Jul 31, 2026

10 questions (and expert answers) about the deal to disarm Hamas

By Atlantic Council experts

The US-led Board of Peace has announced an agreement that could lead to the disarmament of the Gaza-based terrorist group.

Israel Middle East

UkraineAlert

Jul 30, 2026

Ukraine’s reconstruction: Advancing from solidarity to shared strategic interests

By Olga Usenko

The future success of Ukraine's reconstruction will increasingly depend on Kyiv’s ability to promote participation in the country’s recovery not only as a moral imperative, but also as a shared economic and security interest, writes Olga Usenko.

Conflict Economy & Business

Russia Tomorrow

Jul 30, 2026

Outer Russia: How the war has sent culture into exile

By Mikhail Zygar

The latest report in the Atlantic Council's Russia Tomorrow series examines the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Russian culture in Russia and abroad.

Civil Society English

Dispatches

Jul 29, 2026

ASEAN does not need decoupling. It needs coordinated resilience.

By Nik Foster

If the group of Southeast Asian nations does not craft its own path of economic resilience, then it will end up importing the industrial policies of its larger neighbors.

East Asia Economy & Business

Dispatches

Jul 29, 2026

How Oman and Europe can open the Strait of Hormuz for good

By Jonathan Panikoff

Muscat should ask the British- and French-led maritime security mission to deploy to the strait within Omani territorial waters.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

Issue Brief

Jul 29, 2026

Reversing Mexico’s economic and democratic decline

By Vanessa Rubio-Márquez

Now classified as a "low freedom" country in the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes, Mexico must reverse its institutional erosion to advance long-term prosperity. The lens of the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes offers an opportunity to overcome polarization and chart a path forward with fact-based analysis.

Economy & Business Freedom and Prosperity

Dispatches

Jul 29, 2026

The Fable 5 shutdown and the troubling precedent it sets for AI policy

By Caroline Berry

Until Congress acts, the lesson for American AI developers is that their flagship products can be suspended with little warning.

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Dispatches

Jul 29, 2026

Colombia’s next president wants to work with the US. Here’s how Washington should respond.

By Enrique Millán-Mejía and Raúl González-Pietrogiovanna

The Trump administration can support the next phase of the relationship by presenting a real alternative to Chinese financing for critical projects.

Colombia Economy & Business
Load More

Experts

Millennium fellow

Fatima Abbas

Director of Tribal and Native Affairs, Department of Treasury

Millennium Leadership Program

Politics & Diplomacy Rule of Law

Fellow

Alhussain Abdalla

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Arabic

Fellow

Nasredeen Abdulbari

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Project for Middle East Integration

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Arabic

Fellow

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley

Distinguished Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Middle East National Security

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic China

Fellow

Gbemisola Abudu

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business
Load More