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.

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Braw in The Wall Street Journal: How Europe Can Work With Trump

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

Braw in The Wall Street Journal: How Europe Can Work With Trump

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

Braw in The Wall Street Journal: How Europe Can Work With Trump

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

In the News

May 23, 2018

Braw in The Wall Street Journal: How Europe Can Work With Trump

By Elisabeth Braw

Read the full article here

European Union International Organizations

Event Recap

May 23, 2018

Discussion with the Congolese opposition

By Africa Center

On Wednesday, May 23, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted a discussion with Mr. Moïse Katumbi Chapwe, former governor of Katanga Province and leader of Ensemble pour le changement, a new political movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Mr. Félix Tshisekedi, president of the Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social (UDPS), […]

Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo

New Atlanticist

May 21, 2018

Can the European Union’s Sanctions Blocking Regulation Save the Iran Nuclear Deal?

By Brian O'Toole

The European Union (EU) on May 18 announced that it was beginning the process to activate its proposed blocking regulation, initially proposed in 1996 to try to counteract what the EU saw as the extraterritorial reach under the United States’ Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) and Cuba sanctions program. Those disagreements were settled politically with the […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 18, 2018

Italy May Soon Be Led by an Anti-EU, Pro-Putin Coalition

By Nick Ottens

Italy’s populist Five Star Movement and the League have finalized a coalition agreement that challenges the consensus of the European Union (EU). There are still a couple of hurdles to be cleared: the parties have yet to agree on a candidate for prime minister and supporters of the Five Star Movement are voting in an […]

European Union International Organizations

IranSource

May 18, 2018

The Iran Deal Without America

By Mehran Haghirian

In the aftermath of the US announcement that it was quitting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the other signatories are struggling to convince Iran to remain within the agreement. European officials have been particularly outspoken, reflecting anger at a potentially fatal blow to a signature diplomatic achievement that touches their core security concerns. […]

European Union International Organizations

Event Recap

May 17, 2018

Conference Call – Venezuela’s sham electoral event: Preparing for May 20 and what comes next

On Thursday, May 17, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center held a timely conference call to discuss Venezuela’s May 20 electoral event with Juan Andrés Mejía, Representative of the State of Miranda in Venezuela’s National Assembly, and Phil Gunson, Andes Project Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group. Below is the full transcript.  […]

Elections Latin America

Press Release

May 17, 2018

Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab Partners with Facebook to Combat Disinformation in Democratic Elections

By Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council’s DFRLab announced a partnership with Facebook to independently monitor disinformation and other vulnerabilities in elections globally.

Disinformation Elections

AfricaSource

May 16, 2018

Burundi’s flawed constitutional referendum

By Kelsey Lilley

Burundians will go to the polls on Thursday, May 17 to vote in a constitutional referendum set to allow Pierre Nkurunziza, president since the end of the country’s civil war in 2005, an opportunity to stay in power until 2034.  The vote takes place amid a fragile domestic situation, and it is likely to deepen […]

Africa Corruption

MENASource

May 16, 2018

Iraq: The reinvention of Muqtada al-Sadr

By Dr. Nabeel Khoury

Muqtada al-Sadr—often dubbed a firebrand cleric—has come a long way from the days in 2003 when he was an outcast and a hunted man, to the victor in the 2018 Iraqi elections. Early results suggesting a surprising lead for Sadr are a personal vindication for him, certainly, but a challenge for Iraq’s political elite which […]

Democratic Transitions Elections

Event Recap

May 15, 2018

Europe Faces Historic Test After US Quits Iran Nuclear Deal

By Future of Iran Initiative

One week after President Donald J. Trump’s announcement that the United States is withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and re-imposing sanctions, dismayed European parliamentarians spoke at the Atlantic Council with a clear voice: European sovereignty is at stake and Europe will take the necessary measures to defend it. “There was, until […]

European Union France
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Experts

Fellow

Naz El-Khatib

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific

Staff

Gabrielle Ellicott

Program Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Democratic Transitions

Fellow

Tobias Ellwood

Distinguished Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Jason Emert

Of Counsel, Blank Rome LLP

Millennium Leadership Program

Civil Society Eastern Europe

Staff

Peter Engelke

Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Global Energy Center

Technology & Innovation

Fellow

Daniel P. Erikson

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Economy & Business International Organizations
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Events

Public Event Fri, May 8, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Is Russia’s war machine running out of steam?
Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Russia Security & Defense
Public Event Wed, May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The 2026 Iraq Dialogue
Geopolitics & Energy Security Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Thu, May 14, 2026 • 4:00 pm ET

Trade over aid: Prosperity for the US and the developing world
Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society United States and Canada
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