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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Congolese opposition unify ahead of presidential elections

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
Congolese opposition unify ahead of presidential elections

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
Congolese opposition unify ahead of presidential elections

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

AfricaSource

May 30, 2018

Congolese opposition unify ahead of presidential elections

By Pierre Englebert

Democratic Republic of the Congo opposition leaders Moïse Katumbi and Felix Tshisekedi are on a US and European tour to lobby for further sanctions against the regime of President Joseph Kabila and for continued Western pressure towards free and fair elections, scheduled for December. They have formed an alliance which, they hope, can unite the […]

Africa Corruption

MENASource

May 29, 2018

The truth about Iraq’s democracy

By Harith Hasan

Some commentators recently celebrated the Iraqi election as a sign that democracy is taking root in Iraq’s soil. This optimistic view is justified given the bleak situation of democratic transformation in the region. Authoritarianism in the Middle East persists as the common model of governing, even in countries that witnessed popular uprisings and demands for […]

Democratic Transitions Iraq

New Atlanticist

May 28, 2018

Italy’s President Keeps Populists At Bay

By Nick Ottens

Italy is, not for the first time, in political crisis. But this time, what happens in Rome could have a big impact on financial markets, the euro, and the longer-term future of the European Union as a whole. Sergio Mattarella, the country’s largely ceremonial president, took the unusual step on May 28 of vetoing a […]

European Union International Organizations

In the News

May 28, 2018

Grieco in Strategic Studies Quarterly: “This NDS advances the same self-defeating, necessary, and costly strategic prescriptions”

By Atlantic Council

In summer 2018, Grieco was featured in Strategic Studies Quarterly, in which she analyzed the 2018 National Defense Summary. “Used sparingly, American economic and military power should not be squanderedin futile attempts at remaking the internal affairs of other countries by the point of the spear—a conclusion shared by this NDS. Such a strategy calls […]

English Politics & Diplomacy

2018 Elections in Latin America

May 27, 2018

#ElectionWatch: Russian bots in Mexico?

By Ben Nimmo

In the buildup to Mexico’s presidential election on July 1, reports have been circulating of “Russian bots” amplifying political messaging in Mexico.

Disinformation Elections

MENASource

May 24, 2018

Is Tunisia’s glass half empty or half full?

By Karim Mezran & Erin A. Neale

The recent round of elections in Tunisia is further proof of what has been demonstrated across the region and world: that holding elections is not an elixir, but rather a first step upon which to build a strongly rooted democracy.

Democratic Transitions Elections

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
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Experts

Staff

Alp Ozen

Assistant Director

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

English International Organizations

Staff

Isabella Palacios

Program Assistant

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Central America Colombia
Srujan Palkar's image for the Atlantic Council website

Staff

Srujan Palkar

Global India Fellow

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

China Economy & Business

Staff

Ryan Pan

Project Assistant

GeoTech Center

Artificial Intelligence Chinese

Staff

Jonathan Panikoff

Senior Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Fellow

David W. Panuelo

Distinguished Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Indo-Pacific Politics & Diplomacy
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Events

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
Online Event Mon, May 18, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

Warsaw Week 2026
Defense Industry Defense Policy Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense