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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Spotlight France: Europe’s swing state

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
Spotlight France: Europe’s swing state

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
Spotlight France: Europe’s swing state

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

Issue Brief

Dec 13, 2016

Spotlight France: Europe’s swing state

By Jérémie Gallon and Jeff Lightfoot

France’s geopolitical power in Europe is unique. It combines a positive legacy of global leadership, a rich diplomatic network, universal aspirations, global military reach, cultural influence, and economic heft. The authors, Atlantic Council Senior Fellows Jérémie Gallon and Jeff Lightfoot, of this paper, “France: Europe’s Swing State: Foreign Policy Begins at Home,” argue that France […]

European Union France

Event Recap

Dec 13, 2016

Roundtable discussion with Noah Manyika

By Africa Center

On Tuesday, November 29, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted Noah Manyika, convenor of the Build Zimbabwe Alliance, for a roundtable discussion on Zimbabwe’s opposition parties and the political landscape in the country ahead of the 2018 presidential elections. Africa Center Visiting Fellow Chloë McGrath welcomed participants, introduced Manyika, and moderated the discussion. In his […]

Africa Democratic Transitions
European Central Bank Chief Mario Draghi at a press conference on December 8

EUSource

Dec 9, 2016

Uncertainty in Italy after referendum and Renzi resignation

By Future Europe Initiative

THIS WEEK’S KEY TAKE-AWAYS Future of Italian banks after referendum in limbo German company caught in crosshairs of US-China spat EU accuses US of violating Open Skies agreement European Central Bank opts for longer but lower QE

Economy & Business Elections

Event Recap

Dec 8, 2016

Rethinking Eritrea

By Africa Center

On Thursday, December 8, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center launched two new publications on Eritrea. The first, Eritrea’s Economy: Ideology and Opportunity, authored by fragile states expert Seth Kaplan, examines the nexus between the ideology of Eritrea’s leadership and the country’s struggling economy. The second, Eritrea: Coming In from the Cold, authored by Africa Center […]

Africa East Africa

Trade in Action

Dec 8, 2016

TTIP&TRADE in Action – December 8, 2016

By Global Business & Economics Program

President- Elect Trump and Europe : Want to learn more about EU-US Relations and Challenges for the Next US Administration? Check out this video of an event hosted by the EU delegation. 

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Defense Industrialist

Dec 8, 2016

Negotiating with the deal-guy-in-chief

By James Hasik

On surviving those UCAs, finding that $125 billion, and becoming the monopsonist’s apprentice. The mood at the Aerospace Industries Association luncheon this week, Tony Bertuca reported for Inside Defense, was grim. As AIA CEO Dave Melcher put it, it’s a “relatively new phenomenon” for the president-elect to call out the country’s largest aerospace company on a big program like the new Air […]

Defense Industry Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Dec 7, 2016

Eritrea: Coming in from the cold

By Bronwyn Bruton

trea has long been stigmatized as a regional “spoiler” by Washington, and despite little evidence of wrongdoing, the country remains under Security Council sanctions for supporting terrorist groups in Somalia.

Africa Civil Society

Issue Brief

Dec 7, 2016

Eritrea: Coming in from the cold

By Bronwyn Bruton

Eritrea has long been stigmatized as a regional “spoiler” by Washington, and despite little evidence of wrongdoing, the country remains under Security Council sanctions for supporting terrorist groups in Somalia. Now is the time to rethink that relationship, argues Atlantic Council Africa Center Deputy Director Bronwyn Bruton in a new issue brief entitled “Eritrea: Coming […]

Africa Civil Society

Event Recap

Dec 6, 2016

A measured US strategy for the new Africa

By Africa Center

On Tuesday, December 6, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center, in coordination with the Brent Scowcroft Center’s Strategy Initiative, launched the latest Atlantic Council Strategy Paper, “A Measured US Strategy for the New Africa,” authored by Atlantic Council Vice President and Africa Center Director Dr. J. Peter Pham, with a foreword by General James L. Jones, […]

Africa English

New Atlanticist

Dec 6, 2016

Italian Voters Deal Leadership Blow to Europe

By Rachel Ansley

The victory of the “no” vote in the Italian referendum is not simply a rejection of reform, but will result in a significant loss of leadership on the European stage with the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, according to Andrea Montanino, director of the Global Business and Economics Program at the Atlantic Council. Montanino, […]

European Union International Organizations
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Experts

Fellow

Ibrahim Al-Assil

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Bisher Al-Khasawneh

Distinguished Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Arabic Defense Policy

Fellow

Rend Al-Rahim

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Democratic Transitions

Staff

Ignacio Albe

Assistant Director

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Argentina Latin America

Fellow

Alexander Alden

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy English

Staff

Nika Aleksejeva

Resident Fellow, Baltics

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Disinformation
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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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