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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Aslund: Russian Market Contracting Rapidly

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

Aslund: Russian Market Contracting Rapidly

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

Aslund: Russian Market Contracting Rapidly

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

Nov 19, 2015

Aslund: Russian Market Contracting Rapidly

By Anders Aslund

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund writes for Hurriyet Daily News on the crumbling trade engagement between the European Union and Russia:

European Union International Organizations

MENASource

Nov 19, 2015

Tunisia’s Ruling Party Crisis

By Katherine Wolff and Elissa Miller

Nidaa Tounes may have to answer to a jaded constituency in the elections for failing its voters. While the current crisis is unlikely to trigger government collapse, it hampers the party’s ability to serve as a unified countervailing force to Ennahda and underscores the fragile nature of Tunisia’s balance of political power.

Democratic Transitions Middle East
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, Nov. 17, 2015

NATOSource

Nov 18, 2015

Le Drian Tells EU Defense Ministers: ‘France Cannot Do Everything’

By Reuters, AP, and Wall Street Journal

From Robin Emmott and Sabine Siebold, Reuters:  France invoked the European Union’s mutual assistance clause for the first time on Tuesday, asking its partners for military help and other aid in missions in the Middle East and Africa after the Paris attacks.

European Union France
EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Nov. 17, 2015

NATOSource

Nov 17, 2015

EU Defense Ministers Approve Historic Request From France for Military Assistance

By Federica Mogherini, European External Action Service

Nous avons changé aujourd’hui l’agenda du Conseil afin de commencer nos travaux par discuter ensemble, avec mon ami Jean-Yves Le Drian, ministre français, et tous les ministres de la Défense, notre réaction aux attaques qui ont eu lieu à Paris vendredi.

European Union France

Event Recap

Nov 17, 2015

New Leadership, New Policies? Implications of Argentina’s Presidential Election

By Oriana Piña

It is anyone’s game on Argentina’s Election Day. In the first round of voting, pollsters predicted a win for Daniel Scioli from the ruling Frente para la Victoria (FPV) party. To the surprise of many, the results came in at a tight three percentage point difference. Days before the run-off elections, Mauricio Macri from the […]

Elections Latin America

In the News

Nov 17, 2015

Benitez on EU “Mutual-Defense Clause”

By Jorge Benitez

The Associated Press quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow and NATOSource Director Jorge Benitez on France’s decision to invoked a never-before-used EU “mutual-defense clause” as opposed to NATO’s Article 5 in requesting assistance from other countries in the fight against ISIS:

European Union France
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at EDA conference, Nov. 16, 2015

NATOSource

Nov 17, 2015

Secretary General: NATO-EU Status Quo Cannot Continue

By Jens Stoltenberg, NATO

[T]he fight against terror is yet another example of how NATO and the European Union are natural partners. We share the same neighbourhood. We share the same complex security challenges. We share 22 member states.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Nov 16, 2015

After Paris, Will the United States and Europe Give Migrants the Cold Shoulder?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell and Faysal Itani say despite calls for stronger screening, some terrorists will inevitably get through The discovery of a Syrian passport near the scene of a suicide bombing in Paris on Nov. 13 and confirmation that one of the attackers had entered Europe as part of a wave of hundreds of […]

European Union France

Bremain vs Brexit

Nov 10, 2015

David Cameron Wants EU to Reform. Will He Get His Way?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

British Prime Minister unlikely to get his way on curbing welfare payments to EU migrants, says Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell British Prime Minister David Cameron will likely get some of his demands for reform of the European Union, but on at least one — curbing welfare payments for EU citizens migrating to the United Kingdom […]

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Nov 6, 2015

Il Foglio Features Econographics

By Atlantic Council

Italian newspaper Il Foglio features the Global Business and Economics Program’s weekly Econographics on the rise of anti-European Union political parties in Europe:

European Union International Organizations
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Experts

Fellow

Nicole Bibbins Sedaca

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Pavlo Bilodid

International Communications Lead, DTEK Group

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Arjun Bisen

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Australia Digital Policy

Fellow

Michael Bociurkiw

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine International Organizations

Fellow

Tom Bonsundy-O’Bryan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Europe & Eurasia

Millennium fellow

Zeina Boustani

Director, Strategy & Operations, Mastercard

Millennium Leadership Program

Human Rights Middle East
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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