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

John Kerry’s Six-Month Report Card

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

John Kerry’s Six-Month Report Card

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

John Kerry’s Six-Month Report Card

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

New Atlanticist

Aug 5, 2013

John Kerry’s Six-Month Report Card

By R. Nicholas Burns

Until a few weeks ago, a small army of critics and armchair quarterbacks took aim at Secretary of State John Kerry’s first months in office in roughly similar fashion — too much globe-trotting, too many meetings, and too singular a focus on the lost cause of diplomacy — the 65-year search for an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. […]

Iran National Security

New Atlanticist

Aug 2, 2013

New Iranian President Undertakes ‘Damage Control’

By Barbara Slavin

This Sunday Iran will trade an abrasive diplomatic embarrassment for a far more presentable figure.

Elections Iran
US Capitol and US Flag

New Atlanticist

Jul 31, 2013

An All-American Agenda

By Harlan Ullman

This column advances what the United States must do to get its domestic house in order. There are probably a million reasons why this won’t work, yet, if America is to emerge stronger and future generations made more secure, there is no alternative except to act no matter how much the political system resists.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 29, 2013

Zimbabwe’s Irrelevant Election

By Bronwyn Bruton

Elections scheduled for Wednesday in Zimbabwe are shaping up to be an absolute disaster. They were organized on short notice and without adequate budget, so promise to be plagued with irregularities. Some will be deliberate—the ruling party is expected to rig the vote and violently harass the political opposition—but enormous lines, unprinted ballots, and disorganized […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 26, 2013

US Governance Backbone Needed Now

By Harlan Ullman

Resurrection is a popular metaphor often promiscuously applied to fallen or disgraced athletes, politicians, celebrities and, of course, religion. But few entities are more in need of resurrection than the governance of the United States.

Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 26, 2013

Can Gratitude Improve American Policy in Afghanistan?

By Jeff Lightfoot

General de Gaulle is attributed to have said “Countries have no friends, only interests.” He offered this contribution to international relations theory from his war-time exile in London, where he depended entirely on the hospitality of the British government for the survival of Free France.

Afghanistan Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2013

Bank Leverage Now in EU’s Hands

By Chris Brummer

The ball is in the EU’s court to show just how much international financial coordination will be a race to the top, or to the bottom. Over the last two weeks, US regulators have approved “Basel III” banking regulations that will require banks to increase the amount and quality of capital used to finance their […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2013

Freeing Japan

By Julian Lindley-French

Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I like the dreams of the future, better than the history of the past.” To nowhere does this Jeffersonian aphorism apply more than contemporary Japan. With Sunday’s clear victory of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party in elections to the Upper House of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, Japan maybe about […]

Germany Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2013

Mali’s Election: Good enough, but not sufficient

By J. Peter Pham

Nearly a year and a half after a coup brought down its elected government, inadvertently paving the way for the takeover of the northern two-thirds of the country by ethnic separatists temporarily aligned with al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate and other extremists, and seven months after a French-led military intervention turned back the insurgents, scattering the militants […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2013

Egypt’s Coup-Friendly Liberal Democrats

By Rajan Menon

More than a few of Egypt’s democrats have hailed the country’s military brass for enabling a popular revolution, carrying out the people’s will, and deposing an authoritarian leader. This has created an awkward situation for American democracy promoters, who are put in the position of supporting their liberal allies while sometimes denying that what occurred […]

Elections North Africa
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Jérémie Gallon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Economy & Business English

Millennium fellow

Tuvshinzaya Gantulga

Principal Advisor, Rio Tinto

Millennium Leadership Program

Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific

Fellow

Jennifer Gavito

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic French
Sopo Gelava

Staff

Sopo Gelava

Research Associate, Caucasus

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Civil Society Disinformation

Fellow

Tuvia Gering

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Disinformation

Fellow

Tatiana Gfoeller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Arabic Central Asia
Load More

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