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
<img decoding="async" src="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-18T104839Z_243668748_RC2MFDAYGWT2_RTRMADP_3_ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-GAZA-500x350.jpg" alt="Forty-four years of an Islamic Republic. Many now regret the 1979 revolution.” class=”gta-horizontal-featured–img” />

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
<img decoding="async" src="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-14T170847Z_846619851_RC25DDARF2EA_RTRMADP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-PUTIN-KURSK-500x350.jpg" alt="Forty-four years of an Islamic Republic. Many now regret the 1979 revolution.” class=”gta-horizontal-featured–img” />

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
<img decoding="async" src="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2022-11-15T064654Z_760103484_RC24MX9ZW9LP_RTRMADP_3_G20-SUMMIT-1-scaled-e1741652706174-500x350.jpg" alt="Forty-four years of an Islamic Republic. Many now regret the 1979 revolution.” class=”gta-horizontal-featured–img” />

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

IranSource

Feb 9, 2023

<strong>Forty-four years of an Islamic Republic. Many now regret the 1979 revolution.</strong>

By Shahin Milani

While there are disagreements over many aspects of the 1979 revolution, most Iranians agree that the country is in a far worse situation because of it.

Iran Middle East

MENASource

Feb 9, 2023

In Syria, the earthquake ‘did what the Assad regime and Russians wanted to do to us all along’

By Arwa Damon

While aid increasingly flows into Turkey from around the world by air, land, and sea, areas on the other side of the border in Syria’s rebel-controlled areas are seeing none of that.

Civil Society Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Feb 8, 2023

<strong>A more diverse US State Department is taking on its ‘male, pale, and Yale’ legacy</strong>

By Nick Fouriezos

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the State Department’s first ever chief diversity and inclusion officer, spoke at an Atlantic Council Front Page event honoring Black trailblazers in foreign policy.

Africa Politics & Diplomacy

AfricaSource

Feb 8, 2023

Pan-Africanism and soccer: How Africa can secure its next diplomatic win

By Deneyse A. Kirkpatrick

African nations have an opportunity to collectively lobby for permanent representation in institutions including the UNSC.

Africa International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Feb 8, 2023

Decoding Finland’s options for NATO accession

By Rasmus Hindrén

While It is not impossible to envision a potential future where Finland joins NATO before Sweden, decoupling the accessions is a bad idea for both defense and broader strategic reasons.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 8, 2023

How to get the private sector involved in reconstructing Ukraine

By Marc Grossman, Kurt Volker, and Earl Anthony Wayne

It will take more than government aid alone to rebuild Ukraine. The private sector can make a substantial contribution.

Conflict Corruption

New Atlanticist

Feb 7, 2023

Tweets of the Union: Live expert analysis of Biden’s big address

By Atlantic Council experts

Find the best Twitter analysis by Atlantic Council experts of President Joe Biden's State of the Union address as he takes on Russia, China, and more.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

MENASource

Feb 7, 2023

<strong>The UAE and Israel have a history of strong female leadership. Women must take substantial roles in the next phase of the Abraham Accords.</strong>

By Marcy Grossman

To have a sustained and enduring peace in the region after the signing of the Abraham Accords, women must also be equally included and reflected in policy-making, decision-making, and programming.

Israel Middle East

UkraineAlert

Feb 7, 2023

The Belarusian opposition can help defeat Putin in Ukraine

By Stephen Nix, Mark Dietzen

Belarus has played a key supporting role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine but the democratic Belarusian opposition recognizes that defeating Putin can lead to the downfall of their own dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus Conflict

Atlantic Debrief

Feb 7, 2023

#AtlanticDebrief – Where does Germany stand on military support for Ukraine? | A Debrief with Bojan Pancevski

Rachel Rizzo sits down with Wall Street Journal's Germany Correspondent Bojan Pancevski to assess Germany's record on military support for Ukraine and leadership in Europe.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia
Load More

Experts

Staff

Dominique Ramsawak

Associate Director, Communications

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Digital Policy Disinformation

Fellow

Geoff Ramsey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Civil Society Colombia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Antti Rauhala

Programme Officer, International Energy Agency (IEA)

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Fellow

Diana Rayes 

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Nathalie Rayes

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Julie Recinos

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English Human Rights
Load More

Events

Public Event Fri, March 20, 2026 • 2:00 pm ET

The fight for influence in Venezuela against Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba
Americas Latin America Politics & Diplomacy Venezuela
Public Event Mon, March 23, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Kurt Campbell on what to expect from Trump’s Beijing visit
China Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy Technology & Innovation
Public Event Thu, March 26, 2026 • 2:30 pm ET

Gina McCarthy and the European Commission’s Teresa Ribera on climate cooperation
Climate Change & Climate Action Politics & Diplomacy
Load More