Resilience & Society

Resilience & Society

Societies are experiencing rapid shifts in the 21st century due to accelerating technological change, shifting cultural norms, and greater inclusion and equity. At the same time, deepening threats from climate change, migration, and violent conflict can pose significant challenges to societies and require solutions beyond typical political or economic policies. Effective policy making in the next century will require looking at issues through new lenses, taking into account all segments of society and the unique challenges they will need to confront.

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Dispatch from Geneva: Uyghur communities need cross-border protection from China’s ongoing atrocities

AfricaSource Mar 21, 2025

In the scramble for Africa’s critical minerals, the West must not abandon the ESG agenda

By Zainab Usman and Rama Yade

As this race for minerals and metals critical for the energy transition heats up, both companies and governments must not abandon environmental, social, and governance principles in Africa.
Africa Critical Minerals
Dispatch from Geneva: Uyghur communities need cross-border protection from China’s ongoing atrocities

AfricaSource Mar 17, 2025

This Women’s History Month, focus on African women’s achievements, not just their challenges

By Rama Yade

African women deserve recognition not just for the indignities they face, but for the heights they achieve.
Africa Resilience & Society
Dispatch from Geneva: Uyghur communities need cross-border protection from China’s ongoing atrocities

MENASource Mar 10, 2025

Syria’s women face a new chapter. Here’s how to amplify their voices.

By Diana Rayes , Hind Kabawat

It is critical for women to be involved in transitional justice and constitutional reform processes in Syria.
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Syria

Programs

The Climate Resilience Center creates and delivers transformative solutions that improve lives, protect livelihoods, and expand opportunity for communities on the front lines of the climate crisis. The Center is committed to reaching one billion people around the world with resilience solutions to climate change by 2030.

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The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world.

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Content

Dispatches

Apr 16, 2026

Dispatch from Geneva: Uyghur communities need cross-border protection from China’s ongoing atrocities

By Rayhan Asat

Beijing’s long arm of transnational repression extends to Chinese dissidents, pro-democracy activists, and Uyghur diaspora communities around the world.

Central Asia China

UkraineAlert

Apr 16, 2026

Could Bulgaria replace Hungary as Putin’s proxy inside the EU?

By Jan Surotchak

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán's recent election defeat was widely seen as a major setback for Russia, but victory for the pro-Kremlin candidate in this week's Bulgarian parliamentary elections could provide Putin with a new proxy inside the EU, writes Jan Surotchak.

Conflict Defense Policy

Dispatches

Apr 15, 2026

The Islamic Republic of Iran should be held accountable for aiding Russia’s crimes against Ukraine

By Haydee Dijkstal, Britt Gronemeyer

To deter the proliferation of Iranian drones, global courts and governments should pursue accountability for violating international law in supporting Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Human Rights International Norms

UkraineAlert

Apr 13, 2026

Orbán’s Hungarian election defeat: Good for Ukraine, bad for Russia

By Peter Dickinson

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's historic election defeat has removed a major obstacle to Ukraine's EU integration while robbing Putin of his most important European ally, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Elections

UkraineAlert

Apr 9, 2026

Recognizing the role of propaganda in Russia’s infrastructure of aggression

By Anna Vyshniakova, Jais Adam-Troian, Kristina Hook 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demonstrates that propaganda plays a more important part than ever in modern war. Recognizing propaganda as part of Russia’s infrastructure of military aggression is an essential step toward countering it effectively, write Anna Vyshniakova, Jais Adam-Troian, and Kristina Hook. 

Conflict Defense Policy

Dispatches

Apr 8, 2026

Don’t overlook how ordinary Iranians view the war

By Kelly J. Shannon

The current blind spot of how ordinary Iranians are faring carries both humanitarian and policy implications.

Civil Society Conflict

In the News

Apr 8, 2026

Matchett for MIT Technology Review on weaponizing water in future warfare

By Ginger Matchett

On April 7, GeoStrategy Initiative assistant director Ginger Matchett was quoted in “Desalination plants in the Middle East are increasingly vulnerable” for MIT Technology Review on how lessons learned from the Iran war mean water can be weaponized more strategically than previously imagined.

Critical Infrastructure Policy Energy & Environment

UkraineAlert

Apr 7, 2026

Hungarian election could have implications for EU, US, Russia, and Ukraine

By Marc Goedemans

The Hungarian parliamentary elections on April 12 are being billed as the most important in the country’s modern history. With Hungary a key focus in the escalating confrontation between Russia and the West, this weekend’s vote could also have geopolitical implications that will be felt in Kyiv, Moscow, Brussels, and Washington. Current Hungarian Prime Minister […]

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Apr 2, 2026

Ukraine’s heating system resilience offers lessons for European neighbors

By Miro Sedlák

Russia's bombardment of Ukraine's civilian heating system has forced Kyiv to develop a model of infrastructure resilience based on decentralization and speed that offers important lessons for Ukraine's EU neighbors, writes Miro Sedlák.

Conflict Critical Infrastructure Policy

In the News

Apr 2, 2026

Matchett for War on the Rocks on threats to desalination plants and preparedness for attacks in the Gulf

By Ginger Matchett

On March 31, GeoStrategy Initiative assistant director Ginger Matchett wrote a feature for “Holding water hostage” for War on Rocks on the threat to desalination plants in the Gulf and how states should prepare for attacks. She wrote: “We are at an inflection point with how aggressors threaten strategic assets in warfare and the significant geopolitical weight […]

Energy & Environment Infrastructure
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Experts

Fellow

Nicole Bibbins Sedaca

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Michael Bociurkiw

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine International Organizations

Millennium fellow

Zeina Boustani

Director, Strategy & Operations, Mastercard

Millennium Leadership Program

Human Rights Middle East

Staff

María Fernanda Bozmoski

Director, Impact and Operations and Lead for Central America

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Central America

Staff

Robert Bradley

Associate Director for Government Relations and Policy

Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense​ Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

National Security Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Alia Brahimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Arabic Civil Society
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Events

Public Event Fri, June 12, 2026 • 4:30 pm ET

Privileged but Powerless: Jieun Baek on Pyongyang’s greatest weakness
East Asia Human Rights Indo-Pacific Korea
Public Event Mon, June 15, 2026 • 12:30 pm ET

How should the United States counter Russia and China’s hybrid warfare?
China East Asia Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia