Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

Manning in The Hill: What Kazakhstan says about the autocracy question

By Atlantic Council

On January 13, Robert Manning published his weekly column in The Hill on the events in Kazakhstan and how they demonstrate the inherent weakness in autocracies. Manning made the point that there is widespread discontent among populations ruled by autocrats, but that the challenges facing the US internally undermine protestors in autocracies from turning to […]

Ashford in The New York Times: “It will certainly produce more militarization of the alliance’s eastern flank.”

By Atlantic Council

On January 13, Emma Ashford was quote in the New York Times on the Russia-Ukraine standoff. “It will certainly produce more militarization of the alliance’s eastern flank,” Emma Ashford, a researcher at the Atlantic Council research group wrote of NATO’s likely response to Russia’s threats against Ukraine. “Just because we think it’s a stupid, self-defeating […]

Pavel and Cimmino in The National Interest: America and Europe defeated authoritarians before, and can do so again

By Atlantic Council

On January 11, The National Interest published a piece by Barry Pavel and Jeffrey Cimmino arguing that the United States needs to strengthen and adapt its alliances to navigate the challenge presented by two continental great-power rivals in China and Russia. The piece sketches the contours of a refreshed European-American alliance relationship to tackle the challenges […]

Ashford in Politico: “Emma Ashford and Matthew Kroenig debate whether the unrest will inflame tensions between Russia and the West.”

By Atlantic Council

On January 10, Ashford and Matthew Kroenig’s “It’s Debatable” column was featured in Politico’s Global Insider newsletter. “Kazakhstan’s main military relationship is with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which replaced the Warsaw Pact for Russia and some Central Asian states. Tokayev has appealed for the CSTO to intervene in the ongoing unrest, and small […]

Ashford on NPR: “Even if we wanted to intervene … we just don’t have that much leverage in Kazakhstan.”

By Atlantic Council

On January 9, Emma Ashford was interviewed by NPR Morning Edition on the Russian intervention in Kazakhstan. “Even if we wanted to intervene, even if there was a clear side upon which we thought we could intervene – which I don’t think there is – we just don’t have that much leverage in Kazakhstan. We […]

Kroenig and Ashford discuss unrest in Kazakhstan and the Ukraine-Russia crisis

On January 6, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and New American Engagement Initiative senior fellow Emma Ashford assessing the latest news in international affairs. In their latest column, they discuss ongoing protests in Kazakhstan and Russia’s continued threats against Ukraine.

Preble in Vox: “I can’t point to anyone who was sanctioned for supporting the war”

By Atlantic Council

On January 7, Christopher Preble was quoted in a Vox article on the rehabilitation of the careers of those who served in the Trump administration. Preble made the point that many who were involved in the justification for going to war in Iraq were similarly able to secure jobs in Washington after their time in […]

Kroenig’s op-ed on Iran quoted in Politico’s National Security Daily newsletter

By Atlantic Council

On January 7, Politico‘s National Security Daily newsletter quoted Matthew Kroenig and Mark Dubowitz’s recent Wall Street Journal op-ed encouraging the Biden administration to prepare military options if diplomatic negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program falter.

Kroenig in the Wall Street Journal: Biden’s moment of truth in Iran

By Atlantic Council

On January 6, the Wall Street Journal published a piece by Matthew Kroenig and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies’ Mark Dubowitz arguing that the United States should be prepared to take military action against Iran’s nuclear program if necessary.

Preble on the Net Assessment podcast: A heavy price to pay?

By Atlantic Council

On the January 6 edition of the podcast, Preble and his co-hosts talked about the massing of Russian troops near Ukraine’s eastern border and the Biden administration’s efforts to deter Putin from invading Ukraine. What is Putin’s motivation for the actions of the last several months? Are the Biden team’s threats of crippling economic sanctions […]

Jain in The Hill: It’s time for an alliance of democracies

On December 20, The Hill published a joint op-ed by Scowcroft Center director for democratic order Ash Jain and executive director of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation Jonas Parello-Plesner. In the piece, they argued for the establishment of an Alliance of Democracies to bring together the United States, its allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, […]

Morris in Dallas Morning News: Space junk threatens US assets in low-earth orbit

By Atlantic Council

On January 3, the Dallas Morning News published a piece by Scowcroft Center senior advisor Nate Morris arguing that a Russian anti-satellite missile test highlights a growing threat to US space superiority. Moreover, the article warns that space waste poses a severe threat to US assets in low-earth orbit.

Manning in Straits Times: US-China relations, when hawks rule

By Atlantic Council

On January 3, Manning was quoted in a Straits Times article on the consequences of hawkish foreign policy between the United States and China. “The US has become obsessed with endlessly punishing China for Xinjiang and Hong Kong. However horrible their behaviour, these are internal issues, which US agency will have zero impact in changing. […]

Manning in The Hill: Is China’s power peaking?

By Atlantic Council

On December 29, Robert Manning’s column in The Hill highlighted the findings from the recent Atlantic Council’s Global Foresight 2022 report. “Some fear that Xi may divert attention from stagnation with a more aggressive military policy toward Taiwan to shore up the CCP’s nationalist legitimacy. But an economically struggling China could also unravel global stability: […]