Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

Explore the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s latest insights, commentary, articles, media hits, and in-depth reports

All commentary & analysis

FutureSource

Jul 18, 2013

Why Cities Still Need Nations (and Vice Versa)

By Peter Engelke

Cities are fashionable these days, and for good reason. Global demographic shifts have been forcing a much broader awareness of urbanization’s tremendous scope and scale. As a result, people are discovering or rediscovering the many virtues of city life, helping to spark awareness that when cities function well, they drive economic growth and technological innovation, […]

Issue Brief

Jul 15, 2013

Rising robotics and the Third Industrial Revolution

By Robert A. Manning

In the latest FutureScape brief from the Atlantic Council's Strategic Foresight Initiative in the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Senior Fellow Robert A. Manning assesses the onset of the era of robotics, one component of a technological transformation that is reshaping the world.

Resilience & Society Technology & Innovation

MENASource

Jul 10, 2013

A Holistic Approach to Security in Libya

By Karim Mezran

With the arrival of Ambassador Deborah Jones last month in Tripoli to assume the months-vacant ambassadorial post, there is a newfound opportunity to reinvigorate the relationship between Libya and the United States. Reports indicate that she received a warm welcome from the Libyan government and people who are eager to elevate their country’s engagement with […]

Issue Brief

Jul 9, 2013

Global trends 2030: challenges and opportunities for Europe

By Robert A. Manning

Tailored to address the distinct challenges Europe faces, this report draws upon the US National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds and provides further, in-depth analysis on the policy priorities and opportunities for Europe in the future.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Event Recap

Jul 3, 2013

The Transatlantic Link Series: The Path to the 2014 NATO Summit

On July 3, the Atlantic Council held an off-the-record video conference with high level NATO officials to recommend policies crafted during the Atlantic Council’s NATO in a New Security Landscape conference and discuss agenda topics for the 2014 NATO Summit.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jul 2, 2013

US Rebalancing Asia, Not Containing China

By Robert A. Manning

A widely held belief among many in China is that every US policy move affecting the country is part of a concerted strategy of containment aimed at preventing its reemergence. Thus, the US “rebalancing” in Asia, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the US alliances with Japan, South Korea and Australia are all components of a US […]

China Economy & Business

Event Recap

Jun 27, 2013

Strategy Session with Swedish Minister of Defense Enstrom

By Jason Harmala

On June 27, 2013 the Atlantic Council hosted H.E. Karin Enstrӧm, Sweden’s minister of defense, for a strategy session focused on Sweden’s defense and security relationship with the US and NATO, as well as security developments in the Nordic-Baltic region.

Northern Europe
Graffiti supporting Spain

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2013

The Return of Spanish Terrorism?

By Alexander Ward

Conventional wisdom holds that terrorism in Spain has finally dissipated. However, political and economic trends might intersect with rising separatist extremism in Spain, leading to a return to the terroristic history that has plagued the country for years.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Event Recap

Jun 25, 2013

Roundtable on US Missile Defense Strategy with Elaine Bunn

On Tuesday, June 25, the Atlantic Council hosted an off-the-record roundtable discussion on the United States’ missile defense strategy with Elaine Bunn, the recently appointed deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy.

Missile Defense Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 21, 2013

Nostalgia Is Not Strategy

By Robert Manning

President Obama’s Berlin speech and trip to Europe came at a historical inflection point: The European Union (EU) has been in recession and financial crisis for more than four years. Youth unemployment is a staggering 25 percent. The very idea of Europe is being called into question. Moreover, NATO’s purpose leaves many scratching their heads, […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2013

Toward a Global Missile Defense Architecture

By Ian Brzezinski

The increasing prevalence of ballistic missiles has been highlighted by the latest tensions with North Korea, the ongoing confrontation with Iran, and Syria’s savage civil war. Approximately thirty countries are now armed with ballistic missiles. This number will grow, as will the range, accuracy, and lethality of the ballistic missiles available to friend and foe […]

Missile Defense Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 18, 2013

Obama Should Call for German Leadership

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

President Barack Obama should use his speech tomorrow at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to call for more active, confident German leadership of the European Union—which is needed if the continent is to rise above its present political and economic crisis. As Europe’s largest trading, investment and security partner, the United States has a strong interest in […]

Germany

New Atlanticist

Jun 16, 2013

MAD About You

By Ellen Tauscher and Igor Ivanov

After a series of setbacks and disappointments during President Barack Obama’s first term, U.S.-Russian political dialogue is finally gaining momentum.

Missile Defense Russia

Issue Brief

Jun 12, 2013

Labor, technology, and innovation in Europe: facing global risk through increased resiliency

By Peter Engelke and Robert A. Manning

The world is currently undergoing a Third Industrial Revolution, one which challenges the long-term economic vitality of the transatlantic community. In the midst of this third revolution, Europe and the United States face growing threats from structural risks that, if left unaddressed, will undermine chances for long-term recovery from current economic difficulties.

Resilience Technology & Innovation

New Atlanticist

Jun 11, 2013

US and China Explore New Relationship

By Robert Manning

It will be some time before the full consequences of the California summit meeting between US President Barack Obama and China’s new leader, Xi Jinping, are revealed. Nixon-Mao it was not. Nevertheless, the well-timed and much-needed unscripted discussion focused on fundamental questions about the US-China relationship which has reached a new level of tension because […]

China Cybersecurity

Event Recap

Jun 11, 2013

Nordic-Baltic Security Challenges in the Context of NATO’s Crisis Management System

On June 11, the Atlantic Council collaborated with the Embassy of Estonia to host a private strategy session on NATO’s deterrence capabilities and crisis management systems through the lens of Nordic-Baltic security challenges.

NATO Security & Defense

Event Recap

Jun 7, 2013

Roundtable Discussion with Admiral Dennis Blair

On June 7, the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East co-hosted a roundtable conversation with former Director of National Intelligence, Admiral (Ret.) Dennis Blair on the role of the armed forces in fostering democratic development around the world.

Intelligence Security & Defense

Event Recap

Jun 5, 2013

NATO in a New Security Landscape

By Jason Harmala

On June 5, the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS) held a conference on NATO in a New Security Landscape.

NATO Security & Defense

Event Recap

Jun 4, 2013

Strategy Session on the French Defense White Paper

On June 4, the Atlantic Council hosted Brigadier General Bruno Caïtucoli, defense attaché at the Embassy of France in Washington, DC, for a strategy session on the French White Paper on Defense and National Security.

France

Event Recap

Jun 4, 2013

Private Roundtable with OSCE Secretary General Zannier

By Jason Harmala

On June 4, the Atlantic Council hosted an off-the-record roundtable discussion between Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, State Department representatives and Council leaders and scholars.

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