Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

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

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New Atlanticist

Jan 16, 2013

Shinzo Abe’s ASEAN Tour Stresses Regional Tension

By Robert Manning

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s trip to key ASEAN states Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand this week is a sign of the times in East Asia, one of tense Sino-Japanese relations, geopolitical competition, and strategic counterbalancing.

China Japan

New Atlanticist

Jan 15, 2013

In Disputes Over Asian Seas, Winner May Take Zilch

By Robert A. Manning

It may be Asia’s 21st century equivalent of the assassination of Austria’s Archduke Ferdinand that sparked World War I. Growing tensions over territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas threaten to disrupt the oft-heralded Asian Century. Whatever the outcome, many see more than just competing nationalisms, the scars of national memory and the […]

China Japan

New Atlanticist

Jan 11, 2013

Murder in France, Fragile Opening in Turkey

By Ross Wilson

Who carried out the execution of three women prominent in the European branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Paris on January 9 and what was their intended message are unclear.

France Turkey
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New Atlanticist

Jan 11, 2013

Glimpses of a Graying World: The Demographic Challenges of 2030

By Hanna Camp

Last month, the National Intelligence Council (NIC) unveiled its Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds report at a conference convened by the Atlantic Council. Previous reports sought to envision the world in 2025, 2020, 2015, and 2010.

New Atlanticist

Jan 10, 2013

Afghanistan Better Off Than It Was in 2001; Still Not Good Enough

By James Joyner

While NATO is far from achieving the objectives in Afghanistan it set out more than a decade ago, more progress has been made than is widely understood. So say distinguished diplomats from the United States, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Atlantic Council distinguished fellow Franklin Kramer hosted James Dobbins, former US ambassador to the European Union; Ambassador Riaz Mohammad Khan, former […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jan 9, 2013

In Syria, War is the New Normal

By Rajan Menon

After 22 months of civil war, in which an estimated 60,000 people have died, Syrian President Bashar Assad gave a defiant speech Sunday that ruled out negotiations with rebel fighters and made clear that he intends to remain in power as long as possible. Assad’s words came as no great surprise. Seasoned diplomats, including former […]

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jan 8, 2013

Economic, Not Security Strategy, Key for Stability in South China Sea

By Philip Haxel

For all of its economic dynamism, the regional stability of the Asia-Pacific is increasingly threatened by conflicting claims over small rocks and archipelagos in the South China Sea. However trivial these disputes may appear, a breakout into physical conflict would have massive ramifications for the US economy, as each year 1.2 trillion dollars in US […]

Economy & Business Maritime Security

New Atlanticist

Jan 3, 2013

Russia’s Ban on Adoptions a Sign that “Reset” Has Reached its Limits

By Anna Borshchevskaya

On December 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill banning U.S. citizens from adopting Russian children.

Russia

New Atlanticist

Jan 2, 2013

Time for Strategic Learning

By Harlan Ullman

British Field Marshall Viscount Alanbrooke of Brookebrorough, one of World War II’s most accomplished and distinguished generals, regularly complained about the lack of American strategic thinking. In Alanbrooke’s view (and Churchill’s too) Washington was too anxious to open a second front the continent and woefully unprepared to face the superior Nazi Army in battle. Hence, […]

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Dec 21, 2012

The World Won’t End Today; Neither Will Apocalyptic Hysteria

By Paul Saffo

The world will not end today, the date of the so-called “Mayan Apocalypse.”

New Atlanticist

Dec 19, 2012

Thinking About BRAC – Backwards

By Aaron Burgstein

With the looming “fiscal cliff” and a sense that austerity is necessary if the United States is to get its economic house in order, major cuts to the Defense budget are inevitable. As we try to figure out how to smartly save money, one area seems overlooked: consolidating bases and facilities to eliminate duplication and improve efficiency.

Security & Defense

Transcript

Dec 18, 2012

Energy and Security from the Caspian to Europe

By Jason Harmala

Energy and Security from the Caspian to Europe Welcome and Moderator: Ross Wilson, Director, Patriciu Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council Speakers: Neil Brown, Senior Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staff Marik String, Deputy Chief Counsel, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staff Discussants: David Koryani, Deputy Director, Patriciu Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council Adnan Vatansever, Independent Analyst  Date: […]

Issue Brief

Dec 17, 2012

Naval Future: International Preponderance Through Naval Partnership

By Martin Murphy and Lee Willett

In this issue brief Martin Murphy and Lee Willett make the case for deepening naval cooperation among the so-called “Five Eyes” countries of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Download the PDF

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2012

Pacific NATO?

By Julian Lindley-French

The Atlantic Alliance is about to enter a tumultuous period of change both in Europe and the wider world. How we all conceive of our place in that world will be critical to the Alliance.

NATO Security & Defense

Event Recap

Dec 17, 2012

Ansari Africa Center Hosts Visit by Taiwanese Delegation

The Michael S. Ansari Africa Center hosted a visit today by a delegation of government officials from the Republic of China on Taiwan, who are in Washington to meet with their US counterparts for discussion on piracy off the coast of Somalia and its impact on Taiwanese commercial shipping and fishing interests in the Indian […]

Event Recap

Dec 13, 2012

Recap of the NATO Foreign Minister Meeting with Sandy Vershbow

By Jason Harmala

On December 13, 2012, the Atlantic Council held an off-the-record video conference with Ambassador Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow, NATO deputy secretary general, on NATO’s major priorities in the aftermath of the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, which took place in Brussels earlier this month.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Dec 12, 2012

Predictions are Hard, Especially About the Future

By James Joyner

We can’t predict next week with accuracy, much less 2030. But there’s still value in thinking about the future. Joshua Foust, a fellow at the American Security Project and member of the Atlantic Council’s Young Atlanticist Working Group, points out in “The World in 2030 Won’t Look Anything Like You Think” that the National Intelligence […]

Event Recap

Dec 11, 2012

Global Trends 2030: The Changing Nature of Warfare

By Jason Harmala

Experts discuss the interaction of developing trends with warfare strategies and planning, taking into consideration the evolving nature of cyberspace and the treats it invites. Dr. Thomas Enders, CEO, EADS NV Michèle Flournoy, Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group; Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, US Department of Defense Moderated by Steven Grundman, M.A. and George Lund Fellow for Emerging Defense Challenges, […]

Event Recap

Dec 11, 2012

Global Trends 2030: The Individual vs. The State: Who Will Have the Upper Hand in 2030?

By Jason Harmala

Jared Cohen, Director, Google Ideas; Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations Hisham Kassem, Founding Publisher, Al-Masry Al-Youm Newspaper Marne Levine, Vice President of Global Public Policy, Facebook Moderated by Dr. Banning Garrett, Director, Strategic Foresight Initiative, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Atlantic Council Social media and its impacts on individual empowerment, security, information […]

Event Recap

Dec 11, 2012

Global Trends 2030: The Atlantic Council’s US Strategy in a Post-Western World

By Jason Harmala

Stephen J. Hadley, Principal, RiceHadleyGates LLC General James L. Jones, Jr., Founder and President, Jones Group International; Chairman, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Atlantic Council James B. Steinberg, Dean and Professor of Social Science, International Affairs, and Law, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University  Moderated by Barry Pavel, Director, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Atlantic Council  The final panel of […]

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