GeoStrategy Initiative Analysis and Events

Read and watch the GeoStrategy’s timely reports, issue briefs, articles, events, and videos to assess the world’s biggest strategic issues. The GeoStrategy Initiative develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and its allies and partners. Its competencies in long-range foresight and strategy development are vital assets to government and business leaders as they navigate a complex and unpredictable world.

Analysis

In the News

May 17, 2017

Engelke in Meeting of the Minds: On Benjamin Barber—Cities, Democracy, and Global Governance

By Peter Engelke

Read the full article here.

FutureSource

May 8, 2017

Data Firms Weigh In On South Korean Presidential Race During Polling Blackout

By Brent M. Eastwood

This blog post is part of a series analyzing the newest forms of data forecasting. The South Korean presidential election scheduled for tomorrow has been fraught with anxiety as voters remain divided over the direction of the country’s political future. The aftermath of a presidential impeachment has placed heightened scrutiny over the presidential race. North […]

Elections Korea

FutureSource

May 4, 2017

The Prediction Game: Data Science Firms vs. Pollsters on Sunday’s French Presidential Election

By Brent M. Eastwood and Mathew Burrows

Pollsters used to have the monopoly on predicting electoral outcomes. But startups that use data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence have been crowding into that market and in several cases besting the pollsters at their own game. Brexit and Donald Trump’s electoral victory confounded pollsters, but were forecast by several of the data science […]

Elections Europe & Eurasia

Commanders Series

May 4, 2017

Commanders Series Event with Chief of Staff of the Army General Mark Milley

By Foresight, Strategy, and Risks Initiative

On May 4, the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center for International Security hosted Chief of Staff of the Army General Mark Milley at the Army and Navy Club on Farragut Square in downtown Washington DC. Dr. Nora Bensahel interviewed General Milley after his opening statements and a welcome by former Secretary of the Army John […]

In the News

Apr 25, 2017

Engelke and Manning in the National Interest: America’s Innovation Edge Is at Risk

By Peter Engelke and Robert Manning

Read the full article here.

FutureSource

Apr 24, 2017

IMF and World Bank in Need of More Modern Forecasting Methods

By Brent M. Eastwood

Last week the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank held their spring meetings in Washington, DC. Despite worries of rising geopolitical threats, populist views on trade protectionism, and pressures of increased migration to Europe, both organizations have released generally optimistic forecasts of global economic growth for 2017.1 I decided to examine how the […]

In the News

Apr 24, 2017

Burrows Quoted by CNN on Geopolitical Risk

By Mathew Burrows

Read the full article here.

Zurich Geopolitical Email Banner

FutureSource

Apr 24, 2017

Our World Transformed: A New Futures Study on Geopolitical Risks

By Mathew Burrows

Geopolitical volatility is the new normal and is not going away anytime soon. While the news features the rise of protectionism everyday, an energy crisis due to a conflict in the Middle East or the spread of water and food insecurity, could equally disrupt the world. Should any of these situations deteriorate further, the impacts […]

FutureSource

Apr 18, 2017

California’s Bay Area: Astride the World

By Peter Engelke and Robert A. Manning

California’s Bay Area, a region that stretches northward from Silicon Valley (San Jose, Palo Alto, and environs) to San Francisco and Oakland, is the world’s premier technology hub. By almost every imaginable metric, the Bay Area is ahead of every other hub in the world, often by a large margin. The region, Bay Area interlocutors […]

In the News

Apr 12, 2017

Engelke Quoted by the BBC on Global Water Security

By Peter Engelke

Read the full article here.

Report

Apr 4, 2017

Keeping America’s Innovative Edge

By Peter Engelke and Robert A. Manning

Keeping America’s Innovative Edge lays out a strategic framework for how the United States can reinvigorate its innovative edge. As global competition in the tech space increases, this comprehensive roadmap comes at a critical time for the country. The report includes detailed policy recommendations spanning a wide range of key areas.

Technology & Innovation United States and Canada

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Mar 29, 2017

Europe in 2022: alternative futures

By Mathew Burrows and Frances Burwell

Sixty years after the signing of the Treaty of Rome, Europe faces its greatest challenges, and possibly its sharpest turning point, since World War II. In this report, Europe in 2022: Alternative Futures, Frances Burwell’s transatlantic expertise joins Mathew Burrows’ deft trends analysis to offer a sobering look at the possible future for Europe with the hope of reigniting the bond between Americans and Europeans so that we may build a better future together.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Report

Mar 22, 2017

From the Gulf to the Nile: water security in an arid region

By Peter Engelke and Howard Passell

Fresh water is fundamental to human health, social development, peace, and economic growth everywhere in the world. Yet in a great many places, and for a great many people, clean freshwater is scarce. Current trends on both the supply and demand sides strongly suggest that clean freshwater availability will become more challenging in more places […]

In the News

Mar 16, 2017

Burrows Quoted by the Daily Signal on European Populism and Recent Dutch Election Results

By Mathew J. Burrows

Read the full article here.

Elections Europe & Eurasia

D-10 Strategy Forum

Mar 16, 2017

Strategy of “Constrainment”

By Ash Jain, Damon Wilson, Fen Hampson, et al

D-10 think tank experts outline a comprehensive strategy to counter Russia’s challenge to the rules-based democratic order.

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Mar 6, 2017

Beyond the headlines: a strategy for US engagement with Latin America in the Trump era

By Peter Schechter and Jason Marczak with Rachel DeLevie-Orey

As the new administration considers ways to ensure US national security and economic growth, a newly engaged Latin America presents a wealth of opportunity on myriad fronts: urbanization, human capital, open markets, energy reform, technology, and the fight against corruption.

Economy & Business Latin America

In the News

Feb 2, 2017

Lindsay Quoted by the Los Angeles Times on Immigration Executive Order Protests in Airports

By Greg Lindsay

Read full article here.

Report

Feb 1, 2017

Mediterranean futures 2030

By Peter Engelke, Lisa Aronsson, and Magnus Nordenman

A region in flux, the Mediterranean of today–and tomorrow–faces an array of complex challenges. Demographic shifts, evolving political and security contexts, economic uncertainty, and climate change have created massive migration flows and regional instability, straining resources in southern Europe. These and other drivers of change have highlighted the increased importance of developing a transatlantic security […]

In the News

Jan 31, 2017

Lindsay Quoted by Curbed in the Travel Ban Protests

By Greg Lindsay

Read the full article here.

In the News

Jan 18, 2017

Burrows Quoted by the Sun on NATO, Russia, and Donald Trump

By Mathew J. Burrows

Read full article here.

NATO Russia
Load More

Events

Public Event Mon, April 13, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Philanthropy and the future of food security
Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment Resilience & Society
Public Event Wed, March 4, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

War with Iran and its geopolitical implications
Conflict Iran Middle East National Security
Public Event Tue, February 10, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET

Global Foresight 2036: What will the next decade bring?
China Economy & Business Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
Online Event Tue, December 9, 2025 • 11:30 am ET

Making sense of the National Security Strategy
Americas Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific National Security
Online Event Tue, November 11, 2025 • 1:00 pm ET

From risk to resilience: The future of food security in the Americas
Americas Brazil Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business
Online Event Fri, June 20, 2025 • 4:00 pm ET

Sweden’s foreign minister on the 2025 NATO Summit agenda
Europe & Eurasia NATO Northern Europe Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Tue, October 29, 2024 • 6:00 pm ET

Elections 2024: Congressman Mike Turner on geopolitics and the next US president

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Congressman Mike Turner, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, lays out his expectations of the foreign policy challenges facing the next administration and what lies ahead for the 119th Congress.
Economy & Business Elections Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society
Public Event Thu, October 10, 2024 • 3:15 am ET

Elections 2024: Sen. Mark Warner on the global risks facing the next president

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—The Virginia lawmaker outlines how a future administration can prepare for and respond to geopolitical challenges.
Economy & Business Elections Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society
Public Event Mon, September 9, 2024 • 11:30 am ET

Elections 2024: Senator Chris Murphy on the future of Democratic foreign policy

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Senator Chris Murphy discusses the future of Democratic foreign policy ahead of the 2024 US presidential election.
Economy & Business Elections Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society
Public Event Wed, June 26, 2024 • 8:00 am ET

Reporters at risk: Latin America and the Caribbean
Americas Caribbean Civil Society Conflict
Public Event Wed, June 12, 2024 • 2:00 pm ET

The art of diplomacy: Historic agreements that changed the world
Crisis Management International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
Public Event Fri, April 26, 2024 • 1:00 pm ET

Report launch: The sixth domain and the role of the private sector
Conflict Cybersecurity Infrastructure Protection National Security
Public Event Thu, March 14, 2024 • 2:00 am ET

Reporters at risk: On the frontlines in Ukraine and Gaza
Civil Society Conflict Europe & Eurasia Middle East
Public Event Mon, February 26, 2024 • 5:00 pm ET

Redefining US strategy with Latin America and the Caribbean for a new era
Americas Brazil Caribbean Central America
Public Event Mon, February 12, 2024 • 2:00 pm ET

Countering China and Russia in Latin America and the Caribbean
Caribbean China Freedom and Prosperity Latin America
Public Event Wed, October 18, 2023 • 6:00 am ET

Combating food insecurity and malnutrition: A national security imperative
Civil Society National Security Politics & Diplomacy Resilience
Public Event Wed, March 8, 2023 • 4:00 pm ET

A conversation with Stephen J. Hadley | Hand-Off: The foreign policy George W. Bush passed to Barack Obama
China Europe & Eurasia Iran Iraq
Online Event Tue, February 8, 2022 • 9:00 am ET

Report launch | Global Strategy 2022: Thwarting Kremlin aggression today for constructive relations tomorrow
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Geopolitics & Energy Security NATO Rule of Law
Flagship Event Mon, December 6, 2021 • 11:00 pm ET

Is it time for an Alliance of Democracies?
Australia European Union France Germany
Public Event Fri, October 23, 2020 • 12:00 pm ET

Report Launch – States on the cusp: Tackling global illicit trade’s threat to society and governance
Africa Corruption Economy & Business Latin America
Load More

The GeoStrategy Initiative, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, leverages strategy development and long-range foresight to serve as the preeminent thought-leader and convener for policy-relevant analysis and solutions to understand a complex and unpredictable world. Through its work, the initiative strives to revitalize, adapt, and defend a rules-based international system in order to foster peace, prosperity, and freedom for decades to come.

learn more

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.

Learn more