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

Event Recap

Mar 29, 2013

Foreign Policy Implications of Urban World 2030

On Friday, March 29, 2013 the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Foresight initiative (SFI), of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, hosted a roundtable discussion with Dr. Monica Brezzi head of the territorial analysis and statistics unit, regional development policy division, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Dr. Robert D. Hormats, US under secretary of […]

Issue Brief

Mar 19, 2013

Does Beijing Have a Strategy? China’s Alternative Futures

By Robert A. Manning and Banning Garrett

This Atlantic Council brief, authored by Robert A. Manning and Banning Garrett, assesses the challenges China faces–worsening pollution, corruption, and a growth model that needs sweeping reforms and examines the difficulties Beijing faces in addressing them.

China Politics & Diplomacy

Event Recap

Mar 7, 2013

Setting Priorities for American Leadership: A New National Security Strategy for the United States

On March 7, 2013, the Atlantic Council hosted the Project for a United and Strong America for the launch of their new report, A New National Security Strategy for the United States.

FutureSource

Feb 28, 2013

Meet the New Meat

By Catherine Putz

According to the US National Intelligence Council’s (NIC) Global Trends 2030 report, the earth’s population will be pushing 8.3 billion (up from 7.1 billion in 2012) by 2030. This population growth, combined with ongoing urbanization and rising incomes, will increase the world’s demand for food.

Event Recap

Feb 14, 2013

Feeding Urban World 2030: Rethinking the Food Security Equation

On Thursday, February 14, 2013 the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Foresight initiative (SFI), of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, hosted a roundtable discussion with Dr. Robert D. Hormats, US undersecretary of state for growth, energy and the environment; Mr. Henk Ovink, Dutch director general for spatial planning and water affairs; Mr. Andras Forgacs, co-founder […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 23, 2013

Why a Grand Strategy Is Needed for Obama’s Second Term

By Anne-Marie Slaughter

First terms are about justifying your place in office. Second terms are about justifying your place in history.

OECD aging.png

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

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 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 […]

Event Recap

Dec 11, 2012

Global Trends 2030: Will the US Be Able to Lead in a Post-Western World

Annette Heuser, Executive Director, Bertelsmann Foundation Dr. Robert Kagan, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Center on the United States and Europe, Brookings Institution  Dr. Moises Naim, Senior Associate, International Economics Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Chief International Columnist, El País  Moderated by Philip Stephens, Associate Editor, Financial Times  This panel addressed the 2012 Global Trends conference’s core question by featuring diverse opinions on how the West must adapt to challenges of the […]

Event Recap

Dec 11, 2012

Global Trends 2030: Urban World 2030

By Jason Harmala

William Cobbett, Manager, Cities Alliance, The World Bank Dr. Robert Hormats, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment, US Department of State  H.E. Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador to the United States, Republic of Singapore  Moderated by Diana Farrell, Director, McKinsey Center for Government, McKinsey & Co.

Event Recap

Dec 11, 2012

Global Trends 2030: Luncheon with Brent Scowcroft

By Jason Harmala

Luncheon KeynoteConversation with Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft, former National Security Advisor to Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush Moderated by Frederick Kempe, President and CEO, Atlantic Council The conversation with Lieutenant General Scowcroft focused on the core idea underlying the Global Trends 2030 report, the issue of whether or not the world is at another “tipping […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 11, 2012

Hagel: US Must Turn Receivers On, Transmitters Off

By James Joyner

Senator Chuck Hagel argues that, as America’s influence declines,  “we will need to turn our receivers on and our transmitters off.”

Report

Dec 10, 2012

Global trends 2030: alternative worlds

By National Intelligence Council

The Global Trends project engages expertise from outside government on factors of such as globalization, demography and the environment, producing a forward-looking document to aid policymakers in their long term planning on key issues of worldwide importance.

Event Recap

Dec 10, 2012

Global Trends 2030: Emerging Technologies that Could Change Our Future

By Jason Harmala

General James E. Cartwright, Harold Brown Chair in Defense Policy Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies Mikael Hagstrom, Executive Vice President, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, SAS Paul Saffo, Managing Director of Foresight, Discern Analytics; Senior Fellow, Strategic Foresight Initiative, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Atlantic Council Moderated by Mariette DiChristina, […]

Event Recap

Dec 10, 2012

Global Trends 2030: US Leadership in a Post-Western World

By Rachel Weatherly

The Atlantic Council’s Strategic Foresight Initiative hosted more than 200 people at the Global Trends 2030: US Leadership in a Post-Western World conference held over two days at the Newseum on December 10 and 11, 2012.

Report

Dec 10, 2012

Envisioning 2030: US strategy for a post-western world

By Robert A. Manning

The report outlines a US leadership strategy for the period ahead to 2030 and offers policy approaches in key subject areas to ensure a positive outcome at this inflection point toward a "post-Western world," given historic shifts in political and economic influence.

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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
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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.

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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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