Abigail McGowan

CFR Staff

Abigail McGowan

Research Associate, Southeast Asia and U.S. Foreign Policy

Abi McGowan is a research associate for Southeast Asia and U.S. foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Before joining CFR, she served as an AmeriCorps member and interned with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, and the House of Commons of Canada. She received her BA from the Ohio State University and an MA in Global Security and Borders from Queen's University Belfast, where she was a Hillary Rodham Clinton Scholar.

Southeast Asia

The Specter of Transnational Repression

A recent report by Freedom House demonstrates the widespread normalization of transnational repression.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan December 27, 2023 Asia Unbound
China

Review of Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World

According to a new book by Axios reporter Bethany Allen, China has developed an authoritarian economic statecraft to reshape the global order.

Blog Post by Abigail McGowan November 14, 2023 Asia Unbound
China

Prized Panda Diplomats Return to Beijing

The National Zoo’s giant pandas will return to China by mid-November.

Blog Post by Michelle Kurilla and Abigail McGowan October 27, 2023 Asia Unbound
Territorial Disputes

Azerbaijan’s Pressure on Nagorno-Karabakh: What to Know

Azerbaijan appears to have eased a blockade that had cut off food and medical supplies to the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, but there are still heightened concerns about conditions facing more than one hundred thousand civilians there.

In Brief by Abigail McGowan September 14, 2023
Vietnam

Assessing the Bolstered U.S.-Vietnam Relationship

President Biden's historic trip to Hanoi symbolizes growing shared interests between the United States and Vietnam.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan September 11, 2023 Asia Unbound
Thailand

Thailand's Summer of Political Uncertainty

Despite strong support for democratic change in Thailand's national elections, the ruling establishment has maneuvered to preserve power.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan August 31, 2023 Asia Unbound
Singapore

Is Singapore's Stability Unraveling—And What Will it Mean for the PAP?

A series of scandals have upset Singapore's typically stable politics.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan August 17, 2023 Asia Unbound
Cambodia

Cambodia's Unfree Election and Potential Succession Crisis

Cambodia's recent election exposes its looming succession crisis.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan July 26, 2023 Asia Unbound
Thailand

The Thai Establishment Plays with Fire

The ruling Thai establishment risks violence if it prevents the democratic opposition from taking power.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan July 19, 2023 Asia Unbound
Thailand

Thailand's Political Negotiations: The Current State of Play

The nomination of a compromise candidate for speaker of the House of Representatives demonstrates the pro-democracy coalition's pragmatism, but its chances of forming a new government are still uncertain.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan July 5, 2023 Asia Unbound
Immigration and Migration

Mediterranean Tragedy: The Deadly Path to Europe’s Shores

with Abigail McGowan via Think Global Health December 1, 2023
European Union

Why Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland Deal Will Fail

with Abigail McGowan via Foreign Policy April 4, 2023

China

Religion in China

A significant proportion of China’s population claims to follow a religion. However, the government continues to toughen oversight, increase persecution of some religions, and attempt to co-opt state-sanctioned religious organizations.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors May 15, 2024

Japan

The U.S.-Japan Alliance

The alliance with Japan has been the cornerstone of U.S. security policy in East Asia for decades. Now, Japan’s role in global security is growing as challenges from China and North Korea mount.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors May 3, 2024

United States

How U.S. Water Infrastructure Works

The sprawling U.S. water system is central to the nation’s economy, but chronic underinvestment, increasing demand, and the consequences of climate change have revealed the system’s weaknesses.

Backgrounder by James McBride and Noah Berman May 2, 2024 Renewing America

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