Ongoing violence and corruption in Iraq since the U.S. military pullout could augur a return to full-on sectarian strife and continued poor governance, says CFR's Ned Parker.
Clashes between Muslims and Buddhists in Burma's restive Arakan state led to a state of emergency and questions over the country's fragile democratic reforms, writes Hannah Beech for TIME.
As the death toll mounts in Syria, attention falls on the shadowy paramilitary gangs now implicated in some of the country's worst massacres, writes TIME magazine's Rania Abouzeid.
Nuclear talks with Iran are unlikely to lead to a deal in the short term, but they have had some impact: easing tensions and calming oil markets, says CFR's Richard Falkenrath.
Speaker: António Guterres Presider: George E. Rupp
UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres discusses the current state of the world's refugees.
This meeting is part of the Arthur C. Helton Memorial Lecture series, which was established by the Council and the family of Arthur C. Helton, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who died in the August 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad. The Helton Lectureship is an annual event at which one or more speakers address pressing issues in the broad field of human rights and humanitarian concerns.
Speaker: António Guterres Presider: George E. Rupp
UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres discusses the current state of the world's refugees.
This meeting is part of the Arthur C. Helton Memorial Lecture series, which was established by the Council and the family of Arthur C. Helton, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who died in the August 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad. The Helton Lectureship is an annual event at which one or more speakers address pressing issues in the broad field of human rights and humanitarian concerns.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres explains how the increasing number of new crises around the world, in areas such as Syria, Sudan/South Sudan, and Mali, has revealed that the capacity of the international community to present conflict is considerably limited.
This meeting is part of the Arthur C. Helton Memorial Lecture series, which was established by the Council and the family of Arthur C. Helton, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who died in the August 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad. The Helton Lectureship is an annual event at which one or more speakers address pressing issues in the broad field of human rights and humanitarian concerns.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) discusses his points of views on current events, such as the situation in Syria, the Arab Spring and the current state of Affairs in Egypt, and Iran's nuclear weapons program and the debate over an Israeli military strike.
The weekend massacre near Houla that has galvanized international outrage may spark a stronger Russian stand against the Assad regime, says Syria expert Mona Yacoubian.
Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy for the United Nations and the League of Arab States, drew up this six-point peace plan for Syria. It was submitted to the UN in March 2012 and on March 27 the Syrian government accepted the proposal. The ceasefire came in to effect on April 12, 2012 but as reported by the UN and other bodies, has not been honored.
Authors: Jeremy M. Sharp and Christopher M. Blanchard
After a year of unrest and violence, Syria's political crisis is characterized by dilemmas and contradictions. Members of Congress continue to evaluate possible U.S. policy approaches towards the Syrian crisis, write Jeremy M. Sharp and Christopher M. Blanchard in this Congressional Research Service report.
A broad-sweeping look at international efforts to combat nuclear nonproliferation. This is part of the Global Governance Monitor, an interactive feature tracking multilateral approaches to several global challenges.
A Pew Research Center report reveals growing opposition to the possibility of a nuclear armed Iran, but finds that nations still support imposing tougher economic sanctions versus military intervention.
Authors: Xenia Dormandy, Memduh Karakullukçu, Oded Eran, and Igor Yurgens
As NATO's mission continues to redefine itself, four experts discuss what the alliance can do to remain relevant as a force for international peace and security.
The Council on Foreign Relations' David Rockefeller Studies Program—CFR's "think tank"—is home to more than seventy full-time, adjunct, and visiting scholars and practitioners (called "fellows"). Their expertise covers the world's major regions as well as the critical issues shaping today's global agenda. Download the printable CFR Experts Guide.
Special operations play a critical role in how the United States confronts irregular threats, but to have long-term strategic impact, the author argues, numerous shortfalls must be addressed.
The author analyzes the potentially serious consequences, both at home and abroad, of a lightly overseen drone program and makes recommendations for improving its governance.
Two experts argue that despite myriad development strategies, only one can succeed in alleviating poverty in India: the overall growth of the country's economy. More