A second tier of middle-income powers is emerging beyond the BRICS alliance of Brazil, India, China, Russia and South Africa. CFR's Stewart M. Patrick discusses how these countries complicate traditional conceptions of East vs. West and developed vs. developing nations.

Following their return from South Sudan with the Enough Project, George Clooney and John Prendergast assess the in-country situation in the year since southern Sudan's independence referendum, with Andudu Adam Elnail, Anglican bishop of Kadugli, Sudan, and Omer Ismail, Darfur activist and senior adviser at the Enough Project.

CFR's James M. Lindsay remembers Adolf Hitler's announcement in 1935 that he would reintroduce conscription in Germany, and discusses instances when a country should be confronted rather than accommodated.

Undersecretary of Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Robert D. Hormats addresses the CFR's Council of Councils inaugural conference.

The Council of Councils is an international initiative designed to connect leading foreign policy institutes from around the worked in a common conversation on issues of global governance and multilateral cooperation. The initiative is funded by a generous grant from the Robina Foundation.

The President of the World Bank, Robert B. Zoellick, addresses the CFR's Council of Councils inaugural conference.

The Council of Councils is an international initiative designed to connect leading foreign policy institutes from around the worked in a common conversation on issues of global governance and multilateral cooperation. The initiative is funded by a generous grant from the Robina Foundation.

On International Women's Day, Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch discusses why women are losing in the movement for change in the Arab uprisings and how the international community can help.

The winner of the 2012 U.S. presidential election will risk "unpleasant surprises" if he fails to pay sufficient attention to Africa, says CFR's John Campbell.

Rajiv Shah, administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development, discusses how foreign assistance and development efforts can spread U.S. values, deter conflict, and shape a more peaceful world.

Ash Carter, deputy secretary of defense, explains how the United States is transforming its military and defense strategy as a result of financial cut backs.

CFR's James M. Lindsay remembers the firebombing of Tokyo during World War II and discusses the destructive power of conventional weapons.

On the eve of the Russian elections, Masha Gessen, journalist and author of The Man Without A Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin, and Stephen Sestanovich, CFR's George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies, sat down to discuss Putin's strategy and public response.

North Korea may be on the verge of a "transformative moment," which will require the time, attention, and resources of the winner of the U.S. presidential election, says CFR's Scott Snyder.

Laurence D. Fink, chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock, discusses the challenges facing the global financial system.

This meeting is part of the CEO Speaker series.

Leon Aron, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., and Stephen Sestanovich assess recent demonstrations of public discontent in the Russian streets and discuss the future of the country, its leaders, and U.S.-Russia relations.

The UN Human Rights Council is emerging as an increasingly relevant player in the Syrian crisis. CFR's Stewart M. Patrick highlights five things to know about the revived global human rights forum.

CFR's James M. Lindsay remembers the ratification of the Articles of Confederation and discusses the difficulty inherent in writing a workable constitution.

The protests sweeping Afghanistan over the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base may spread to other Muslim countries unless U.S. and NATO officials act swiftly, says CFR's Ed Husain.

The winner of the U.S. presidential election will face at least three sets of climate challenges including reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, facing international pressure, and developing climate-friendly technology, says CFR's Michael Levi.

CFR's James M. Lindsay recalls the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II and discusses the balance between civil liberties and national security.

As Mexico prepares to welcome the first meeting of G20 foreign ministers this weekend, CFR's Stewart M. Patrick highlights five things to know about the world's steering body for global financial cooperation.