Gayle Tzemach-Lemmon discusses the possible consequences of the U.S. government's inaction in Syria and the disconnect between President Barack Obama's approach to the situation and the national security intervention proposals he was reviewing.

Mervyn King, former governor and chief economist for the Bank of England, joins the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) as a distinguished visiting fellow.

Senator McCain discusses recent developments in U.S. policy toward Syria.

Senator McCain discusses recent developments in U.S. policy toward Syria.

Barney Frank and Henry M. Paulson Jr. look back at the 2008 financial crisis, the ongoing recovery process, and lessons learned from their unique perspectives.

In collaboration with the Council on Foreign Relations, the Home Box Office History Makers Series sponsors speakers whose contributions made a prominent impact at a critical juncture in history.

Benn Steil's latest Forbes op-ed, co-authored with Dinah Walker, shows why Greece may turn out to be a deciding factor in the German elections. While it is widely believed that a fresh mandate for Chancellor Merkel means more robust German involvement to end the eurozone crisis, they show why the loss of her FDP coalition partner could mean the opposite.

These Teaching Notes, by CFR President Richard N. Haass, feature discussion questions, essay questions, activities, and additional materials for educators to supplement the use of Dr. Haass's book Foreign Policy Begins at Home in the classroom. In this book, Dr. Haass argues that the biggest threat to the security and prosperity of the United States comes not from abroad but from within. He puts forward a new foreign policy doctrine of Restoration, in which the United States limits its engagement in wars of choice and humanitarian interventions abroad and focuses on restoring the foundations of its power at home.

According to Ray Takeyh, the crisis in Syria and the impact of international response "will be felt more in Israel than in Iran."

The East and South China Seas are the scene of escalating territorial disputes between China and its neighbors, including Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The tensions, shaped by China's growing assertiveness, have fueled concerns over armed conflict and raised questions about Washington's security commitments in its strategic rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region.

Europe's debt crisis and recession have been felt around the world, and the United States has not been spared.

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The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has launched a new multimedia series—"InfoGuides"—to promote understanding of complex foreign policy issues.

The United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic submitted an investigative report to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday, September 15, 2013. This "Report on the Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons in the Ghouta Area of Damascus on 21 August 2013" concludes that "chemical weapons were used on a relatively large scale, resulting in numerous casualties, particularly among civilians and including many children."

Barney Frank and Henry M. Paulson Jr. look back at the 2008 financial crisis, the ongoing recovery process, and lessons learned from their unique perspectives.

Barney Frank and Henry M. Paulson Jr. look back at the 2008 financial crisis, the ongoing recovery process, and lessons learned from their unique perspectives.

In collaboration with the Council on Foreign Relations, the Home Box Office History Makers Series sponsors speakers whose contributions made a prominent impact at a critical juncture in history.

Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov developed a joint strategy to remove Syria's chemical weapons arsenal by "the first half of 2014." The agreement was reached on September 14, 2013, during the third day of their meeting in Geneva.

New Iranian leadership and the UN effort to remove Syrian chemical weapons offer a rare chance for collaboration between Washington and Tehran—and advance nuclear talks, says expert Gary Sick.

"Will the F-35, the U.S. Military's flaw-filled, years-overdue joint strike fighter, ever actually fly?"

The following discussion questions, essay questions, in-class activities, homework assignments, and supplementary resources are designed to help educators use the "China's Maritime Disputes" InfoGuide in the classroom.

In a section of this week's "Saturday Essay" in the Wall Street Journal, Steven Cook says that Turkey will continue its current course of action relating to Syria: "supporting factions within the Syrian opposition, providing refugee relief and advocating for international intervention to bring the conflict to an end."

In a section of this week's "Saturday Essay" in the Wall Street Journal, Elizabeth Economy says that China has been critical of the United States' Syria policy, hoping to highlight U.S. weakness and signal the onset of a power transition in the international system. However, she argues, China's observations about U.S. indecisiveness and Russian leadership only serve to emphasize China's inability to find its own diplomatic legs.