Amid fears of another global recession, investors are focused on U.S. policymakers. Restoring confidence in the world's largest economy will require both national sacrifice and innovation--not more Fed intervention, says CFR's A. Michael Spence.

The U.S. economic recovery has been hit by high unemployment, a widening deficit, and political stalemate over the debt ceiling. CFR's Michael Spence calls for boosting investment in education and infrastructure to generate jobs and spur U.S. competitiveness.

As Cuba's Communist Party convenes this weekend for the first time in fourteen years, President Raul Castro will look to clarify and gain support for economic reforms. CFR's Julia Sweig says the country has made significant strides toward modernization and suggests the United States should amend its restrictive Cuba policies.

President Obama's trip to Brazil provides an opportunity for the two countries to reestablish their relationship, setting the stage for future agreements on trade, infrastructure, and foreign policy, says expert Matias Spektor.

Despite turbulence in financial markets, Japan's multiple disasters will likely not have a major global economic impact, and reconstruction will provide a boost to the Japanese economy in the long term, says CFR's Sebastian Mallaby.

An extraordinary series of events has caused Japan’s nuclear crisis but it appears backup safety systems were flawed, says nuclear expert Charles Ferguson. He expects the disaster to slow some nuclear projects elsewhere but not cause a wholesale stoppage.

Oil price shocks spurred by Mideast events are unlikely to derail the U.S. economic recovery, says CFR Distinguished Visiting Fellow Michael Spence. But bigger shifts in the global economy will hit U.S. unemployment, income inequality, and capital costs, he says.

In contrast to other Mideast states, economic pressures are less likely to topple Iran's regime, says expert Suzanne Maloney. Stronger repressive forces and the impact of international sanctions may strengthen the government, she argues.

Large numbers of unemployed youth have been behind the protests for change in the Middle East. Demographics expert Ragui Assaad says the region must move toward democracy and open economic systems to turn the youth bulge into an opportunity.

With food prices at historic levels, unrest is mounting around the world, particularly in import-dependent regions such as the Middle East. CFR's Laurie Garrett says to meet demand going forward, countries will need to enhance food production and efficiencies.

As European leaders gather to discuss eurozone reforms, German labor union expert Mehrdad Payandeh discusses the benefits of more European integration, but warns austerity policies could tip Germany and the continent back into recession.

One year after Haiti's earthquake, a contested presidential election, the return of Baby Doc Duvalier, and problems with redevelopment hobble the country's efforts to rebuild, says Haitian philanthropist Jacques-Philippe Piverger.

The Obama administration scored some successes on human rights and trade during Chinese President Hu's just-concluded state visit, but there were no breakthroughs on currency and other issues, says CFR's Elizabeth Economy.

Fifty years after President Eisenhower's warning, the "military-industrial complex" still thrives and dictates national priorities, says CFR's Les Gelb, who argues that President Obama should make a case for building a strong domestic economy as a national security issue.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky's sentencing to another prison term was a foregone conclusion, underscoring both the continued power of President Putin and Khodorkovsky's arrogance in trying to thwart him, says Russia expert Marshall Goldman.

President Obama's foreign policy triumphs so far include getting support for tougher Iran sanctions but there were also missteps in the Middle East and elsewhere, and the failure to restore fiscal stability has undercut U.S. power, says CFR's James M. Lindsay.

Trends in global aging in the coming decades pose serious fiscal challenges to developed and developing nations unless longstanding social policies are revamped, says CFR's Michael Hodin.

The bipartisan deficit reduction plan stresses the need to tighten U.S. foreign policy priorities, even if U.S. allies fail to pick up the slack, says expert Michael Mandelbaum.

Key technical, political, and legal issues remain unresolved ahead of the UN climate talks in Cancun. CFR's Michael Levi says the best outcome would be to firm up the Copenhagen Accord commitments on emissions cuts, verification, and financing for developing states.