In an era marked by globalization of production and concern about employment, the advanced industrialized nations have taken solace in their command of knowledge-intensive industries. But now a growing number of corporations are moving R&D abroad and outsourcing research to foreign firms. The study group focused on the dynamics and limits of this globalization of R&D and investigates its consequences for the U.S. economy. Presentations focused on five technology-based indistries: biomedical products, software, semiconductors, industrial chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. A report summarizing the conclusions and policy recommendations, Exporting U.S. High Tech, was released in late 1997.

This roundtable seeks to identify key "over-the-horizon" issues related to the upcoming EU and NATO enlargements and explore both the anticipated as well as potentially unanticipated consequences of them, each of which will dramatically increase the institution's size and scope. The first two sessions, held in March and April of 2003, laid out the general issues at stake in each enlargement, while subsequent sessions will examine issues such as the future of the Euro, the effect of the enlargements on countries further to the East, and European demographic trends.

The Roundtable on Nationalism in Europe was established in January 2002 to examine critical issues regarding trends in an evolving Europe and to understand their relevance to transatlantic relations. Specifically, the series discusses new forms of nationalism in Europe, and in particular, the various national aspirations and strategies that are emerging as enlargement of the European Union proceeds. During the spring, the roundtable series held three sessions discussing Russia, the Balkans, and Central and Eastern Europe. In fall, the focus will broaden to include Western Europe. Among the topics are the radical right and its agenda in Europe and "European" nationalism, which includes prospects for the Euro as a major world currency.

This roundtable seeks to identify key "over-the-horizon" issues related to the upcoming EU and NATO enlargements and explore both the anticipated as well as potentially unanticipated consequences of them, each of which will dramatically increase the institution's size and scope. The first two sessions, held in March and April of 2003, laid out the general issues at stake in each enlargement, while subsequent sessions will examine issues such as the future of the Euro, the effect of the enlargements on countries further to the East, and European demographic trends.

The Roundtable on Nationalism in Europe was established in January 2002 to examine critical issues regarding trends in an evolving Europe and to understand their relevance to transatlantic relations. Specifically, the series discusses new forms of nationalism in Europe, and in particular, the various national aspirations and strategies that are emerging as enlargement of the European Union proceeds. During the spring, the roundtable series held three sessions discussing Russia, the Balkans, and Central and Eastern Europe. In fall, the focus will broaden to include Western Europe. Among the topics are the radical right and its agenda in Europe and "European" nationalism, which includes prospects for the Euro as a major world currency.

Sebastian Mallaby is writing the first book-length assessment of The World Bank under James Wolfensohn, the most important leader of the institution since Robert McNamara. He defends the Bank against many of its critics: Advocacy groups that exaggerate the Bank's indifference to the environment and poverty, and free-market thinkers that exaggerate the extent to which the Bank's borrowers could or should rely on private-sector financial flows. Mallaby also considers more serious concerns about the Bank's strategy and structure. Could the institution be better managed? Should it narrow the range of issues considered important to development? Why has it not done more to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS? Draft chapters of Mallaby's book are reviewed at study group meetings.

This Council on Foreign Relations project will assess the costs and benefits of proposed plans to reintroduce tactical nuclear weapons as part of U.S. military strategy. Proponents argue that new low-yield nuclear weapons are needed to fill the gap between existing conventional munitions and the nation’s current nuclear forces. Skeptics question the need for, and the utility of, developing smaller nuclear weapons. The combination of rapidly improving conventional precision-strike capabilities, the operational uncertainties of nuclear use, and the political difficulties posed by an emphasis on nuclear threats argue against reliance on such a strategy.

This study group will focus on four specific issues: 1) the impact new nuclear weapons policies will have on efforts to prevent the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction; 2) the feasibility and need of developing new nuclear weapons for bunker-busting recently identified by the administration; 3) whether resumed underground nuclear explosive testing may be required for that purpose and the implications of this for the current testing moratorium; and 4) the potential military benefits to other nations, such as China, if they are free to resume testing and modernize their own nuclear forces.

This project will result in a major article, for publication in a leading policy journal, and a technical white paper supporting the claims made in the article.

This Study Group brings together a diverse array of expert individuals from the aerospace community for constructive debate about U.S. space policy. In the absence of a clear and soundly based national consensus over military activities in space – specifically the role of space weapons – America runs the risk of rushing prematurely into an unbalanced, short-sighted policy on space weaponization. Discussions critique and complement independent research performed by the project directors and a core team of expert individuals.

Informed by the Study Group’s discussion and debate, the project directors will craft a balanced policy opinion about weapons in space and develop alternative strategies to satisfy national security needs with or without the weaponization of space. Results from research and debate will be disseminated to the larger U.S. aerospace and policy communities through a series of public forums and a substantial article, authored by the project directors, in a journal such as Foreign Affairs.