Future of Democracy
Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images

Asia

Elections in Asia: A Troubling Trend for Democracy
In 2024, the highest number of people voted in recorded history. But in Asia, where democracy has been on a decade-plus-long regression, elections did not mean progress.

Expert Brief by Joshua Kurlantzick December 12, 2024

Indonesia

The Tragedy of Joko Widodo
Joko Widodo assumed office promising to be a different type of leader for Indonesia. His record suggests otherwise.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick October 22, 2024 Asia Unbound

Japan

Japan’s Ruling Coalition Rules No More

On Sunday, Japanese voters handed the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, Komeito, an unmistakable defeat.

Blog Post by Sheila A. Smith October 27, 2024 Asia Unbound

Syria

Syria

What to Know About HTS, Hezbollah, and Iran in Syria

Ammar Awad/Reuters
The rapid collapse of the Assad regime disables a critical node in Iran’s regional proxy network.

Expert Brief by Bruce Hoffman December 9, 2024 National Security and Defense Program

 

Rebuilding Syria After Assad Link

with Charles A. Kupchan and Sinan Ulgen via Project Syndicate December 11, 2024

Syria

A More Dangerous Iran After Assad’s Ouster?

The Bashar al-Assad regime’s rapid collapse deals a heavy blow to Iran’s “axis of resistance” and its ability to project power in the region, and it raises fears Iran will focus more on developing its nuclear program.

Expert Brief by Ray Takeyh December 8, 2024 Middle East Program

U.S. Foreign Policy

China

Unpacking the China-Russia No-Limits Partnership
Beijing’s and Moscow’s relationship has strengthened militarily, economically, and diplomatically in the past two decades, demonstrating their commitment to a “no limits” partnership.

Article by Clara Fong and Will Merrow December 12, 2024

China Strategy Initiative

The China-Russia Relationship and U.S. Foreign Policy
China and Russia’s quasi-alliance endangers U.S. national interests. Its management will prove a generational task for American policymakers—but there are grounds for optimism, argue CFR Senior Fellow Robert Blackwill and Center for a New American Security CEO Richard Fontaine.

Council Special Report by Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine December 12, 2024 China Strategy Initiative

China

Exploring Ties Between Two Authoritarian Powers
China and Russia have expanded trade and defense ties over the past decade, but they’re not formal allies. Experts say Russia’s war in Ukraine could be a turning point in the relationship.

Backgrounder by Clara Fong and Lindsay Maizland March 20, 2024

South Korea

South Korea

The Costs of President Yoon’s Defiance
South Korea continues to reel from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration on December 3. Although the National Assembly overwhelmingly nullified the declaration in a few hours, political tensions remain unresolved.

Blog Post by Jinwan Park December 12, 2024 Asia Unbound

South Korea

President Yoon’s Impeachment? The View From Seoul
CFR’s Sheila A. Smith spoke with Dr. Duyeon Kim with the Center for a New American Security, who is based in Seoul, to get her assessment of the fallout of President Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law. 

Blog Post by Sheila A. Smith and Duyeon Kim December 9, 2024 Asia Unbound

South Korea

Martial Law in South Korea
Yoon Suk-Yeol’s shocking declaration of ‘emergency martial law’ was a frontal assault on the integrity of South Korea’s hard-won democratic system.

Blog Post by John Delury December 4, 2024 Asia Unbound

Technology and Innovation

China

What’s Next for TikTok?
A U.S. court upheld Congress' TikTok ban last week. As TikTok moves to block the ban and appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, the future of the platform plays a vital role in U.S.-China technological competition. 

Blog Post by Adam Segal and Zoë Moore December 9, 2024 Net Politics

Media

A World Under the Influence

Podcast
With the rise of social media, influencers around the world have increasingly taken on the role of newscaster without a traditional media organization behind them. Some say it has democratized journalism, but with the rise of misinformation, influencers who capture massive audiences online also run the risk of spreading false or even harmful information. How much have influencers altered the media landscape?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Renée DiResta, Nic Newman and Michael Spikes October 21, 2024 Why It Matters

 

What the TikTok Bill Gets Wrong Link

via Foreign Affairs April 3, 2024

Syria

Syria

Russia’s Debacle in the Changing Middle East
The flight of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to exile in Russia poses a major strategic challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the Kremlin’s influence in Syria and the region should not be downplayed yet.

Expert Brief by Thomas Graham December 10, 2024 Europe Program

Syria

What’s Next for Syria?

Play
CFR experts discuss the latest news out of Syria, including what the fall of Bashar al-Assad means for the future of the country and the wider region.

Virtual Event with Elliott Abrams, Steven A. Cook, Ray Takeyh and Elise Labott December 9, 2024 Middle East Program

Syria

After Fall of Assad Dynasty, Syria’s Risky New Moment
The swift collapse of Syria’s regime brings a humiliating end to Russia’s and Iran’s sway and opens the door for greater Turkish influence. But the Islamist movement that seized power has yet to show its full intentions.

Expert Brief by Steven A. Cook December 8, 2024 Middle East Program

Events
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United States

A Conversation With Secretary Antony J. Blinken
Secretary Antony J. Blinken discusses the administration’s foreign policy and diplomacy, including his focus on rebuilding alliances and partnerships abroad to respond to shared challenges. Please note there is no Zoom component to the meeting. However, this event will be livestreamed through CFR.org. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.  

Event with Antony J. Blinken and Michael Froman December 18, 2024

United States

Watchlist 2025: Safeguarding the World's Most Vulnerable Nations

Play
David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), presents the new IRC Emergency Watchlist report, highlighting the countries at highest risk of humanitarian crises in 2025 and examining where the international community has made progress or fallen short. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event with David Miliband and Morgan Brennan December 11, 2024

United States

U.S. Health and Its Global Implications

Play
In a special event copresented by the Council on Foreign Relations and The Lancet, panelists discuss priorities for improving public health in the United States and abroad. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website. Members may bring a guest to this event.

Virtual Event with Rebecca Bunnell, Victor J. Dzau, Mona Hanna, Christopher J. Murray, John Monahan, Thomas J. Bollyky and Richard Horton December 10, 2024

Ukraine

A Conversation With Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine

Play
Dmytro Kuleba discusses Ukraine’s strategic position in the war with Russia, and evaluates how the incoming Donald Trump administration might influence Ukraine’s international relations and policies. This meeting is part of the Council Special Initiative on Securing Ukraine’s Future and is part of the Wachenheim Program on Peace and Security. The program is made possible by the generous support of the Sue and Edgar Wachenheim Foundation. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event with Dmytro Kuleba and Paula J. Dobriansky December 9, 2024

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Experts in the News

Michael B.G. Froman
Link

Froman: Collapse of Assad Regime Is Big Loss for Russia and Iran

Via CNBC Squawk Box December 9, 2024

Steven A. Cook
Link

Cook: Syria Is in Danger of Becoming a Failed State

Via CNN December 9, 2024

Max Boot
Link

Boot: Trump’s Meetings With Macron and Zelenskyy Are Unprecedented

Via MSNBC December 8, 2024

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Explainers

Health
How Geography, Race, and Income Shape U.S. Life Expectancy
Health
How Geography, Race, and Income Shape U.S. Life Expectancy
Article by Thomas J. Bollyky, Laura Dwyer-Lindgren, Ali H. Mokdad and Chloe Searchinger
The differences in U.S. life expectancy are so large it’s as if the population lives in ten separate Americas instead of one.
Crisis in Sudan: War, Famine, and a Failing Global Response
Sudan Crisis in Sudan: War, Famine, and a Failing Global Response
Immersive_article_layout by Mariel Ferragamo and Sabine Baumgartner
Guantánamo Bay: Twenty Years of Counterterrorism and Controversy
Terrorism and Counterterrorism Guantánamo Bay: Twenty Years of Counterterrorism and Controversy
Article by Jonathan Masters
Europe’s Migration Dilemma
Immigration and Migration Europe’s Migration Dilemma
Immersive_article_layout by Kali Robinson, Diana Roy and Sabine Baumgartner
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Expert Spotlight

Will Freeman
Will Freeman

Fellow for Latin America Studies

Americas Latin America Democracy

Tarah Wheeler
Tarah Wheeler

Senior Fellow for Global Cyber Policy

Cybersecurity Privacy Grand Strategy

Thomas Graham
Thomas Graham

Distinguished Fellow

Russia Europe and Eurasia U.S. Foreign Policy

No Ukraine Settlement Unless Washington Talks to Moscow

Offsite Via The National Interest December 9, 2024

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Featured Publications

Religion

If You Will It
Hundreds of thousands of young Jews have drifted away from the American Jewish community and many more may follow. This book explains to Jewish parents, donors, and organizations how Jewish education, Jewish summer camping, and time spent in Israel can revive and strengthen Jewish identity.

Book by Elliott Abrams October 8, 2024 Middle East Program

United States

Reagan
Son of the Midwest, movie star, and mesmerizing politician—America’s fortieth president comes to three-dimensional life in this gripping and profoundly revisionist biography.

Book by Max Boot September 10, 2024

Asia

Lost Decade

Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine evaluate the limitations of the Pivot to Asia and offer a compelling vision for the future of U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific.

Book by Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine June 11, 2024 Asia Program

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