Council on Foreign Relations

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Biden’s Earth Day Summit: What to Expect

President Biden hopes to show that the United States is ready to be a leader again in combating climate change during next week’s summit.

In Brief by Lindsay Maizland April 15, 2021

Climate Change

Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures

International efforts, such as the Paris Agreement, aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But experts say countries aren’t doing enough to limit dangerous global warming.

Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland January 25, 2021

Competition With China Can Save the Planet

via Foreign Affairs April 13, 2021

Afghanistan

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Afghanistan

A Risky Withdrawal

A complete U.S. military withdrawal by September 11, 2021, could allow the Taliban to take over much of Afghanistan.

In Brief by Max Boot April 14, 2021 National Security and Defense Program

Afghanistan War

Timeline: U.S. War in Afghanistan

The Taliban insurgency remains resilient nearly two decades after U.S.-led forces toppled its regime in what led to the United States’ longest war.

Timeline by Zachary Laub and Lindsay Maizland April 14, 2021

The Taliban Is Ready to Exploit America’s Exit

with Carter Malkasian via Foreign Affairs April 14, 2021

Taliban

What Is the Taliban?

Since its ouster in 2001, the Taliban has maintained its insurgency against the U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan and the Afghan government. A collapse in intra-Afghan peace negotiations could pave the way for the group’s return to power.

Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland March 15, 2021

Somalia

Somalia’s Political Crisis Demands Sustained Attention

Blog Post by Michelle Gavin April 14, 2021 Africa in Transition

Five Things to Know About Somalia’s Political Turmoil

via Al Jazeera April 14, 2021

Somalia Must Learn to Stand Alone

via Foreign Affairs November 25, 2020

Iran

Middle East and North Africa

Can the Iran Nuclear Talks Still Succeed?

Washington and Tehran seem determined to revive the deal that freezes Iran’s nuclear program, despite domestic criticism on both sides and the apparent sabotage of an Iranian facility.

In Brief by Ray Takeyh April 12, 2021 Middle East Program

‘Maximum Pressure’ Hardened Iran Against Compromise

via Foreign Affairs March 11, 2021

Iran Nuclear Agreement

What Is the Iran Nuclear Deal?

The fate of the arms control agreement is in serious doubt following the United States’ withdrawal and Iran’s noncompliance, but some see an opening for renewed diplomacy in 2021.

Backgrounder by Kali Robinson February 25, 2021

Global Economy

China

Countering China’s Debt Diplomacy

The Spring Meetings should address BRI’s pitfalls and advance policies to help put BRI countries on the path toward recovery and sustainable growth.

Blog Post by David Sacks and Guest Blogger for the Internationalist April 7, 2021 The Internationalist

Economics

Event: The Postpandemic Economic Outlook

Ahead of the annual IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, please join IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva for a discussion of the economic outlook in the post-pandemic world and the actions needed to drive the recovery. Please note that the meeting will begin with a prerecorded address by the IMF Managing Director, followed by live conversation. The C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics brings the world's foremost economic policymakers and scholars to address members on current topics in international economics and U.S. monetary policy. This meeting series is presented by the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies.

Virtual Event with Kristalina Georgieva March 30, 2021 C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics

International Economic Policy

How the IMF Can Help Fuel a Global Recovery

With the support of its wealthy members, including the United States, the IMF should provide greater financial assistance and more liberal borrowing terms to help the world’s developing countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

by A. Michael Spence, Joseph E. Stiglitz and Jayati Ghosh April 6, 2021

Latin America

Democracy

Democracy Is Being Tested in Latin America

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance is faltering around the world. This week, Steven Levitsky, professor of government at Harvard University, breaks down the health of democracy in countries across Latin America. This episode is part of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Steven Levitsky April 6, 2021 The President's Inbox

Latin America’s Surprisingly Resilient Democracies

via World Politics Review April 12, 2021

The Darkest Hour in Latin America

via Foreign Affairs January 28, 2021

Events
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Supply Chains

Global Supply Chains in the Era of COVID-19

Our panelists examine the vulnerabilities in global supply chains exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, resiliency options such as supplier diversification, reshoring critical industries, and stockpiling vital supplies, and the effect of such steps on international trade.

Virtual Event with Edward Alden, Emily J. Blanchard and Philip J. Venables March 31, 2021 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies

Women and Women's Rights

Virtual Roundtable: Human Trafficking and Its Sustainable Development Implications

Webinar with James Cockayne and Alex Thier March 23, 2021 Women and Foreign Policy Program

Public Health Threats and Pandemics

CEO Speaker Series With Scott Kirby of United Airlines

Scott Kirby discusses the implications of the coronavirus pandemic on the travel industry, United Airlines’ commitment to sustainability and other company-wide initiatives, and lessons learned throughout his career. The CEO Speaker Series is a unique forum for leading global CEOs to share their insights on issues at the center of commerce and foreign policy, and to discuss the changing role of business globally.

Virtual Event with J. Scott Kirby April 6, 2021 CEO Speaker Series

Politics and Government

Home and Abroad Series Public Forum: The Future of Democracy

CFR’s inaugural Home and Abroad series public forum on the state of democracy globally discusses the role democracy should occupy in U.S. foreign policy, and actions policymakers, business leaders, civil society, and citizens should consider taking and supporting to promote democratic norms, values, and institutions here and around the world. This meeting is part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy.

Virtual Event with Danielle Allen, Richard N. Haass and Yascha Mounk March 30, 2021 Home and Abroad Series

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Jendayi E. Frazer

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Africa Studies

Sub-Saharan Africa U.S. Foreign Policy Politics and Government

The Future of U.S. Diplomacy

Event February 8, 2021

Thomas Graham

Distinguished Fellow

Russia Europe and Eurasia U.S. Foreign Policy

Nord Stream 2: Don’t Make a Bad Deal Worse

Via National Interest March 26, 2021

Sheila A. Smith

Senior Fellow for Japan Studies

Japan Defense and Security Asia

Constitutional Change in Japan

Interactive April 4, 2019

The Arab Spring at Ten Years: What’s the Legacy of the Uprisings?

Rising Hunger: Facing a Food-Insecure World

The Coronavirus Pandemic, With Tom Bollyky

China’s Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang

Middle East and North Africa The Arab Spring at Ten Years: What’s the Legacy of the Uprisings?

Ten years on, the lives of people in Arab Spring countries have improved in certain aspects but worsened in others. CFR.org visualizes the changes in Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen.

Food and Water Security Rising Hunger: Facing a Food-Insecure World

Global food insecurity has surged amid the coronavirus pandemic, threatening to worsen humanitarian crises and spur further mass migration.

Public Health Threats and Pandemics The Coronavirus Pandemic, With Tom Bollyky

Thomas J. Bollyky, director of CFR’s Global Health program and senior fellow for global health, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the World Health Organization’s newly declared pandemic, COVID-19.

Conflict Prevention Conflicts to Watch in 2021

In CFR’s annual Preventive Priorities Survey, U.S. foreign policy experts assess the likelihood and impact of thirty potential conflicts that could emerge or escalate in the coming year.

China China’s Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang

More than a million Muslims have been arbitrarily detained in China’s Xinjiang region. The reeducation camps are just one part of the government’s crackdown on Uyghurs.

Experts in the News

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Lemmon: Women’s Equality Was Launched on the Ashes of the Fight Against ISIS

Via FOX & Friends April 3, 2021

Richard N. Haass

Haass: The Real Test of Bipartisanship Will Be on Economic and Domestic Policies

Via Conversations With Jim Zirin March 31, 2021

Thomas J. Bollyky

Bollyky: The Inequity of Vaccine Distribution Extends the Pandemic Globally

Via NPR's Consider This March 29, 2021

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Featured Publications

Wars and Conflict

Nonstate Warfare

Stephen Biddle explains how nonstate military strategies overturn traditional perspectives on warfare.

Book by Stephen Biddle April 6, 2021 National Security and Defense Program

China

The United States, China, and Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War

To preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait, Robert D. Blackwill and Philip Zelikow propose the United States make clear that it will not change Taiwan’s status, yet will work with allies to plan for Chinese aggression and help Taiwan defend itself.

Council Special Report by Robert D. Blackwill and Philip Zelikow February 11, 2021 U.S. Foreign Policy Program

Iran

The Last Shah

Ray Takeyh provides new interpretations of many key events—including the 1953 coup against Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq and the rise of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini—significantly revising our understanding of the United States’ and Iran’s complex and difficult history.

Book by Ray Takeyh January 26, 2021

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Explainers

Experts in the News

Featured Publications

Events
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