Council on Foreign Relations

Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters

What Sparked Historic Protests in Cuba

A plunging economy and surging COVID-19 cases exposed deep grievances against the government. Havana has responded to the protests with intimidation and repression.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay, Paul J. Angelo and Carmen Sesin July 27, 2021 The President's Inbox

Cuba

U.S.-Cuba Relations

Communist Cuba has long been a major foreign policy challenge for the United States. The bilateral relationship thawed considerably under President Obama, but many restrictions were reimposed by the Trump administration.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors July 13, 2021

Demonstrations and Protests

Pandemic Protests: When Unrest Goes Viral

with Thomas J. Bollyky, Samantha Kiernan, Bayan Galal and Serena Tohme via Think Global Health July 28, 2021

Vaccines

Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines

The COVID-19 Vaccination Challenge

A look at previous distribution efforts showcases some of the biggest hurdles in getting a vaccine to everyone who needs it.

In Brief by Claire Felter July 28, 2021

Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines

A Guide to Global COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts

Only a year after the new coronavirus emerged, distribution of the first vaccines to protect against it began. But production challenges, vaccine nationalism, and new virus strains are all presenting hurdles.

Backgrounder by Claire Felter June 30, 2021

How to Build a Global COVID-19 Surveillance Program

via Think Global Health July 9, 2021

Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines

The Real Vaccine Procurement Problem

with Thomas J. Bollyky and Chad P. Bown via Foreign Affairs June 24, 2021

Japan

Japan’s Population Problem

The United States’ alliance with Japan is the centerpiece of U.S. security in Asia, but new demographic challenges from within Japan raise concerns about the future of the region.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Zack Cooper, Motoko Rich and Sheila A. Smith July 22, 2021 Why It Matters

Japan

The Changing U.S.-Japan Alliance

The alliance with Japan has been the cornerstone of U.S. security policy in East Asia for decades, but new challenges from China, North Korea, and within the alliance itself raise questions about its future.

Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland and Beina Xu August 22, 2019

Japan Is Indispensable Again

via Foreign Affairs July 15, 2021

North Africa

Miscalculating Tunisia

If Westerners are shocked at political developments in Tunisia, it’s because they described it as a straightforward success for too long.

Article by Steven A. Cook July 27, 2021 Middle East Program

North Africa

The Arab Spring at Ten Years: What Is Its Legacy?

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.

Article by Kali Robinson December 3, 2020

With Gatherings Banned Amid Turmoil, Tunisians Can Only Watch. And Wait.

via New York Times July 28, 2021

Malaysia

Southeast Asia

Malaysia Faces Crises on All Levels

Article by Joshua Kurlantzick July 26, 2021 Asia Program

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia’s Democracy Woes Accelerate

with Joshua Kurlantzick via Japan Times June 27, 2021

Confusion in Malaysia Over Ending COVID-19 Emergency Laws

via Straits Times July 27, 2021

Globalization

Globalization Strikes Back

The ongoing pandemic and global climate-related disasters demonstrate the inadequacy of efforts to address the problematic aspects of globalization.

Article by Richard N. Haass July 26, 2021

Public Health Threats and Pandemics

A New Global Health Order?

with David P. Fidler via Think Global Health July 21, 2021

Global Governance

The State of Global Governance in the Era of COVID-19

Richard N. Haass, Chen Dongxiao, and Nathalie Tocci discuss the mounting challenges to global governance and their implications for international cooperation, including rising climate concerns, economic volatility, and increasing great power tensions amid a global pandemic. The Council of Councils (CoC) is an international initiative created by the Council on Foreign Relations to connect leading foreign policy institutes from around the world in a dialogue on issues of global governance and multilateral cooperation. The CoC is composed of twenty-eight major policy institutes from some of the world’s most influential countries. It is designed to facilitate candid, not-for-attribution dialogue and consensus-building among influential opinion leaders from both established and emerging nations, with the ultimate purpose of injecting the conclusions of its deliberations into high-level foreign policy circles within members' countries.

Virtual Event with Richard N. Haass and Nathalie Tocci May 26, 2021

Events
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Immigration and Migration

Reporting on U.S. Immigration Policies and Migration

Virtual Event with Paul J. Angelo and Dianne Solis July 27, 2021

Belarus

A Conversation With Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discusses Belarus-U.S. relations, prospects for democratic reform in Belarus, and regional security in Eastern Europe.

Virtual Event with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya July 26, 2021

Energy and Environment

Term Member Virtual Meeting: The Future of E-Mobility

Panelists discuss electric mobility and what it means for the future of the transportation and energy sectors. CFR's Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program hosted this event in collaboration with ABANA.

Virtual Event with Hui Wen Chan and Jody Metzenbaum Kelman July 26, 2021

United States

Virtual Roundtable: Was Jimmy Carter a Successful Foreign Policy President?

Four decades after he left power, Jimmy Carter’s presidency is being reevaluated by historians. The passage of time and availability of documentary evidence makes such a reassessment possible. Is the popular impression of Carter as a president who could not grasp international realities fair? Kai Bird, author and recent biographer of Jimmy Carter, explores whether Carter was an underrated foreign policy president.

Virtual Event with Kai Bird July 22, 2021

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Steven A. Cook

Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies and Director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars

North Africa Turkey Arab Spring

Cracks Are Growing in the Erdogan Regime

Article August 2, 2021 Middle East Program

Luciana L. Borio

Senior Fellow for Global Health

Public Health Threats and Pandemics Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines Biotechnology

Patent Busting Won’t Help Vaccinate the World Faster

Via Wall Street Journal May 9, 2021

Stephen Sestanovich

George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies

Russia Europe and Eurasia U.S. Foreign Policy

The Biden-Putin Summit: ‘This Is Not About Trust’

Via New York Times June 16, 2021

Sebastian Mallaby

Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics

Monetary Policy International Finance Globalization

In the Fed We Trust

Via Foreign Affairs June 30, 2021

Thomas J. Bollyky

Senior Fellow for Global Health, Economics, and Development and Director of the Global Health Program

Health Trade Development

Improving Pandemic Preparedness: Lessons From COVID-19

Task Force Report October 8, 2020

Robert D. Blackwill

Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy

U.S. Foreign Policy Europe and Eurasia Russia

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

Council Special Report February 11, 2021 U.S. Foreign Policy Program

Jerome A. Cohen

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Asia Studies

China Asia International Law

How 2020 Shaped U.S.-China Relations

Article December 7, 2020 Asia Program

Manjari Chatterjee Miller

Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia

India Asia China

Foreign Policy à la Modi

Via Foreign Affairs April 3, 2014

John B. Bellinger III

Adjunct Senior Fellow for International and National Security Law

International Law Treaties and Agreements Sanctions

Reforming the War Powers Resolution for the 21st Century

Testimony March 23, 2021 U.S. Foreign Policy Program

Caroline Bettinger-Lopez

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy (ON LEAVE)

Women and Women's Rights Human Rights United States

Skadden Foundation Tackles COVID-19 Legal Issues Impacting Poor

Via Bloomberg Law September 29, 2020

Stewart M. Patrick

James H. Binger Senior Fellow in Global Governance and Director of the International Institutions and Global Governance Program

Global Governance Diplomacy and International Institutions International Organizations

Colonizing Space Is Not the Solution to Our Problems on Earth

Via World Politics Review July 26, 2021

Gideon Rose

Mary and David Boies Distinguished Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy

Wars and Conflict North Africa Southeast Asia

Rose: The Path to American Recovery Remains Unclear

Via Bloomberg Surveillance December 10, 2020

Ian Johnson

Stephen A. Schwarzman Senior Fellow for China Studies

China Civil Society Democracy

A Most Adaptable Party

Via New York Review of Books July 1, 2021

Alyssa Ayres

Adjunct Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia

Asia India Emerging Markets

Our Time Has Come

Book January 4, 2018

David J. Scheffer

Senior Fellow

Humanitarian Intervention Wars and Conflict International Law

The Supreme Court Denied a Child Labor Claim Against U.S. Firms: What to Know

Article June 24, 2021

Robert E. Rubin

Chairman Emeritus; Former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury

H.R. 1 and H.R. 4 would reform our democracy. They’d also help our economy.

Via Washington Post March 17, 2021

Robert K. Knake

Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow

Cybersecurity Homeland Security Digital Policy

Weaponizing Digital Trade

Council Special Report September 30, 2020 Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program

Jennifer Hillman

Senior Fellow for Trade and International Political Economy

Trade World Trade Organization (WTO) NAFTA

Report Launch of CFR Independent Task Force on a U.S. Response to China's Belt and Road Initiative

Event February 23, 2021 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies

Elizabeth C. Economy

Senior Fellow for China Studies

Asia China Energy and Environment

The Third Revolution

Book May 2, 2018 Asia Program

Charles A. Kupchan

Senior Fellow

European Union NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Europe and Eurasia

Isolationism

Book October 1, 2020

Paul J. Angelo

Fellow for Latin America Studies

Latin America Central America Colombia

The Day After in Venezuela

Council Special Report September 24, 2020 Latin America Studies Program

Thomas E. Donilon

Distinguished Fellow

U.S. Foreign Policy Intelligence National Security Council (NSC)

On GPS: What have we learned from Bolton's book?

Via Fareed Zakaria GPS June 28, 2020

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

Yascha Mounk

Senior Fellow

Democracy Populism Civil Society

Mounk: Populists Dislike Logic That Imposes on Their Political Preferences

Via Fareed Zakaria, GPS May 2, 2021

Edward Alden

Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow

Trade Immigration and Migration Economics

The World Is Closer Than Ever to Getting Corporations to Pay Up

Via Foreign Policy April 27, 2021

Gordon M. Goldstein

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Technology and Innovation Cybersecurity U.S. Foreign Policy

America’s New Challenge: Confronting the Crisis in Food Security

Blog Post April 22, 2021 Net Politics

Adam Segal

Ira A. Lipman Chair in Emerging Technologies and National Security and Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program

China Cybersecurity Asia

Segal: Imposing Sanctions on China for Alleged Cyberattacks May Prove Difficult

Via Voice of America July 20, 2021

David P. Fidler

Senior Fellow for Global Health and Cybersecurity

International Law Cybersecurity Health

On Global Health, President Biden's Finest Hour

Via Think Global Health June 14, 2021

Shannon K. O'Neil

Vice President, Deputy Director of Studies, and Nelson and David Rockefeller Senior Fellow for Latin America Studies

Americas Latin America NAFTA

The Fight Against Corruption in Central America Needs to Get Ugly

Article June 24, 2021 Latin America's Moment

Daniel Kurtz-Phelan

Editor, Foreign Affairs; Peter G. Peterson Chair

China U.S. Foreign Policy

Kurtz-Phelan: The U.S. Must Bring a More Competitive Edge to the Battle With China

Via Bloomberg Surveillance April 20, 2021

Martin S. Indyk

Distinguished Fellow

North Africa Israel Egypt

Martin Indyk on Fareed Zakaria GPS

Via CNN, GPS June 13, 2021

Yanzhong Huang

Senior Fellow for Global Health

China Health Asia

China’s "COVID Success Story" Might Not End Well

Via World Politics Review June 23, 2021

Tom Frieden

Senior Fellow for Global Health

Health Public Health Threats and Pandemics

Dealing With Ebola and Anthrax Prepared Africa for COVID-19

Via Health Policy Watch April 27, 2021

Alice C. Hill

David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment

Climate Change Infrastructure Food and Water Security

Alice Hill | Building climate resilience

Via Climate Positive Podcast July 29, 2021

Jennifer Nuzzo

Senior Fellow for Global Health

Health Public Health Threats and Pandemics

Building Global Vaccine Capacity Requires More Than Patent Waivers

Via World Politics Review May 21, 2021

Sheila A. Smith

John E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia Pacific Studies

Japan Defense and Security Asia

Constitutional Change in Japan

Interactive April 4, 2019

Benn Steil

Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics

International Finance Financial Markets Economics

Global Growth Tracker: World Economies by GDP

Article May 15, 2020 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies

Michelle Gavin

Senior Fellow for Africa Studies

Botswana South Africa Zimbabwe

Warning Signs Appear Ahead of Zambian Elections

Blog Post July 29, 2021 Africa in Transition

Paul B. Stares

General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action

Conflict Prevention Wars and Conflict Defense and Security

Perspectives on a Changing World Order

Report June 3, 2020 Center for Preventive Action

Max Boot

Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies

U.S. Foreign Policy Defense and Security Military History

When unemployed writers set out to chronicle America

Via Washington Post July 16, 2021

Bruce Hoffman

Shelby Cullom and Kathryn W. Davis Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security

Terrorism and Counterterrorism Wars and Conflict Intelligence

July 22: A Pivotal Day in Terrorism History

Via War on the Rocks July 22, 2021

Carla Anne Robbins

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Defense and Security Cuba North Korea

The Enemy Uncounted

Via American Purpose July 30, 2021

James M. Lindsay

Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair

United States Politics and Government Polls and Public Opinion

Five Foreign-Policy Movies Worth Watching About Human Rights

Blog Post July 30, 2021 The Water's Edge

Roger W. Ferguson Jr.

Steven A. Tananbaum Distinguished Fellow for International Economics

Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy Regulation and Deregulation

How Much Is Too Much? The U.S. Inflation Debate Heats Up

In Brief June 11, 2021 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies

Henri J. Barkey

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies

North Africa Turkey Kurds

Resolving the S-400 Crisis Could Revive the Turkish-American Alliance

Via The National Interest May 25, 2021

Farah Pandith

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Radicalization and Extremism Terrorism and Counterterrorism U.S. Foreign Policy

How We Win

Book March 12, 2019 Middle East Program

Matthias Matthijs

Senior Fellow for Europe

Europe Germany United Kingdom

A Brexit Primer

Via Vital Interests: U.S. Policy in a Changed Global Paradigm January 21, 2021

Richard N. Haass

President, Council on Foreign Relations

U.S. Foreign Policy International Relations

Globalization Strikes Back

Article July 26, 2021

Olympics

Hey, Remember the Olympics?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Jules Boykoff and Katharine Moon

Hosting the Olympics is a monumental undertaking that often leaves behind rusted stadiums and financial losses. So why do nations compete to do it?

Energy and Environment How Green-Party Success Is Reshaping Global Politics

Backgrounder Redesign by James McBride

Coronavirus Will the World Ever Solve the Mystery of COVID-19’s Origin?

Backgrounder Redesign by Claire Felter

Global Women’s Power Index

Interactive by Rachel B. Vogelstein and Alexandra Bro

Experts in the News

Adam Segal

Segal: Imposing Sanctions on China for Alleged Cyberattacks May Prove Difficult

Via Voice of America July 20, 2021

Rachel Vogelstein

Vogelstein: #MeToo Triggered the Most Widespread Cultural Reckoning on Women’s Rights in History

Via MSNBC Morning Joe July 13, 2021

Sheila A. Smith

Smith: U.S. Investment Is at Stake if the Tokyo Olympics Are Postponed

Via PBS News Hour July 8, 2021

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Featured Publications

Women and Women's Rights

Awakening

Rachel Vogelstein and Meighan Stone chronicle the remarkable global impact of the #MeToo movement.

Book by Rachel B. Vogelstein and Meighan Stone July 13, 2021 Women and Foreign Policy Program

World Order

The World—New in Paperback

An invaluable primer from Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, that will help anyone, expert and nonexpert alike, navigate a time in which many of our biggest challenges come from the world beyond our borders.

Book by Richard N. Haass May 11, 2021

Wars and Conflict

Nonstate Warfare