Iran
Leonhard Foeger/Reuters

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

 

Link

‘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

Latin America
Adriano Machado/Reuters

Democracy

Democracy Is Being Tested in Latin America

Podcast
This episode of The President’s Inbox podcast breaks down the health of democracy in countries across Latin America.

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

 

Link

Latin America’s Surprisingly Resilient Democracies

via World Politics Review April 12, 2021

 

Link

The Darkest Hour in Latin America

via Foreign Affairs January 28, 2021

Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Building Back Better?
Amid an economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, debate continues over how to improve the nation’s infrastructure, as analysts say U.S. transportation, water, and other systems face major shortfalls.

Backgrounder by James McBride and Anshu Siripurapu April 8, 2021

State and Local Governments

State and Local Officials Webinar: Bridging the Digital Divide

Play
Kathryn de Wit, project manager of the Broadband Access Initiative at Pew Charitable Trusts, and Francella Ochillo, executive director of Next Century Cities, discuss expanding broadband infrastructure and how communities can work to bridge the digital divide.

Webinar with Kathryn de Wit and Francella Ochillo April 8, 2021 State and Local Conference Calls and Webinars

 

Link

What’s in Biden’s Infrastructure Plan?

via New York Times March 31, 2021

Vaccines

Vaccines

Vaccine Passports: What to Know
Some governments and businesses are starting to use digital and paper passes that certify a person has been immunized against COVID-19, spurring debate over the ethics of vaccine passports.

In Brief by Claire Felter April 7, 2021

 

Link

The Reality of Vaccine Passports

via New York Times April 7, 2021

Vaccines

A Guide to Global COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts
Only a year after the new coronavirus emerged, the first vaccines to protect against it are being administered. But production challenges, vaccine nationalism, and new virus strains are all presenting hurdles.

Backgrounder by Claire Felter March 1, 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 Max Yoeli April 7, 2021 The Internationalist

Economics

Event: The Postpandemic Economic Outlook

Play
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

India

Democracy

What Led to India’s Democratic Backsliding?

Podcast
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, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, leading scholar of political theory, constitutional law, international affairs, and society and politics in India, breaks down the health of democracy in India. This episode is part of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Pratap Bhanu Mehta March 30, 2021 The President's Inbox

Democracy

Report: COVID-19’s Effects on Five Democracies
Beyond devastating public health, COVID-19 has worsened socioeconomic inequality, possibly for years to come, and exacerbated democratic regression in the United States, Brazil, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Report by Joshua Kurlantzick March 31, 2021 Asia Program

 

Link

The Decay of Indian Democracy

via Foreign Affairs March 18, 2021

Events
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Play

Supply Chains

Global Supply Chains in the Era of COVID-19

Play
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

Women and Women's Rights

Virtual Roundtable: Human Trafficking and Its Sustainable Development Implications

Play

Webinar with James Cockayne and Alex Thier March 23, 2021

Public Health Threats and Pandemics

CEO Speaker Series With Scott Kirby of United Airlines

Play
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

Play
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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Explainers

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
Conflicts to Watch in 2021
China’s Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang
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
Conflicts to Watch in 2021
China’s Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang
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
Conflicts to Watch in 2021
China’s Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang

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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.

View All

Experts in the News

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Link

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

Via FOX & Friends April 3, 2021

Richard N. Haass
Link

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

Via Conversations With Jim Zirin March 31, 2021

Thomas J. Bollyky
Link

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

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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