Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters

Global

Russia-Ukraine tensions and Iran’s growing nuclear program are among the top five foreign policy stories to follow this year.

U.S. Foreign Policy

In this special year-end episode of The World Next Week, James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon are joined by Shannon K. O’Neil, CFR vice president, deputy director of studies, and Nelson and David Rockefeller senior fellow for Latin America Studies. They discuss this year’s historic elections and the state of democracy in Latin America and beyond, the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world, and U.S. President Joe Biden’s first year in office.

United States

As 2021 comes to a close, here are the top ten most notable world events of the past year.
Military Operations

COVID-19

The military has vaccinated the vast majority of service members, but pockets of hesitancy remain. What’s driving the reluctance, and what should be done to overcome it?

 

 

COVID-19

Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines

The swift development of effective vaccines against COVID-19 was an unprecedented scientific achievement. But production challenges, vaccine nationalism, and variants such as omicron have all presented hurdles.

 

 

2021 in Review

Elections and Voting

Numerous countries will hold elections in 2022. Here are ten to watch. 

2021 in Review

CFR experts highlight the most important trends they will be following in the coming years.

United States

As 2021 comes to a close, here are ten notable historical anniversaries to mark in 2022.
Ukraine

Ukraine

U.S. officials have preserved NATO unity in the face of Russian military threats, but they have not yet defined a clear negotiating agenda—or put Moscow on the rhetorical defensive.

Russia

Mary Elise Sarotte, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis distinguished professor of historical studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what the United States got right, and wrong, in its relations with Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. 

Ukraine

Federal Reserve

Monetary Policy

Over the past decade, the Fed has deployed trillions of dollars in stimulus while expanding its regulatory oversight. The central bank is back on the front lines to fight the COVID-19 crisis.  

Economics

The labor force participation rate and long-term inflation expectations are the variables the Federal Reserve seems to be assessing as it makes monetary policy.

 

Events

Robots and Artificial Intelligence

Henry Kissinger and Eric Schmidt discuss the transformational power of artificial intelligence.  The Malcolm and Carolyn Wiener Annual Lecture on Science and Technology addresses issues at the intersection of science, technology, and foreign policy. It has been endowed in perpetuity through a gift from CFR members Malcolm and Carolyn Wiener.

Diplomacy and International Institutions

Jake Sullivan discusses the Biden administration’s work over the first year in office to address the current and future challenges facing the United States.

Health Policy and Initiatives

Expert Spotlight

Max Boot
Max Boot

Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies

U.S. Foreign Policy Defense and Security Military History

David Sacks
David Sacks

Research Fellow

Asia China Taiwan

The Growing Danger of U.S. Ambiguity on Taiwan

Carla Anne Robbins

The Enemy Uncounted

Stewart M. Patrick
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

Edward Alden
Edward Alden

Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow

Trade Immigration and Migration Economics

It’s time for Trudeau to reopen the border

Robert E. Rubin
Robert E. Rubin

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

Adam Segal
Adam Segal

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

China Cybersecurity Asia

Thomas J. Bollyky
Thomas J. Bollyky

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

Health Trade Development

COVID-19 Pill Offers Hope But No Magic Bullet Against Pandemic

Shannon K. O'Neil
Shannon K. O'Neil

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

Trade Supply Chains Democracy

Manjari Chatterjee Miller
Manjari Chatterjee Miller

Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia

India Asia China

Henri J. Barkey
Henri J. Barkey

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies

Middle East and North Africa Turkey Kurds

Barkey: Erdogan Aims to Appeal to His Conservative Base

Sheila A. Smith
Sheila A. Smith

John E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia Pacific Studies

Japan Defense and Security Asia

Constitutional Change in Japan

Paul B. Stares
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

Ray Takeyh
Ray Takeyh

Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies

Iran Iran Nuclear Agreement Persian Gulf

The Last Shah

Tom Frieden

Frieden: Seven COVID-19 Lessons for 2022

Matthew C. Waxman
Matthew C. Waxman

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Law and Foreign Policy

International Law Cybersecurity U.S. Foreign Policy

Cyberattacks and the Constitution

John B. Bellinger III
John B. Bellinger III

Adjunct Senior Fellow for International and National Security Law

International Law Treaties and Agreements Sanctions

The D.C. District Court and the Jan. 6 Cases

Carl Minzner
Carl Minzner

Senior Fellow For China Studies

China Asia Rule of Law

Scott A. Snyder
Scott A. Snyder

Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy

North Korea South Korea Asia

David P. Fidler
David P. Fidler

Senior Fellow for Global Health and Cybersecurity

International Law Cybersecurity Health

Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson

Stephen A. Schwarzman Senior Fellow for China Studies

China Civil Society Democracy

Steven A. Cook
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

Middle East and North Africa Turkey Arab Spring

Bruce Hoffman
Bruce Hoffman

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

Terrorism and Counterterrorism Wars and Conflict Intelligence

Explainers

The Economics of Hosting the Olympic Games
The costs of hosting the Olympics have skyrocketed, while the economic benefits are far from clear. This has led to fewer states interested in playing host and a search for options to lighten the burdens of staging the big event.

Featured Publications

Economics

The astonishingly frank and intimate story of Silicon Valley’s dominant venture capital firms—and how their strategies and fates have shaped the path of innovation and the global economy.

China

This compelling book reveals China’s ambitious new strategy to reclaim the country’s past glory and reshape the geostrategic landscape in dramatic new ways.

Middle East and North Africa

A perceptive and provocative history of Henry Kissinger’s diplomatic negotiations in the Middle East that illuminates the unique challenges and barriers Kissinger and his successors have faced in their attempts to broker peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.