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The victory of Geert Wilders is part of a rightward trend that could have repercussions on Europe’s efforts to forge common ground on migration, economic policy, and other crucial matters.
After nearly a decade in power, Poland’s dominant Law and Justice Party fell short of a new mandate in 2023. A new multi-party coalition government is likely to draw closer to the European Union.
Climate Change
At the COP28 climate conference, leaders should focus their attention on solutions for the most vulnerable regions.
Scientists say governments need to act with more urgency to keep global warming in check. How much progress is possible at COP28?
Myanmar
Myanmar's military has recently suffered a string of defeats—but the U.S. government seems unprepared to face the country's potential state collapse.
The 2021 coup returned Myanmar to military rule and shattered hopes for democratic progress in a Southeast Asian country beset by decades of conflict and repressive regimes.
International Law
The authors, including a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, UN Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs, Founding Chief Prosecutor of the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the inaugural U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues, urge the imperative of prosecuting alleged Russian crimes of aggression in Ukraine, and present two practical options for doing so.
Countries including the United States are ramping up calls for war crimes investigations following an apparent massacre in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. Could Russian leaders be brought to justice under international law?
U.S. Foreign Policy
The passing of America’s preeminent foreign-policy thinker and practitioner marks the end of an era. Throughout his long and extraordinarily influential career, Henry Kissinger built a legacy that Americans would be wise to heed in this new era of great-power politics and global disarray.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger discusses leadership in the twentieth century and lessons for contemporary foreign policy.
The Lessons From History Series uses historical analysis as a critical tool for understanding modern foreign policy challenges by hearing from practitioners who played an important role in a consequential historical event or from experts and historians. This series is made possible through the generous support of David M. Rubenstein.
Diplomacy and International Institutions
Martin S. Indyk, distinguished fellow at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s shuttle diplomacy reshaped the politics of the Middle East and continues to offer lessons for U.S. foreign policy today.
Globalization
Peter Trubowitz, a professor of international relations and director of the Phelan U.S. Center at the London School of Economics and an associate fellow at Chatham House, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the reasons for the rise of anti-globalism in Western countries and its consequences for world order.
International trade has shaped the world for much of the past century. Countries benefited from the global flow of goods, and the world became richer and safer. At the same time, many Americans lost their jobs to cheaper overseas competitors. Now, a series of compounding challenges, including great power competition and climate change, have led U.S. officials to rethink trade policy. What's next for international trade? And can the United States retain the benefits of trade while protecting critical supply chains and fighting climate change?
The Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity could be the first step in a robust new strategy.
Events
The 2023 Stephen C. Freidheim Symposium on Global Economics will discuss international economic leadership.
This symposium is presented by the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies and is made possible through the generous support of Council board member Stephen C. Freidheim.
Panelists discuss their distinguished careers in intelligence and offer advice to young professionals interested in or already pursuing a career in the intelligence space, as well as the challenges confronting the field on federal and local levels.
Panelists discuss Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reform, including congressional reauthorization of Section 702, which is set to expire at the end of 2023, and the future of surveillance for intelligence purposes.This discussion is part of the “Beyond the SCIF” (sensitive compartmented information facility) meeting series, an effort by House Intelligence Committee members to connect with experts and leaders in the national security field to create an open dialogue on threats facing the United States and ways committee members can counter the malign actions of our adversaries.
Expert Spotlight
Ann Norris
Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy
Scott A. Snyder
Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy
Jendayi E. Frazer
Adjunct Senior Fellow for Africa Studies
Sub-Saharan Africa U.S. Foreign Policy Politics and Government
Sheila A. Smith
John E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Studies
Gideon Rose
Mary and David Boies Distinguished Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy
Wars and Conflict Middle East and North Africa Southeast Asia
James M. Lindsay
Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair
United States Politics and Government Polls and Public Opinion
John B. Bellinger III
Adjunct Senior Fellow for International and National Security Law
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Adjunct Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy
Matthew P. Goodman
Distinguished Fellow for Global Economic Policy and Director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies
Robert D. Blackwill
Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy
Stephen Sestanovich
George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies
Bruce Hoffman
Shelby Cullom and Kathryn W. Davis Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security
Terrorism and Counterterrorism Wars and Conflict Intelligence
Linda Robinson
Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy
Paul B. Stares
General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action
Martin S. Indyk
Lowy Distinguished Fellow in U.S.-Middle East Diplomacy
Ebenezer Obadare
Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies
Matthew C. Waxman
Adjunct Senior Fellow for Law and Foreign Policy
Sebastian Mallaby
Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics
Ray Takeyh
Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies
Alice C. Hill
David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment
Max Boot
Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies
Henri J. Barkey
Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies
Shannon K. O'Neil
Vice President, Deputy Director of Studies, and Nelson and David Rockefeller Senior Fellow for Latin America Studies
Robert E. Rubin
Chairman Emeritus; Former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury
Richard Haass
President Emeritus, Council on Foreign Relations
Benn Steil
Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics
Explainers
Abortion Law: Global Comparisons
Mexico recently decriminalized abortion, continuing a global trend of expanding permissions for the procedure. See how countries worldwide approach the issue.
Featured Publications
One of our leading public intellectuals traces the origin of a set of ideas about identity and social justice that is rapidly transforming America—and explains why it will fail to accomplish its noble goals.