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The World Reorders: The Complications of a Return to Spheres of Influence
Jan 30, 2026
The new U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) released late last year by the Trump administration presented a radically altered outlook for U.S. foreign policy. Notably, the document was more critical of traditional U.S. allies in Europe than of longtime adversaries such as Russia. It also made clear that the United States will exert its influence in its own neighborhood, the Western Hemisphere. Recent U.S. action in Venezuela further illustrated that intention. Six Council of Councils members weigh in on what those changes mean for their regions and discuss if the world is moving back to geopolitical spheres of influence—or toward something new.  
Sep 03, 2025

The United Nations at Eighty: Reform for a New Geopolitical Era

In September, the United Nations will convene its eightieth General Assembly in New York. While hot topics such as artificial intelligence and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip are sure to dominate the conversation, the upcoming selection of a new UN secretary-general will also be top of mind. The organization celebrates its eightieth year as the world enters a new era of great power competition and increasing conflict. It is worth asking if the United Nations, in its...
Jul 23, 2025

The BRICS Summit 2025: The Challenge to Find Common Ground

On July 6–7, Brazil hosted the seventeenth annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro. The program included discussions on global health, development, climate change, the governing of artificial intelligence, trade, and the structure of the institution itself. Four Council of Councils member institutes comment on the summit and the impact of the recent expansion of the bloc.  For more BRICS analysis by the Council of Councils, click here to access The President's Inbox podcast. 
May 01, 2025

Trump’s Economic Disruption: The World Adapts

The tariffs and trade disruptions of the second Donald Trump administration have caused trade partners around the world to reconsider their economic policies and supply chains. Four Council of Councils member institutes weigh in on how these changes are impacting their regions.
Mar 14, 2025

President Trump’s Address to Congress: Global Reactions

After only six weeks in office, President Donald Trump has already sent shockwaves through the world regarding U.S. foreign and economic policy. The Council of Councils Initiative at CFR asked members to reflect on his March 4 address to Congress, and what his words and actions mean for U.S. engagement with their region.
Feb 06, 2025

How Polarization Undermines Democracy in South Korea

The recent political crisis in South Korea highlights both the vulnerabilities and resilience of its democracy. Among countries that underwent the third wave of democratization in the late twentieth century, South Korea stood out as a relatively successful case of democratic consolidation. Peaceful power transitions through elections have become the norm, and financial and political crises have been addressed through established institutional mechanisms.   However, South Korean politics have become deeply polarized in recent years, resulting in significant political conflict and...
Dec 20, 2024

Global Summits to Watch in 2025: Priorities for a Splintering World

  The most pressing issues facing the world today are rapidly evolving. The environmental effects of climate change are accelerating and threatening the health and livelihoods of millions. Emerging technologies have few guardrails, despite the rapid pace of their development, causing far-reaching implications for labor, health, privacy, and ethics. Five years away from the 2030 deadline, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are abysmally off target as the world witnesses growing wealth disparity, widespread hunger, and inadequate medical infrastructure, especially in...
Nov 26, 2024

Brazil’s 2024 G20 Summit: Right Agenda, Little Consensus

The Group of Twenty (G20) met recently in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the heels of a seismic U.S. presidential election that has the potential to accelerate an already rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. Five Council of Councils experts weigh in on what they saw as the meeting's successes, failures, and missed opportunities, while asking what is next for this group comprised of the world's largest economies.
Nov 07, 2024

The BRICS Summit 2024: An Expanding Alternative

The sixteenth annual BRICS (whose membership has grown from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to also include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates) summit was held in Kazan, Russia, on October 22-October 24. 2024. We asked what was new and innovative at the summit this year, and how the bloc is changing the geopolitical context. Six Council of Councils (CoC) experts from BRICS member countries and beyond reflect on the future of the group and what expansion means...
Oct 31, 2024

Why the U.S. Presidential Election Matters for the Middle East

The November 2024 U.S. presidential election will have serious implications for the world. In the fifth and final installment of a five-part series, this global perspectives roundup features four reflections on why the U.S. election outcome matters for the Middle East.
Oct 18, 2024

Why the U.S. Presidential Election Matters for the Americas

The November 2024 U.S. presidential election will have serious implications for the world. In the fourth of a five-part series, this global perspectives roundup features three reflections on why the U.S. election outcome matters for the Americas.