2021 in Review | Council on Foreign Relations

2021 in Review

Five Good Foreign Policy News Stories in 2021

As 2021 comes to a close, here are five positive stories on the foreign policy front that happened in the past year.

by James M. Lindsay December 30, 2021 The Water's Edge
2021 in Review

Ten World Figures Who Died in 2021

Ten people who passed away this year who shaped world affairs for better or worse.

by James M. Lindsay December 29, 2021 The Water's Edge
2021 in Review

Ten American Foreign Policy Notables Who Died in 2021

As 2021 comes to a close, here are ten influential U.S. foreign policy figures who passed away this year.

by James M. Lindsay December 28, 2021 The Water's Edge

U.S. Foreign Policy

The World Next Year: What to Watch in 2022

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.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay , Robert McMahon and Shannon K. O'Neil December 16, 2021 The World Next Week
United States

Ten Most Significant World Events in 2021

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

by James M. Lindsay December 15, 2021 The Water's Edge
Human Rights

David A. Morse Lecture: System Failure in the World’s Crisis Zones—A Conversation With David Miliband

David Miliband discusses the countries most at risk of humanitarian deterioration in 2022, what is driving record levels of global need, and how the international system meant to prevent and address humanitarian crises is failing to combat displacement and suffering. The International Rescue Committee's 2022 Emergency Watchlist is available here. David Miliband's full opening remarks are available here. The David A. Morse Lecture was inaugurated in 1994 and supports an annual meeting with a distinguished speaker. It honors the memory of David A. Morse, an active Council on Foreign Relations member for nearly thirty years.

Virtual Event by David Miliband and Cynthia McFadden December 15, 2021 David A. Morse Lecture
2021 in Review

We Are the Council on Foreign Relations

For one hundred years, CFR has been examining the most pressing foreign policy issues of the day through its events, books, podcasts, educational products, Foreign Affairs magazine, and award-winning website. Facing global challenges such as COVID-19, climate change, and Chinese and Russian aggression, CFR continues to be a trusted resource for those trying to understand the world around them.

Explainer Video December 14, 2021
Supply Chains

What Happened to Supply Chains in 2021?

Pandemic-related disruptions threw a wrench into global supply chains this year, causing shortages of goods. Here’s how it happened.

by Anshu Siripurapu December 13, 2021 Renewing America
COVID-19

Seven Charts That Explain the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2021

COVID-19 continued its worldwide spread in 2021, spurred by more contagious variants. Vaccines are highly effective, though have been unevenly distributed. Follow the pandemic’s story over the last year through graphics.

by Claire Klobucista and Will Merrow December 9, 2021
2021 in Review

Visualizing 2022: Trends to Watch

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

by Paul J. Angelo, Thomas J. Bollyky , Lauren Kahn, Sebastian Mallaby , Carl Minzner and Laura Taylor-Kale December 6, 2021 Global Health Program
United States

Ten Anniversaries to Note in 2022

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

by James M. Lindsay December 1, 2021 The Water's Edge