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Diplomacy and the Fight for Race Equality: a Fireside Chat With U.S. Special Representative Desirée Cormier SmithAs U.S. foreign policy evolves, how can the State Department truly help America lead not merely by the example of its power, but the power of its example?
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Subnational Diplomacy With Ambassador Nina HachigianNina Hachigian, special representative for subnational diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State, and Alyssa Ayres, dean of the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University …
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A Smarter U.S. Assistance Strategy for HaitiImplementing the Global Fragility Act in Haiti necessitates a change in U.S. assumptions and actions, writes Susan D. Page. The United States should work alongside Haitians desirous of charting their own transition to democracy and support Haitian-chosen policies and leadership.
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Stabilizing MozambiqueMozambique faces a host of challenges, from escalating climate crises to an ongoing insurgency in the country's northeast, that the United States can help contain with funding from the Global Fragility Act, writes Emilia Columbo.
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Term Member Spotlight: Luke SchleusenerIn honor of Pride Month, first-year term member Lucas Schleusener, president and co-founder of Out in National Security (ONS), speaks with fellow term member Nayyera Haq, host of SiriusXM Radio. Luke discusses his and ONS's work to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices in the national security community. For those who do not know him yet, in addition to his advocacy work with ONS, Luke is a security fellow at the Truman National Security Project. Before this, he served on the speechwriting staff of Secretaries of Defense Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, and Ash Carter. The Term Member Spotlight Series highlights individuals within the Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program. Drawing on the enormous amount of talent and expertise within the Council’s Term Member Program, this series features a term member in conversation with a fellow term member discussing their career path, how they got to where they are, the challenges they have faced along the way, and the current work they are doing. We hope this regular series will provide an opportunity for Council term members to better engage and learn from one another, draw upon shared experiences within the group, and connect across geographies.
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Hip-Hop DiplomacyHip-hop is a phenomenon that has captured hearts around the world. Its musical form ranges from party anthems to critical social commentary. But the genre plays another role: it is an influential soft-power tool for the United States. Like its predecessors jazz and rock, hip-hop is utilized by the U.S. State Department to connect with young minds, and its unique ability to inspire goodwill toward the United States offers a significant advantage over adversaries such as China and Russia. How did hip-hop become a go-to diplomatic instrument?
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Cyber Week in Review: April 8, 2022State Department launches new cyber bureau; Controversy over FBI social media surveillance; Clearview AI seeks new clients; U.S. and allies disrupt Sandworm botnet; Microsoft stops series of Russian cyberattacks.
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Renewing America Series: The U.S. Digital DivideAs the United States continues to transition to a knowledge economy, entire regions are being left behind due to the automation of jobs, lack of computers and high-speed internet, and the impossibility for many employees to work from home. Panelists discuss the digital divide, why it poses a problem to U.S. economic strength and competitiveness, and possible solutions for bridging the digital gap. With its Renewing America initiative, CFR is evaluating nine critical domestic issues that shape the ability of the United States to navigate a demanding, competitive, and dangerous world.
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Move swiftly on Global Criminal Justice AmbassadorIn the final hours prior to the Senate’s recess last month, it was heartening to see many of President Joe Biden’s nominees for ambassadorships confirmed. Lengthy gaps in the leadership of America’s …
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Cyber Week in Review: October 29, 2021REvil forced offline; FTC investigating Facebook; Nobelium attacks again; Blinken announces new cyber czar at State Department; Iranian gas stations hacked; the reemergence of NFTs in China
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Colin Powell: An American LifeColin Powell’s extraordinary career as a soldier-statesman provides a model for how to live one’s life in the public arena at a time few such models can be found.
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Biden’s Foreign Policy for the Middle Class Takes ShapeBiden's first major foreign policy address drew the curtain on the disastrous Trump era, emphasizing the nation’s strength at home determines its success abroad—and vice versa.
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China-Taiwan Tension Builds, Secretary Blinken’s First Week, and MoreTension between China and Taiwan builds, Antony Blinken begins his first week as President Biden’s secretary of state, and governments race to procure the COVID-19 vaccine as virus variants emerge.
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Transition 2021 Series: Renewing the U.S. State DepartmentPanelists discuss the future of the U.S Department of State under the next administration, including possible reforms to the agency’s priorities, culture, structure, and workforce. The Transition 2021 series examines the major issues confronting the administration in the foreign policy arena.
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Revitalizing the State Department and American Diplomacy
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Talent flight, institutional stagnation, and ever-evolving policy challenges such as COVID-19 overwhelm a beleaguered State Department. American diplomacy requires serious changes, starting with institutional reform.
