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Politics and Government

Security Cooperation
commentary
What Were China's Objectives in the Doklam Dispute?
Jonah Blank
Sep 8, 2017
Foreign Affairs
The biggest Chinese concern in the Himalayas might be with the future of the 82-year-old Dalai Lama. China intends to select his successor. A high-profile scare on the Doklam Plateau may have been intended to send India an implicit message not to repeat its decision to shelter the Dalai Lama in 1959.
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Nation Building
commentary
President Trump's Recommitment to Nation-Building in Afghanistan
Laurel E. Miller
Aug 30, 2017
Newsweek
In his speech on Afghanistan, President Trump maintained his stance against nation-building. But like President Obama's policy, the refreshed approach hinges on the U.S. developing Afghan government capabilities to fight the Taliban, provide for the country's long-term security, and serve as a counterterrorism partner.
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Politics and Government
commentary
What Afghanistan Needs to Move Forward: A Political Solution
S. Rebecca Zimmerman @_rebeccaz
Aug 24, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
Although the U.S. military's role in maintaining stability has been crucial, a real solution needs to consider Afghan politics first. The United States and the international community should push for parliamentary elections to build confidence between the government and the people.
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Political Reform Movements
q&a
The Post–Arab Spring Experience: Q&A with Shelly Culbertson
Aug 23, 2017
It's too early to say whether the Arab Spring will turn out to be a success or not. The Arab Spring was about people deciding what they did not want and rising up against it, but they hadn't worked out what they did want. Many of them still have hope.
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Afghanistan
commentary
Trump's New Afghanistan Strategy: Governing from the Center?
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 22, 2017
The Hill
The president has embraced a national security establishment strategy for Afghanistan with a veneer that does not alter its essence. The result is likely to disappoint some of his supporters and to be criticized by his opponents, but it will also secure a measure of bipartisan support.
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Arms Proliferation and Control
commentary
How We Can Keep Iran from Becoming the Next North Korea
Michael J. Mazarr
Aug 22, 2017
Fortune
The U.S. brokered an agreement to constrain North Korea's nuclear program 25 years ago but hard-liners abandoned it with vague intentions of coercing the North into something better. They never did, and now a runaway North Korean program poses real danger. This offers a powerful reason to preserve the Iranian nuclear deal.
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Middle East
commentary
State Competition, Not Sectarianism, Key Driver of Middle East Politics
Dalia Dassa Kaye @dassakaye
Aug 3, 2017
Axios
Sectarianism is real and dangerous in the Middle East, but the region is more complicated. The next leaders in Iran and Saudi Arabia, under pressure from youthful populations and worsening economic challenges, may no longer see value in a costly sectarian agenda.
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China
q&a
Enhancing China's Status as a Great Power
Aug 1, 2017
The Cipher Brief
China is investing heavily in its military modernization program as it aims to extend its power in the region as well as globally. How will China's growing ability to project power affect U.S. regional goals?
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Politics and Government
commentary
American Retrenchment Is a Golden Oldie
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 1, 2017
The Wall Street Journal
Isolationism is a recurring temptation of American foreign policy. Responding to new and unforeseen challenges, however, the United States has repeatedly resisted that temptation and risen to the demands of global leadership. Is it different today?
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Afghanistan
commentary
A Peace 'Surge' to End War in Afghanistan
Laurel E. Miller
Jul 24, 2017
New York Times
President Trump has no easy options in Afghanistan. A surge of U.S. commitment to negotiating a political settlement would not remove all the obstacles, but it is a prerequisite.
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International Economic Relations
commentary
Brexit: So Tell Me What You Want, What You Really Really Want
Jonathan Grant, Charlene Rohr, Alexandra Pollitt
Jul 14, 2017
E!Sharp
The 'In/Out' referendum question encouraged the view that Brexit was a binary choice. But how did people understand these two options and their implications? The results of stated preference discrete choice experiments hold the answer.
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International Economic Relations
commentary
Finding the Common Ground: Building a Brexit Around Trade and Single Market Access
Charlene Rohr, Jonathan Grant, Alexandra Pollitt, David Howarth
Jul 14, 2017
UK in a Changing Europe
The priority for the UK government during Brexit negotiations should be access to the single market and free trade deals with countries outside the EU. This would build on the common ground felt by the majority of Britons about what they feel are the most valuable aspects of the UK's future relationship with Europe.
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Decisionmaking
commentary
America and the World Are at a Crossroads
Andrew R. Hoehn
Jul 3, 2017
Populism is on the march across the globe. Many of the certainties of even the recent past seem much less certain now—including the idea of the United States maintaining a leadership role in the world.
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Politics and Government
commentary
Northern Ireland Is Now at the Forefront of Brexit
James Black
Jun 29, 2017
HuffPost UK
After Prime Minister Theresa May's unexpected failure to win a majority in June's snap election, she is now reliant on Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party to shore up a minority Conservative government. As Brexit negotiations begin, European politicians should refresh their knowledge of Northern Irish politics.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
U.S. Interests and World Community
Michael J. Mazarr
Jun 14, 2017
The Cipher Brief
Evidence shows that many countries consider themselves part of an emerging global community. This represents America's most potent competitive advantage. U.S. strategy is stronger when it works to reflect and build such a community.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Time for Quiet Diplomacy, Not Taking Sides
Dalia Dassa Kaye @dassakaye, Jeffrey Martini
Jun 7, 2017
The National Interest
Disputes within the Gulf Cooperation Council are inevitable given differing threat perceptions and political interests, but there is no reason for the U.S. to pursue policies that aggravate the differences and risk fueling greater instability. Instead, Washington could assure both sides that it will support any agreement they reach.
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Politics and Government

What Were China's Objectives in the Doklam Dispute?

President Trump's Recommitment to Nation-Building in Afghanistan

What Afghanistan Needs to Move Forward: A Political Solution

The Post–Arab Spring Experience: Q&A with Shelly Culbertson

Trump's New Afghanistan Strategy: Governing from the Center?

How We Can Keep Iran from Becoming the Next North Korea

State Competition, Not Sectarianism, Key Driver of Middle East Politics

Enhancing China's Status as a Great Power

American Retrenchment Is a Golden Oldie

A Peace 'Surge' to End War in Afghanistan

Brexit: So Tell Me What You Want, What You Really Really Want

Finding the Common Ground: Building a Brexit Around Trade and Single Market Access

America and the World Are at a Crossroads

Northern Ireland Is Now at the Forefront of Brexit

U.S. Interests and World Community

Time for Quiet Diplomacy, Not Taking Sides

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