CFR.org - Backgrounders

Iran's Revolutionary Guards

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:01:30 -0400

Conceived as principal defenders of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has evolved into a vast institution of political, economic, and military power.

The Group of Eight (G8) Industrialized Nations

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

After over three decades of existence, the Group of Eight (G8) is struggling to defend its relevance amid criticism of its limited membership and lack of a compliance mechanism.

The Dilemma of Humanitarian Intervention

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:22:08 -0400

Global support for the "responsibility to protect" doctrine weakened after the UN-endorsed no-fly zone that helped topple Libya's regime, and debate continues over the threshold for mounting armed humanitarian interventions, explains this Backgrounder.

U.S. Domestic Surveillance

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Both the Bush and Obama administrations have sought to justify controversial domestic surveillance programs amid pointed criticism from Congress and rights activists, explains this Backgrounder.

The Lengthening List of Iran Sanctions

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:17:12 -0400

The United States and a growing number of countries have intensified sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, weakening its economy, but debate persists over their impact.

Human Rights in Iran

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:42:34 -0400

Global monitors say Iran's human rights situation is poor and unlikely to improve amid a climate of political uncertainty and growing external pressures. But activists urge continued international scrutiny of Iran's violations.

South Africa's Economic Fault Lines

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:48:59 -0400

South Africa in the post-apartheid period has registered steady growth, but mounting problems over inequality threaten the continent's economic engine, explains this Backgrounder.

U.S. Broadband Policy and Competitiveness

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:29:00 -0400

With the economic benefits of broadband access rising, experts continue to debate how U.S. digital infrastructure compares to its international peers. This Backgrounder examines the issues.

U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:54:17 -0400

U.S. missile defense in the twenty-first century is focused on emerging threats from North Korea and Iran, but critics say these systems are too costly and largely unproven, explains this Backgrounder.

Abenomics and the Japanese Economy

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:22:45 -0400

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has focused his second term in office to implementing an audacious set of economic policies designed to spur the country out of its decades-long deflation and sluggish growth, explains this Backgrounder.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:07:45 -0400

In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal, a resurgent al-Qaeda in Iraq, allied with jihadist fighters in neighboring Syria, constitutes a considerable threat to regional security, explains this Backgrounder.

The Six-Party Talks on North Korea's Nuclear Program

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:26:08 -0500

The Six-Party Talks serve as a forum for the denuclearization of North Korea, but analysts say the negotiations have been hindered by Pyongyang's belligerence and the shifting priorities of participating nations.

Papal Succession in the Catholic Church

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:25:51 -0500

The election of pope to lead the world's one billion Catholics stirs debate over the spiritual authority of the pontiff and the church's role in the world.

U.S. Antitrust Policy

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:56:13 -0500

Antitrust law, which has evolved primarily through landmark Supreme Court cases, plays an essential role in the maintenance of efficient markets and promotion of long-term U.S. economic prosperity.

Governance in India: Women's Rights

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:51:30 -0500

Several high-profile sexual assault cases in India have sparked a national debate over women's rights and the need for social reform in a rapidly modernizing country, explains this Backgrounder.

Debt, Deficits, and the Defense Budget

Council on Foreign Relations — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:54:24 -0500

As the Pentagon attempts to refocus the U.S. military strategy toward Asia, the department is facing major budget constraints. Experts disagree on how to balance the fiscal challenge with the country's national security priorities.

Germany's Central Bank and the Eurozone

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:47:23 -0500

Germany's Bundesbank remains an influential actor in eurozone policymaking, and its recent disagreements with the ECB raise concerns about managing the zone's debt crisis. This Backgrounder explains.

Al-Shabaab

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:55:25 -0500

Some experts believe al-Shabaab is at its weakest point in years following an African-led counterinsurgency campaign, but others warn of the group's resiliency in an unstable Somalia.

Congress and U.S. Foreign Policy

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:34:39 -0500

U.S. foreign policy is largely directed by presidents, but Congress does have considerable influence, as this CFR Backgrounder explains.

South China Sea Tensions

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:46:22 -0500

As the United States pivots to Asia, disputes over territories in the South China Sea have escalated tensions and threatened regional stability.

U.S. Gun Policy: Global Comparisons

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:47:31 -0500

Why do mass shootings, such as the December 2012 incident at a Connecticut elementary school, occur more frequently in the United States than other major democracies? This Backgrounder examines select countries.

U.S. Patents and Innovation

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:02:28 -0500

The U.S. patent system has generated growing debate over whether it helps foster innovation or stifles it through unnecessary protections, as this Backgrounder explains.

U.S. Debt Ceiling: Costs and Consequences

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:13:04 -0500

As the U.S. approaches the deadline to raise its debt limit, economists warn of a fiscal crisis and steeply higher borrowing costs for U.S. businesses and homeowners.

Gasoline Prices

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:00:00 -0500

With the Middle East unrest ongoing and the global economy recovering, gasoline prices are rising considerably. But policies to ease U.S. consumer impact take time and policymakers are divided over the course of action.

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 09:12:18 -0500

The Muslim Brotherhood has seen a rapid and fractious ascension to power in Egypt, but questions remain about whether it can maintain a post-revolutionary commitment to democracy.

Palestinian Statehood at the UN

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:30:29 -0500

The quest by Palestinian officials for statehood recognition could have major repercussions for the Mideast peace process. This Backgrounder outlines the potential impact of the UN vote.

Hamas

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:00:00 -0500

A profile of Hamas, the Sunni Muslim Palestinian extremist group based in the Gaza Strip.

European Foreign Policy and the Euro Crisis

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:35:24 -0500

The eurozone crisis has consequences far beyond the continent's economic performance, such as the EU's ability to forge coherent defense and foreign policy.

Poland's Economic Model

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:28:51 -0500

Poland has maintained economic growth despite the global financial crisis and eurozone woes, while asserting itself as a leading advocate for greater European integration, explains this Backgrounder.

What Is the Fiscal Cliff?

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:53:50 -0500

While congressional action lags, a series of year-end fiscal measures could derail the U.S. recovery. This Backgrounder examines the potential global impact.