CFR.org - Expert Briefs

Escaping Nigeria's Cycle of Violence

John Campbell — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:44:13 -0400

A state of emergency in Nigeria's northeast signals that Islamist violence and the government's brutal response have rendered the region ungovernable, says CFR's John Campbell.

What if Pakistan's 'Old Lion' Returns to Govern?

Daniel Markey — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:28:11 -0400

Nawaz Sharif appears poised to return as Pakistan's prime minister, which would create new challenges for the country's already fractious politics and add strains to the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, writes CFR's Daniel Markey.

Cybersecurity and Internet Governance

Andrea Renda — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:26:40 -0400

The Internet's growing role in economies and societies also poses new threats. The time has come for states and private partners to set global norms for web conduct, says expert Andrea Renda.

Myanmar's Alarming Civil Unrest

Joshua Kurlantzick — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:23:37 -0400

Myanmar's emergence from military rule has also spawned some of the worst ethnic and religious violence in decades and fear of prolonged civil conflict, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.

Probing for Chemical Attacks in Syria

Gregory D. Koblentz — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:08:12 -0400

The success of a UN investigation into an alleged chemical weapons attack in Aleppo province last week will depend on a number of factors and could prove inconclusive, says CFR's Gregory Koblentz.

Democracy's Decline and the Case of Kenya

Joshua Kurlantzick — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:38:05 -0500

Will Kenya's elections produce a representative government or deepen its democratic decline? CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick offers a prescription for reversing the retreat of emerging states like Kenya.

Big Data, Better Global Health

Thomas Bollyky — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:01:15 -0500

A comprehensive new study of the world's health status has the potential to dramatically improve how developing countries address surging problems like noncommunicable diseases, writes CFR's Thomas Bollyky.

The Long Road of U.S. Fiscal Reform

Robert Kahn — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:40:55 -0500

The president's annual address set the stage for more political wrangling over U.S. fiscal policy at a time when decisiveness is crucial for the economy, writes CFR's Robert Kahn.

Boko Haram and Nigeria's Pervasive Violence

John Campbell and Asch Harwood — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:35:41 -0500

The radical Islamist group Boko Haram has contributed to widespread and deadly violence in Nigeria, but the government sercurity services are also at fault, write CFR's John Campbell and Asch Harwood.

Preventing Chemical Weapons Use in Syria

Paul B. Stares — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:08:25 -0500

Reducing the risk that chemical weapons will be used in Syria, considered a nightmare scenario, requires a comprehensive prevention strategy from the international community, writes CFR's Paul Stares.

South Korea's Presidential Stakes

Scott A. Snyder — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:16:36 -0500

A conservative and a progressive appear to offer South Koreans sharply different presidential options, but both are likely to pursue similar foreign policy tracks, says CFR's Scott Snyder.

Japan's New Legislative Balance

Sheila A. Smith — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:33:18 -0500

In a major electoral comeback, Japan's conservatives have won a supermajority in parliament. But the results have stirred anxieties about how they will use their power, says CFR's Sheila Smith.

A Transitional Climate Summit in Doha

Michael A. Levi — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:07:49 -0500

The UN climate meeting could show progress on outstanding issues from previous rounds, but negotiators are focused on modest steps forward rather than major breakthroughs, says CFR's Michael Levi.

Confronting the Fiscal Cliff

Robert Kahn — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:39:13 -0500

Policymakers must act swiftly post-election to approve a viable fiscal plan or trigger market volatility and severe damage to the U.S. economy, writes CFR's Robert Kahn.

South Africa's Eroding 'Grand Bargain'

John Campbell — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:03:56 -0400

The miners' strike reveals the growing frustration over the political bargain that ended apartheid but did little to ease systematic economic inequalities, writes CFR's John Campbell.

Japan, China, and the Tide of Nationalism

Sheila A. Smith — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:11:58 -0400

Escalating friction between Japan and China in the East China Sea is becoming more difficult to contain, fed by political opportunism in both countries, says CFR's Sheila Smith.

Eye of the Storm for U.S.-Pakistan Relations

Daniel Markey — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:42:57 -0400

Pakistan-U.S. ties have rebounded, but domestic turmoil and looming leadership transitions should command U.S. attention on this vital terrorist frontline, writes CFR's Daniel Markey.

NYPD's Powers of Threat Perception

Matthew C. Waxman — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:35:58 -0400

The NYPD's new "Domain Awareness System" raises familiar questions about privacy and transparency that are likely to spark a debate at multiple levels of government, writes CFR's Matthew Waxman.

Addressing an Imploding Mali

John Campbell — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:34:38 -0400

Weak governance and radical jihadists are at the heart of Mali's crisis, says CFR's John Campbell, who cautions that any intervention should focus on humanitarian aid and diplomacy, not the security threat.

South China Sea: From Bad to Worse?

Joshua Kurlantzick — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:50:05 -0400

ASEAN has failed to ease tensions over the South China Sea this summer, but China and its neighbors still have options for restoring calm, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.

Reinventing the World Health Organization

Thomas Bollyky — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:54:50 -0400

The World Health Assembly in Geneva this week needs to do more to define a workable mission for the struggling World Health Organization.

A New Presidential Authority in Egypt

Steven A. Cook — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:08:39 -0400

Even before Egyptians cast ballots for a new president this week, they will have engineered a surprising shift in power that reflects impressive strides, writes CFR's Steven Cook.

NATO's Chicago Agenda

Stewart M. Patrick — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:47:53 -0400

The upcoming NATO summit will include talks on the endgame in Afghanistan, a new smart defense doctrine, and bolstering global partnerships, all of it colored by fundamental questions about the role and mission of the alliance, says CFR's Stewart Patrick.

France's High Stakes Presidential Vote

Charles A. Kupchan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:02:42 -0400

France's next president faces tough choices on EU integration, immigration, NATO's mission in Afghanistan, and economic reforms, says CFR's Charles Kupchan.

Dr. Kim and the World Bank's Health Role

Laurie Garrett — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:28:53 -0400

An examination of the World Bank's evolution as a global health actor and Jim Yong Kim's career in public health raises questions about how he would handle the role of president, writes CFR's Laurie Garrett.

Why the Summit of the Americas Matters

Shannon K. O'Neil — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:13:18 -0400

The summit in Colombia offers Washington an opportunity to boost growing economic ties amid ongoing disputes with regional partners over Cuba and the legalization of illicit drugs, writes CFR's Shannon K. O'Neil.

Reforming Egypt's Untenable Subsidies

Isobel Coleman — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:35:34 -0400

Addressing Egypt's economically debilitating subsidy system will be hard amid political transition, but with the country's social contract under review, the time is ripe for reform needed to put the country on a more viable economic path, says CFR's Isobel Coleman.

Myanmar's Elections: Is Reform Real?

Joshua Kurlantzick — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:47:46 -0400

The elections brought democratic forces into parliament for the first time in fifty years. But Myanmar's rapid reforms still must be viewed as small steps in a country where military forces retain considerable power, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.

Election Monitoring: Power, Limits, and Risks

Judith Kelley — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:36:48 -0400

In this Markets and Democracy Brief, Judith Kelley examines the achievements, shortcomings, and drawbacks of international election monitoring, arguing that it merits both enthusiasm and healthy skepticism.

Beyond Quake, Japan's Political Aftershocks

Sheila A. Smith — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:18:29 -0500

One year after Japan's triple disasters, questions persist about the ability of the world's third-largest economy to rebound and how its struggling political system can mount serious reforms, writes CFR's Sheila Smith.