Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
While the reset in U.S.-Russia relations has led to significant security accomplishments, less progress has been made on improving Russia’s commitment to democratic reform.
As the world slowly recovers from the deepest global recession since the 1930s, countries have yet to enact the politically tough structural reforms that are needed.
China capitalized on its huge population and geographic size to become the world’s most efficient assembler and exporter of manufactured goods, but the country’s transformation is now reaching a critical turning point.
Analysts of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, including the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, became contributors to Babylon & Beyond.
After falling to historic lows in 2008, U.S.-Russia relations rebounded following last year’s "reset."
Members of the Working Group on Egypt had a very productive meeting with members of the National Security Staff on November 2 to discuss Egypt’s upcoming elections, prospects for political reform, and the implications for U.S. policy.
President Obama departs for India in November on his first presidential visit to the world’s largest democracy.
With widening calls to move toward a world free of nuclear weapons, NATO’s nuclear policy will be high on the agenda during the Alliance’s November summit in Lisbon.
As President Obama prepares to visit India next month, he faces criticism that his administration has done too little to enhance U.S.–India relations. In a new report, George Perkovich argues that expectations for a partnership between the two countries in the near term are unrealistically high and overlook how their interests, policies, and diplomatic style will often diverge.
Although Iran and Russia have substantial economic and military ties, Moscow is increasingly wary of Tehran’s growing ambitions. In a new report, Dmitri Trenin and Alexey Malashenko offer a view from Moscow and detail how Iran’s desire to develop nuclear weapons and long-range missiles—while refusing to compromise with the international community—threaten Russia.
Consumption of natural gas is growing rapidly and now accounts for nearly one-quarter of the world’s energy supply. While natural gas is relatively clean compared to crude oil and coal, its ability to assume a greater role in meeting the world’s growing energy demands will depend largely on price.
In 2009, Armenia and Turkey began a historic rapprochement and signed two protocols on normalizing their relations. Unfortunately, the process stalled in April 2010. In an updated policy brief, Thomas de Waal argues that the protocols—the most positive initiative in the South Caucasus for many years—must be kept alive as the process still has the potential to transform the region.
As Islamist movements in the Arab world become more politically active, they are struggling to pursue their moral and religious agenda while navigating daily political tussles.
The Arctic is emerging as the world’s next hot spot for oil and gas development. As the melting ice cap opens new shipping lanes and makes it easier to access strategic energy reserves, countries are racing to gain control over the Arctic’s abundant natural resources. In a report, Dmitri Trenin and Pavel Baev offer a view from Moscow on what the opening of the Arctic means.
With global trade talks stalled and lower demand from major economies, regional trade agreements are emerging as a way for middle-income countries to increase trade, spur growth, and lower unemployment rates. In a new report, Alejandro Foxley analyzes how three regions—Eastern Europe, Latin America, and East Asia—are increasing trade within their borders and building a broader free trade system.
Unable to sustain solid growth, Pakistan’s economy is teetering on the brink of collapse, with one-third of the population living below the poverty line. S. Akbar Zaidi writes that without tax reform, Pakistan will continue to run an unsustainable debt and be forced to rely on Western donors for bailouts.
The “reset” in U.S.–Russian relations has come with closer cooperation on arms control, Afghanistan, and Iran. But as long as Russia’s system of personalized power rests on anti-Western principles, a true reset is unattainable.
Carnegie Europe announced a series of new research and policy initiatives that will foster fresh thinking on the regional and global issues that will shape Europe’s role in the world.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace announced a new leadership initiative to develop a non-partisan solution for financing a better transportation system in the United States.
Taiya Smith, who managed the U.S.–China Strategic Economic Dialogue for Treasury Secretary Paulson, draws on examples from her experience to analyze the recent history of strategic dialogues and recommends steps Washington and Beijing should take to improve the broader bilateral relationship.