Expert Related Publication Feeds

An Electoral Pas de Deux? The First Round of the French Elections Considered

sherry — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

On April 22, the first round of French elections will be held. This election will be the first in a series of important European elections over the next three weeks: the May 6 French runoff election (assuming no candidate wins an absolute majority on April 22), the May 6 Greek elections, and two German state elections (Schleswig-Holstein on May 6 and North Rhine-Westphalia on May 13).

Beware the Backburner: The Risk of a Neglected Europe

ian — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Washington’s pivot toward Asia and its frustration over Europe’s mishandling of its debt crisis have left European nations wondering if this means they now get the cold shoulder.

Have We Lost That "Special" Feeling? British Prime Minister Cameron’s Visit to the United States

sherry — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

On March 13–14, President and Mrs. Barack Obama will host Prime Minister and Mrs. David Cameron for an official visit and a state dinner. While the United States will never match the royal pageantry and majestic backdrop of last year’s state visit in London hosted by Queen Elizabeth II, the United States knows how to impress its honored guests as well.

A Roman Holiday? The Week in Review on the European Debt Crisis

ian — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Crisis? What crisis? This week the European Central Bank (ECB) unleashed a second tidal wave of inexpensive, three-year loans—long-term refinancing options (LTROs)—with more relaxed collateral requirements. Eight- hundred European banks, large and small, eagerly soaked up €530 billion of liquidity on top of December’s LTROs of €489 billion.

Leading from Behind in Public-Private Partnerships?

jdunton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

European countries have consistently been significant contributors of international official development assistance (ODA); in 2010, the EU and its member states spent €53.8 on ODA, nearly 60 percent of global development aid.

A New Security Architecture for the Arctic

jdunton — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Arctic will experience extraordinary economic and environmental change over the next several decades. Commercial, human, and state interaction will rise dramatically. More drilling for oil and gas in the region and growing shipping and ecotourism as new shipping routes come into existence are just a few of the examples of increased human activity in the Arctic.

Critical Questions for 2012

ian — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

From international security and regional study to global challenges, CSIS experts will address many of the world's most difficult policy concerns and critical questions in 2012. To kick off the new year, we asked 25 of our scholars to identity what worries them most and what are the biggest opportunities in their respective areas of study.

The European Sovereign Debt Crisis in Review and Happy Holidays to You!

ian — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

We thought it would be appropriate to celebrate this festive holiday season with a review of the past 12 months of the European debt crisis. Europe has been constantly in the headlines this year, but very little of it has been good news. As the year draws to a close, we have written the following analysis in the spirit of a favorite holiday song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

A New Transatlantic Approach for the Western Balkans

jdunton — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

For the past decade, accession to the European Union (EU) has become both the journey and the final destination for peace and democracy in the Western Balkans. EU political and economic engagement in the region has had a profound and positive influence, from encouraging the rule of law, human rights, and economic reform, to establishing a regional dialogue.

“If the euro fails, Europe fails,” according to German chancellor Angela Merkel. And if Europe fails, we all fail.

ian — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Fourteen summits in 21 months; the collapse of six eurozone governments; four bailout packages; and still we have an economic crisis on the verge of engulfing the world’s largest economies—this is the picture of political failure.

So, What’s the Plan Europe? The European Sovereign Debt Crisis and the October 23 Summit

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

On Sunday, EU leaders will meet in Brussels for yet another high-stakes summit on Europe’s escalating sovereign debt woes, with the future stability of the global economy in the balance.

Russian Soft Power in the 21st Century

jdunton — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

This study examines the current state of relations among Russia, Estonia, and ethnic Russians living in Estonia. The report pays special attention to the Russian Compatriot Policy, which seeks to codify the relationship of the Russian diaspora to its homeland, and to evaluate its effectiveness as a soft power foreign policy tool in Estonia.

Leading from the Front: Europe and the New Libya

ian — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Libyan Endgame?

After six months of inconclusive fighting accompanied by both criticism and adulation of Western support, Libyan rebels penetrated the capital city of Tripoli with NATO support on August 21.

Conference Report: Planning for Post-Gadhafi Libya

mDziuban — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

On July 25, CSIS convened approximately 50 experts from the government, diplomatic and expert communities to analyze the way forward in Libya. Among the key conclusions of the speakers are:

Going to Extremes: Can Norway and Europe Address the Growth of the Far Right?

sherry — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

On July 22, 2011, a right-wing extremist, Anders Behring Breivik, attacked a government building in central Oslo as well as a political youth camp on the island of Utøya, killing 76 people including many youth of the country’s liberal political elite.

Love It or Leave It: The Future of the Euro in the Balance

ian — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

International markets will turn their full attention to the outcome of the Thursday (July 21) emergency summit of European heads of state and government of the 17 eurozone countries. At stake is whether these leaders will be able to agree on how best to organize a second bailout package for Greece.

When Democracy and Austerity Collide: A Guide to the European Sovereign Debt Crisis

sherry — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

For the past several weeks, large-scale and at times violent demonstrations and strikes have erupted in Greece and Spain, fueled by unemployed youth (which in Greece stand at 36 percent and in Spain at 44 percent), students, and public-sector workers.

Fading Sentimentality: German Assessments of U.S. Power

ian — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Void of emotion or fanfare, German elites assume that over the next ten years the United States will experience a period of relative decline (militarily and economically) as China, and to a lesser extent India and Brazil, will experience a period of ascendancy.

Debt Or Defense? Difficult Choices Of A Financially Constrained NATO

ian — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Imagine if the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan only consisted of 11 contributing nations as opposed to the 48 that contribute today. Imagine if ISAF had only 90,000 American soldiers at its disposal rather than the 132,000 troops and 37 European countries currently engaged.

A Diminishing Transatlantic Partnership?

jdunton — Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Over the past five decades, the United States, its NATO allies, and other European Union countries have been partners in maintaining transatlantic security and leading contributors to international stability and economic development.

Rebuilding the Euro or Disassembling the Union? Implications of the March 24–25 EU Summit

ian — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Despite the fanfare at the time of its unveiling in 1999, the euro was a flawed monetary project of inharmonious fiscal policies and dissimilar economies void of fiscal unity. At the time, the euro’s systemic flaws were masked by German creditworthiness and exploited by profligate periphery states.

Turmoil in Libya: The View from Europe

sherry — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Fallout from the continued violence and unrest in Libya—only 180 miles away from Italy’s Lampedusa Island—is now washing onto European shores. Muammar Qaddafi’s murderous crackdown has cast a bright light on Europe’s complex political and economic relationship with Libya, most notably Italy’s.

G is for Grand: Presidents Obama and Sarkozy Talk G-8/G-20 Grand Strategy

sherry — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

In his second Oval Office visit in two years, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France will meet with President Barack Obama on Monday to discuss this year’s upcoming G-8 and G-20 Summits. Over a working lunch, the presidents will also have an opportunity to discuss other pressing international issues, such as Iran.

The U.S.-EU Summit: Hoping for a Single, Anticipating a Bunt

mentman — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

On November 20, on the margins of the NATO Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, President Obama will meet with leaders of the European Union. Dark and inauspicious clouds are forming on the eve of the summit as an economic crisis once again grips Europe.

Something Old and Something New? The European Perspective at the Seoul G-20 Summit

mentman — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Since the April 2009 G-20 gathering in London, Europeans have experienced a psychological roller coaster ride that began with the euphoria of President Barack Obama’s first visit to Europe and ended abruptly a year later with the political and economic onslaught of the European sovereign debt crisis.

Doing Less with Less? Assessing the Impact of the UK Strategic Defense and Security Review

ian — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Today, the UK government released its much anticipated Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR), which sets priorities for national security spending over the coming decade in light of constrained resources and continuing debate over Britain’s role in the world.

Economic Transformation and the Future of Capitalism

jdunton — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

“Economic Transformation and the Future of Capitalism: Lessons Learned from Poland’s Success in Economically Turbulent Times” was sponsored and organized by the CSIS Europe Program, the World Bank, the Institute of International Finance, and the Polish-American Freedom Foundation, in association with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and held at the World Bank on November

Kosovo at the Crossroads: Impact of the International Court of Justice Ruling

ian — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: What impact will the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Kosovo’s declaration of independence have on the country’s international standing?

About that Oil Spill … Welcome to Washington, Mr. Cameron

ian — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: British prime minister David Cameron will visit with President Obama on July 20. What will they talk about?

Border Security in a Time of Transformation

jdunton — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The September 11, 2001, attacks transformed American and international conceptions of border control. The U.S. government, for instance, had traditionally viewed border control as a mostly customs- and immigration-based challenge. But after 9/11, policymakers and officials increasingly viewed borders as potential points of entry for would-be terrorists.

Remembering Haiti at the Six-month Mark

mentman — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: Have humanitarian conditions improved on the ground in Haiti since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck on January 12 of this year?

You Say G-8, I Say G-20: Let’s Not Call the Whole Thing Off

mentman — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: Why are the G-8 and G-20 leaders meeting in Canada this week, and what do they hope to accomplish?

The British General Election and What It Means for the U.S.-UK Special Relationship

sherry — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: What is happening on May 6 in the UK?

U.S. Strategic Interests in the Arctic

jdunton — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

During the height of the Cold War, the Arctic region was considered a geostrategic and geopolitical playground for the United States and the Soviet Union, as strategic bombers and nuclear submarines crossed over and raced below the polar cap. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the region diminished in strategic importance to the United States. Now, 20 years later, senior U.S.

Mr. Buzek Comes to Washington: Why the European Parliament Matters to the United States

sherry — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: Why is Jerzy Buzek, president of the European Parliament and former Polish prime minister, visiting Washington?

President Obama’s Return to Prague: An Opportunity to Reset

sherry — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

One year ago, President Obama made his very first (there were five more to come) yet historic visit to Europe as the new American president.

A Washington Perspective: The Fraying Bonds of the Special Relationship

ian — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

There are two main strands to the special relationship between the United States and Britain, both of which are vulnerable to erosion in the coming years, although at differing speeds. One is the deep civilizational bond between the two leading "Anglo-Saxon" powers; the other the intense politico-military and intelligence co-operation between the two governments since World War II.

President Sarkozy’s Long-awaited Oval Office Tête-à-tête with President Obama

sherry — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: Why is President Nicolas Sarkozy of France meeting with President Obama on Tuesday, March 30?

A Crisis of Leadership in Democracies: Yours, Mine, or Ours?

ian — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Last month Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave an impressive and largely up-beat speech on NATO’s historic role and, most importantly, its future.

Greek PM in Washington at Important Time

sherry — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: What did Prime Minister George Papandreou of Greece hope to accomplish during his visits to Berlin, Paris, and Luxembourg prior to visiting Washington?

President Obama’s Decision to Forgo the U.S.-EU Summit in May and What It Means for Future U.S.–EU Relations

sherry — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: Why has President Obama decided not to attend the U.S.-EU Summit scheduled to be held in Spain in May?

Regaining European Foreign Policy Visibility and the London Conference on Afghanistan

ian — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: What were the British foreign secretary, David Miliband, and the new EU high representative for foreign policy, Lady Catherine Ashton, doing in Washington last week?

Mrs. Merkel Comes to Washington (Again): The State of U.S.-German Relations

sherry — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: Why is German chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington today?

The Irish Referendum: Second Verse Same as the First?

sherry — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: What are the Irish voting about (again), and what is at stake?

German National Elections: Something Old or Something New?

sherry — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: Why is this election significant?

Vice President Biden’s Comments on U.S.-Russia Relations: Reset or Setback?

pfrank — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: What did Vice President Joe Biden recently say about U.S.-Russian relations?

Whither the G-8? Prospects for the L'Aquila Summit

sherry — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: How did the G-8 come about?

The Crisis Presidency? The Swedes Take the EU Baton

sherry — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: What is on the agenda for the Swedish EU presidency?

Obama-Merkel Meeting: Will the Third Time Be the Charm?

sherry — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: Why is Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany meeting with President Barack Obama again? Didn’t they recently visit with one another?