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BACKGROUNDERS
Current political and economic issues succinctly explained.
Updated March 30, 2011
Damage to Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has reignited debate over the safety of nuclear power and highlighted questions over aging power plants, safety procedures, and waste disposal.
See more in Japan, Energy/Environment, Disasters
Updated: March 24, 2011
The brutality of the Qaddafi regime and the subsequent debate over a no-fly zone has again spotlighted the UN's "Responsibility to Protect" doctrine. Using it for military intervention remains highly contended, but even humanitarian intervention is resisted by countries who see it as a threat to sovereignty.
See more in Democratization, Nation Building, UN, Sovereignty, Humanitarian Intervention
Updated: March 18, 2011
The scramble for energy alternatives has brought new focus on nuclear power in the United States, but its revival faces political and practical obstacles.
See more in United States, Energy/Environment
March 17, 2011
Foreign governments, non-state actors, and criminal networks are targeting the digital networks of the United States with increasing frequency and sophistication. U.S. cybersecurity has made progress, but relies heavily on the private sector to secure infrastructure critical to national security.
See more in United States, Defense Technology, Cybersecurity, Intelligence, Wars and Warfare, Technology and Foreign Policy
Updated: March 9, 2011
Though shifts in demand and reduced production by some major producers have influenced oil prices, investor behavior is also increasing market volatility.
See more in Emerging Markets, Energy, Natural Resources Management
February 23, 2011
A broad-sweeping look at international efforts to prevent armed conflict. This is part of the Global Governance Monitor, an interactive feature tracking multilateral approaches to several global challenges.
Updated: February 7, 2011
Violent acts by homegrown militant extremists in the U.S. have declined, but "lone wolf" attacks are on the rise. The post-9/11 legal and political landscape poses new challenges to law enforcement authorities seeking to prevent such attacks.
See more in United States, Terrorism
February 3, 2011
The anti-government protests in Egypt will likely mean a greater political role for the Muslim Brotherhood, analysts say. But this Backgrounder notes the divide in views over whether the Islamist group will choose a path of moderation or extremism.
See more in Egypt, Political Movements, Religion
Updated: January 11, 2011
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill spotlights the growth of deepwater drilling and the challenges of balancing strong environmental regulation with efforts to expand U.S. domestic oil production.
See more in United States, Energy/Environment
Updated: January 4, 2011
In the wake of financial regulatory overhaul, experts continue to differ on the role of the Federal Reserve and its powers.
See more in United States, Financial Crises, International Finance
Gayle Lemmon tells the remarkable story of a young entrepreneur whose business created jobs and hope for women in her Kabul, Afghanistan, neighborhood during the Taliban years.
Adam Segal offers a contrarian analysis of how the United States can succeed in the technological race with Asia.
A penetrating look at American wars over the last century by Gideon Rose, editor of Foreign Affairs.
David A. Shirk analyzes the drug war in Mexico and argues that the United States should help Mexico address its pressing crime and corruption problems.
This Task Force report assesses U.S. objectives, strategy, and policy options in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It supports a long-term partnership with Pakistan, calls for a new approach to Afghan political reform, reconciliation, and regional diplomacy, and says that a more limited U.S. mission in Afghanistan would be warranted if the present strategy does not show signs of progress.
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