What with Russia’s ferocious bombardments of Ukraine, Iran’s first-ever direct attacks on Israel, continued uncertainty over U.S. materiel support for the beleaguered government in Kyiv, and reports of U.S. intelligence confirming that China is supplying critical weapons inputs to Moscow, Europe’s geostrategic surroundings are looking increasingly tense and glum.
In this latest newsletter produced by Brookings’ Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE), I’m pleased to share with you several important new pieces that could not be more timely. Matias Spektor’s astute and original 10th annual Breyer Lecture (delivered on April 5) on the U.S., the West and international law in a context of strategic competition takes issue with the “West-versus-the-Rest” dichotomy. Tara Varma’s scholarly Washington Quarterly essay on European strategic autonomy lays out European debates and options for greater agency in troubled times. And Aslı Aydıntaşbaş reminds us acerbically that not all European leaders disapprove of the strongman model.
We can’t promise that our offerings will calm your nerves; but we hope you enjoy reading them!
Constanze Stelzenmüller Director, Center on the United States and Europe
In a written version of the Breyer Lecture on International Law delivered on April 5, Matias Spektor argues that the idea of "the liberal West vs. the illiberal rest" is outdated and reductive, calling for global leaders to rethink their understanding of the rules-based order to meet the demands of the modern multipolar world.
Tara Varma details how the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and European and U.S. politics have forced the European Union to reevaluate its approach to security, and how strategic autonomy might be achieved.
While many European leaders have signaled support for U.S. President Joe Biden’s reelection, far-right politicians and strongmen on Europe’s eastern edges are pining for a Donald Trump win, Aslı Aydıntaşbaş writes, revealing the type of international order they seek.
Experience the Financial Times weekend paper come to life at the FTWeekend Festival: U.S. edition. On Saturday, May 4, hear from Nancy Pelosi, Jake Sullivan, Fiona Hill, Radosław Sikorski, Anne Applebaum, Colin King, Gucci Westman, Bradley Whitford, FT writers, and more, across four stages at the REACH at the Kennedy Center* in Washington, D.C. and online. From debates and performances to wine and whiskey tastings, this is a Saturday not to miss!
Register now and save $20 off using promo code BROOKINGS at: ft.com/festival-us
*This event is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center
Ukraine Index
For more data on the war in Ukraine, explore the Ukraine Index. The dataset provides valuable insights on changes in the control of Ukrainian territory by the two sides, the amount of support for Ukraine from the U.S. and Europe as well the political support for continued aid, and the health of the Ukrainian economy.
More research and commentary
Turkish elections. Recent local elections in Turkey saw a huge shift in support toward the opposition Republican People’s Party. In the Washington Post, Aslı Aydıntaşbaş dissects what this means for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his political movement.
Macron and Ukraine. The French position toward Ukraine has changed drastically since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Tara Varma discusses these developments and President Emmanuel Macron’s point of view on the Center for a New American Security’s Brussels Sprouts podcast.
Understandingtrade networks.Daniel S. Hamilton breaks down the complexities of U.S. economic ties with Europe and contrasts them with those with China. He stresses the importance of healthy trade networks in forging strategic partnerships and strengthening diplomatic ties.
Restructuring sovereign debt.Douglas A. Rediker writes that private capital is crucial to dealing with sovereign debt crises and offers an alternative to Beijing's influence in developing states.
Italy's regional inequality. The economic underdevelopment of Southern Italy needs attention given its ramifications for European economic governance, Carlo Bastasin writes in a working paper for Luiss Institute for European Analysis and Policy.
About the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings
The Center on the United States and Europe(CUSE) offers independent research and recommendations for policymakers, fosters high-level dialogue on developments in Europe and global challenges that affect trans-Atlantic relations, and convenes roundtables, workshops, and public forums on policy-relevant issues.
The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington,DC, 20036
