Editor's note: The Brookings Institution is proud that a number of experts from its Foreign Policy program have been selected to serve in key, high-level national security and foreign policy roles in the new Biden-Harris administration. Read the press release here.
In a new collection of papers for the Brookings Blueprints for American Renewal & Prosperity project, foreign policy scholars offer concrete policy solutions on the "China challenge," alliances, pandemic prevention, and more.
And on an episode of the Brookings Cafeteria podcast, Madiha Afzal and Tamara Cofman Wittes detail their proposals regarding America's role in the Middle East and countering extremism.
"There are unmistakable signs of trans-Atlantic trouble on the horizon that even the arrival of a pro-European U.S. administration can’t paper over," writes Constanze Stelzenmüller.
Following Washington's withdrawal from Open Skies, Steven Pifer outlines four steps that can be taken to open a path to preserving the treaty, with both the United States and Russia remaining in the agreement.
"I think the Biden people have said from the beginning that they don’t want a reset with Russia because that would be illusionary and we should just be dealing with Russia on issues that are in our interests."
Biden's democracy agenda.Patrick Quirk argues that the United States should shore up countries’ resilience to foreign and domestic challenges in order for democracy to succeed abroad.
America in the world. Writing for the Australian Financial Review, Michael Fullilove reflects on the defeat of Donald Trump and the inauguration of Joe Biden, contending that each is an essential step towards the return of an America that is unified and recognizable to the world.
The China test. Peaceful coexistence between China and the United States requires a combination of cooperation and competition, argue Javier Solana and Eugenio Bregolat.
Biden and Ukraine. The Biden presidency will bring more high-level but hard-nosed U.S. support for Kyiv, and is good news for Ukraine and those who wish to see it develop into a modern European state, writes Steven Pifer.
COVID-19
Vaccination verification.A group of researchers write that around the world, building vaccine record verification systems that are robust and ethical will be vital to reopening businesses, educational institutions, and travel.
The pandemic in Southeast Asia. Analyzing Indonesia's response to COVID-19 alongside other large and diverse democracies, Thomas Pepinsky concludes that the long-term implications of COVID-19 for Indonesian democracy are worrying.
International affairs
Taiwan and U.S. politics. As a rhetorical arms race on China heats up in Congress, Ryan Hass cautions that Taiwan policymakers will need to consider how to respond to statements and symbolic legislation in support of Taiwan.
Building peace in Libya. Much greater attention needs to be paid to issues of subnational governance in conflict prevention and settlement, urge Simona Ross, Stefan Wolff, and Alexandre Marc; Libya is a key case study.
Unregulated fishing.Michael Sinclair explains why illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing may become an increasingly important national security priority for the United States, and what the Biden administration should do to combat it.
China's privacy law.Jamie Horsley writes that while enforcing a draft Chinese law to protect personal information will come with challenges, it reflects an evolving and ostensibly privacy-protective regulatory framework.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brookings Institution campus in Washington, D.C. is currently closed and all events are virtual only. For more information on the Institution's response, read our full guidance here.
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