In an issue of Foreign Affairs dedicated to climate issues, Todd Stern and John Podesta argue that the tools to combat climate change are within political leaders’ grasp, if they are willing to employ them.
In the same issue, David Victor and several co-authors contend that while the political hurdles to fighting climate change are formidable, technological progress can make it much easier to clear them by driving down the costs of action.
Boko Haram’s focus on education is unique among peer jihadist movements, and in a new paper, Madiha Afzal examines the terrorist group's grievances and level of support among the public. Afzal also discussed her research with Michael O'Hanlon on the Brookings Cafeteria podcast.
In a separate paper, Vanda Felbab-Brown details the diverse effects that Nigerian militia groups have on the battlefield, security, human rights, politics, and the economy.
With the coronavirus requiring speedy action of governments, Constanze Stelzenmüller warns that courts, governors, and citizens must be wary that pandemic responses do not morph into opportunities for authoritarians to solidify control.
"Many of the United States' closest allies and partners are dismayed by the U.S. approach to COVID and by Washington's unwillingness to lead the world through this historic crisis."
After the pandemic. If Joe Biden wins the U.S. election in November, his agenda will have to be a "master class in redesign" rather than an effort to restore the past, argue Thomas Wright and Kurt Campbell.
The Korean Peninsula. The stark differences between the coronavirus responses in North and South Korea reveal a gap in their leaders’ respective priorities, details Jung Pak. Separately, in Foreign Affairs, Pak explores the hopes and fears of Kim Jong Un.
The U.S. military. Extending soldiers’ assignments through "stop-movement" orders may help the military maintain readiness amid the pandemic, explains Thomas Burke.
Protecting women. Lockdowns associated with COVID-19 raise the risks of domestic violence, particularly in Mexico where cases are already high. Vanda Felbab-Brown urges action.
The Middle East
Conflict in Yemen. Whether or not a unilateral Saudi cease-fire holds in Riyadh's conflict with Yemen's Houthis, Bruce Riedel writes that Yemen, already facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis, is completely unprepared for the coronavirus.
Religious restrictions. Efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus — including limits on large gatherings — could be reigniting religious tensions in parts of the Muslim world, write Geneive Abdo and Anna Jacobs.
Coronavirus in Jordan. Jordan faces a difficult challenge in managing the health crisis and economic impact of COVID-19 given its dependence on foreign subsidies and tourism, explains Bruce Riedel.
International affairs
Oil market turbulence. The OPEC+ agreement to cut production is unprecedented, Samantha Gross argues, but so is the situation that brought it about. Separately, several Brookings experts spoke to reporters about recent energy-related geopolitics.
Militias in Somalia. In new research, Vanda Felbab-Brown examines the endurance of militias in Somalia, and contends that relying on militias for security provision and counterterrorism objectives is fraught.
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