U.S. Foreign Policy Publications
The Trans - Atlantic South Partnership: Positions on Building a Mutually Beneficial Partnership with Africa
May 21, 2013It is very simple. Until the U.S. is as optimally invested, or doing business as briskly as the Chinese, the EU, Indians, Brazilians or Vietnamese; the world’s largest economy can neither expand its commercial footprint in Africa nor make a portentous impact on the lives of over a billion Africans. more
U.S. Firearms Trafficking to Guatemala and Mexico
May 13, 2013Goodman's paper discusses U.S. firearms trafficking to Mexico as well as the lesser known phenomenon of the illicit movement of U.S.-origin firearms to Guatemala. more
Beyond AGOA: An Updated Case for a Trans - Atlantic Trade & Investment Partnership Between Africa & The United States
May 03, 2013In this paper, McDonald, Lande & Matanda argue that, premised on conditions here in the U.S., in Africa and elsewhere, the ‘perfect storm’could be brewing for an effective renewal or enhancement of AGOA before the program expires in 2015. more
Why Economic Partnership Agreements Undermine Africa's Regional Integration
May 03, 2013This paper is specifically about providing suggestions for positions the AU can take vis-a-vis the European Union’s
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). Central is an urgent call for member states to give the AU latitude to ensure that the conclusion of EPAs with the EU is postponed until, at least, the next decade. Simply: If the EU successfully foists EPAs on a critical number of member states through unilateral threats to prematurely withdraw or limit preferential treatment, the negative consequences will be devastating not only to Africa but to many trading partners. more
New Ideas for a New Era: Policy Options for the Next Stage in U.S.-Mexico Relations
May 01, 2013The Mexico Institute presents policy recommendations for strengthening U.S.-Mexico relations during the administrations of President Obama and President Peña Nieto. more
Changing the Approach to Crime and Violence in Latin America
Apr 02, 2013This summary was written by Christine Zaino, Program Associate, Latin American Program, Woodrow Wilson Center and Program Director Cynthia Arnson. It is based on the report, "Seguridad y Populismo Punitivo en América Latina: Lecciones Corroboradas, Constataciones Novedosas y Temas Emergentes," by Latin American Program consultants Carlos Basombrío and Lucía Dammert. more
Setting Priorities for U.S. Policy in Latin America
Mar 05, 2013The Obama administration will need to establish clear priorities for U.S.–Latin American relations that advance U.S. interests in remarkably changed circumstances. No single approach to the region can guide U.S. policy, nor can policy be successful if it does not recognize the changes in the region over the past decade that are reflected in the hemisphere’s economic and political vitality. more
On Cybersecurity, Crowdsourcing, and Social Cyber-Attack
Mar 04, 2013Social media is responsible for much positive change in the world. But these new tools can be used by bad actors to foment strife and undermine stability, as seen during violent incidents in the Assam state of northeast India in July 2012. Cybersecurity efforts must take into account the growing potential for cyber-attack using social media, where hoax messages are incorporated into a stream of otherwise legitimate messages, and understand how quickly mobile apps and text services can disseminate false information. more
How Should America Respond to Economic Opportunities in Africa?
Feb 07, 2013U.S. policy toward Africa has been on autopilot for much of the past four years, following a laundry list of good intentions that established priorities for Africa’s well-being and U.S. security interests. However, a truly sustainable and forward-looking U.S. policy toward Africa should refocus attention on Africa’s opportunity as an economic powerhouse of the future, a strategy that combines
both domestic self-interest and an opportunity to help Africa move forward. more
Nuclear Weapons in International Politics: It's Getting Personal
Dec 19, 2012The role that nuclear weapons play in international politics and security is evolving. For wealthy, militarily powerful countries, nuclear weapons are playing a diminishing role in security planning. Conversely, some countries that lack advanced military capabilities may be coming to see nuclear weapons as increasingly important for their security. The differences between these two groups are reinforced by the fact that, over the past decade, two dictators who ended their nuclear programs have lost their regimes and their lives. As a result, authoritarian leaders may now have an increasingly personal interest in holding on to their nuclear ambitions. U.S. interests can be advanced by minimizing the association that has developed over the past decade between ending nuclear weapons programs, ending regimes, and ending authoritarian leaders’ lives. more
