Diplomacy and International Institutions

Experts in this Topic

Esther Brimmer
Esther Brimmer

James H. Binger Senior Fellow in Global Governance

Rush Doshi Headshot
Rush Doshi

C.V. Starr Senior Fellow for Asia Studies and Director of the China Strategy Initiative

Matt Goodman CFR pic
Matthew P. Goodman

Distinguished Fellow, Director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, and Director of the CFR RealEcon Initiative

Jonathan Hillman Headshot
Jonathan E. Hillman

Senior Fellow for Geoeconomics

Ed Husain Headshot
Ed Husain

Senior Fellow

Kenneth I. Juster

Distinguished Fellow

Rebecca Lissner Headshot
Rebecca Lissner

Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy

Shuxian Luo

Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow

Inu Manak

Fellow for Trade Policy

  • Foreign Aid
    Women This Week: Funding Cuts Threaten Lifesaving Work in Crisis Zones
    Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 10 to May 16.
  • Sanctions
    Three Years of War in Ukraine: Are Sanctions Against Russia Making a Difference?
    The United States and its allies have imposed broad economic penalties on Russia over its war in Ukraine. As the conflict continues, experts debate whether the sanctions are working.
  • United States
    The Future of Alliances: Burden Sharing and Credibility of Commitments
    Play
    The heads of three foreign policy think tanks discuss whether alliances can withstand shifts in U.S. policy, how major allies are adapting their foreign and defense strategies, and what new coalitions might emerge in a changing global security and trade landscape. The Council of Councils (CoC) is an international initiative created by the Council on Foreign Relations to connect leading foreign policy institutes from around the world in a dialogue on issues of global governance and multilateral cooperation. The CoC is composed of twenty-eight major policy institutes from some of the world’s most influential countries. It is designed to facilitate candid, not-for-attribution dialogue and consensus-building among influential opinion leaders from both established and emerging nations, with the ultimate purpose of injecting the conclusions of its deliberations into high-level foreign policy circles within members’ countries. If you wish to attend virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this hybrid meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
  • Trade
    Trade Agreements: Deal or No Deal
    Podcast
    With allies and adversaries alike impacted by new economic barriers and tariffs, the global map of U.S. trade relationships hangs in question. As the U.S. rethinks its commitments with its trading partners, allies may seek deals elsewhere, even with historic rivals. Can the president single-handedly tear up a trade deal, and what happens when deals that took decades to craft are suddenly up for renegotiation?
  • Iran
    The Iran Nuclear Talks, With Karim Sadjadpour
    Podcast
    Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing talks between the United States and Iran over Iran’s nuclear program.
  • Global Governance
    Cultural Diplomacy in Practice: The Arts and Global Engagement
    Play
    Panelists discuss how the arts and cultural institutions influence and reflect global affairs—shaping public diplomacy, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and contributing to the broader objectives of foreign policy. If you wish to attend virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this hybrid meeting will be posted on the CFR website. Members may bring a guest to this meeting.
  • United States
    The Stability of Nations and the Next World Order
    Play
    Founder and CEO of AlphaGeo Parag Khanna discusses the rapidly evolving geopolitical system, how to comprehensively compare countries according to metrics that matter, and how ranking the stability of nations can be used to better understand the world order that is forming. AlphaGeo's Periodic Table of States represents a holistic typology of geopolitical units across the diplomatic, economic, military, technological, cultural and other domains, as well as an effort to capture their complex interrelationships. Please note there is no virtual component to the meeting. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
  • U.S. Foreign Policy
    Reform of the State Department Gets Going
    Secretary of State Rubio has unveiled a serious reform plan for the Department, but it needs close attention from Congress and some reform itself.
  • Climate Change
    The President’s Inbox Recap: Climate Change Realism on Earth Day 2025
    The world is losing its battle to limit climate change, and the United States needs to prepare for consequences.
  • United States
    Why It Matters Live Podcast Taping on Food Diplomacy
    Play
    Please join us for a LIVE! taping of the CFR Why It Matters podcast. During this special taping and livestream, host Gabrielle Sierra and podcast guests discuss food diplomacy and share stories from White House state dinners where food helped create a lasting partnership. Why It Matters explains some of the least-understood issues that are shaping our world. Every two weeks, host Gabrielle Sierra speaks to a diverse lineup of guests with the goal of simplifying a complicated global topic. Will the world run out of coffee? Will wars be fought by killer robots? Is Hollywood giving in to Chinese censorship? With a little bit of humor and a lot of curiosity, Why It Matters is here to dig in and find out. Please note Why It Matters LIVE! will appear on all podcast feeds and stream live through CFR.org.  The CFR Young Professionals Briefing Series provides an opportunity for those early in their careers to engage with CFR. The briefings feature remarks by experts on critical global issues and lessons learned in their careers. These events are intended for individuals who have completed their undergraduate studies and have not yet reached the age of thirty to be eligible to apply for CFR term membership.
  • Maternal and Child Health
    Women This Week: Preventable Complications Responsible for Most Maternal Deaths
    Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers April 5 to April 11. 
  • United States
    The President’s Inbox Recap: Confronting China
    The United States must play to its strengths and avoid self-inflicted missteps if it wants to beat China in the race to dominate the twenty-first century.