The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
Renewables are widely perceived as an opportunity to shatter the hegemony of fossil fuel-rich states and democratize the energy landscape. Virtually all countries have access to some renewable energy resources (especially solar and wind power) and could thus substitute foreign supply with local resources. Our research shows, however, that the role countries are likely to assume in decarbonized energy systems will be based not only on their resource endowment but also on their policy choices.
As the United States emerges from the era of so-called forever wars, it should abandon the regime change business for good. Then, Washington must understand why it failed, writes Stephen Walt.
Between the pandemic, social unrest, and an election for the ages, a Center dedicated to advancing policy relevant research and mentoring the next generation of leaders has never felt more relevant.
As you’ll see in this newsletter, we haven’t let remote work slow us down. Our research and programming on issues ranging from climate change to transatlantic relations are reaching more people than ever. We are proud to have members of our community serve the new administration in Washington. And see below for expert recommendations on what the Biden team should prioritize in its first 100 days.
Pre-pandemic, I walked daily around campus to connect with the remarkable people who make this place run. I miss those connections. But we have not and will not stop connecting our expertise and insights with policymakers and the public to help build a better world.
As the new presidential administration prepares to take office, we asked our scholars and practitioners: In your issue area, what one policy step would you advise the Biden administration to prioritize in its first 100 days? These experts—many of whom previously served in government—share their advice.
Halla Logadóttir, Co-Director of the Arctic Initiative, teaches her Kennedy School class from Iceland’s Langjökull glacier. She takes the class - and us - inside the glacier, asking What can glaciers tell us about climate of the past? Step into the glacier through this video.
This fall, the Economic Diplomacy Initiative, led by Aditi Kumar, Nicholas Burns, and Lawrence Summers, hosted discussions on the U.S.-China economic relationship, including the digital dimension of competition between the countries.
The United States Foreign Service is confronting one of the most profound crises in its long and proud history. The Future of Diplomacy Project has released a new report, A U.S. Diplomatic Service for the 21st Century, with detailed recommendations for revitalizing the Foreign Service. The report is the culmination of a year’s work led by Ambassadors Nicholas Burns, Marc Grossman, and Marcie Ries.
The Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship and the German Council on Foreign Relations have produced a strategic plan with recommendations to governments in the U.S., Europe, and Canada. Stronger Together: A Strategy for Revitalizing Transatlantic Power provides recommendations for renewing, revitalizing, and retooling “the most powerful democratic community in modern history.”
West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner explains how the Defending Digital Democracy Project’s trainings and playbooks helped keep 2018 and 2020 elections secure.
More than 600 participants – many from the Intelligence Community (IC) – took part in a remote conference this fall focused on building a more diverse and capable IC.
"The response to the conference, across the IC, private sector, and academia, has been incredible...[Analysts] who said they had become disillusioned about the state of diversity told me they've become reinvigorated."
Since March, Belfer Center scholars and practitioners, including John P. Holdren and Juliette Kayyem, have answered pandemic-related questions and provided detailed steps to prepare for and better respond to future pandemics.
As part of a new Middle East Initiative event series, View from the Arab World, MEI hosted Iraqi/British journalist and political analyst Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief of The National newspaper based in Abu Dhabi. She shared her views of the U.S. and democracy.
"The past four years in the United states have in some ways made people question democracy."
We asked Fredrik Logevall why he decided to write JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-56, what some of his "aha" moments were during research, and whether he thinks JFK would have been elected in 2020. Read his insightful responses.
A common element in Erika Manouselis’s life is bridges. The Future of Diplomacy Project Coordinator connects people, ideas, and actions. Most recently, she has led efforts around Center diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Welcome to Francesca Giovannini, new Executive Director of the Project on Managing the Atom. She brings extensive experience in nuclear non-proliferation, international security, and multilateral diplomacy.
Delve into this sampling of significant events, activities, and recognitions from our programs and projects.
Our Applied History Project and International Security Program this fall offered event series looking at history's impact on today’s challenges and today’s influence on the future world order. Our National Security Fellows have forged a new connection with national security executives, while Fellows with our Middle East Initiative and Cyber Project have been recognized for best papers and outstanding work in cybersecurity, respectively.
Cyber Project Non-Resident Fellow Priscilla Moriuchi. Photo courtesy Recorded Future.
BELFER CENTER NEWSLETTER | Fall 2020
79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
Ash Carter, Director Eric Rosenbach, Co-Director Aditi Kumar, Executive Director
Editor: Sharon Wilke, Associate Director of Communications
Designer: Andrew Facini,Publishing Manager
Multimedia: Benn Craig, Multimedia Producer
Digital Outreach: Julie Balise, Digital Communications Coordinator
Josh Burek, Director of Global Communications & Strategy
The Communications Office would like to thank the following staff members for their assistance in producing this newsletter: Maria Barsallo Lynch, Jacob Carozza, Caitlin Chase, Carly Demetre, Jeff Fields, Grace Headinger, Brittany Janis, Susan Lynch, Julia Martin, John Park, Tara Tyrrell, and Lauren Zabierek.
All photos by Belfer Center unless otherwise noted.
From the Director
"The response to the conference, across the IC, private sector, and academia, has been incredible...[Analysts] who said they had become disillusioned about the state of diversity told me they've become reinvigorated."
"The past four years in the United states have in some ways made people question democracy."
Fredrik Logevall
Erika Manouselis
Welcome to Francesca Giovannini, new Executive Director of the Project on Managing the Atom. She brings extensive experience in nuclear non-proliferation, international security, and multilateral diplomacy.
Cyber Project Non-Resident Fellow Priscilla Moriuchi. Photo courtesy Recorded Future.
