Next America Blog

Next America Members, it’s finally here... After months of debating the tough questions, it is time to pass on your vision to the decision makers of today. Join us on June 22, 3:00-6:00pm at CSIS, 1800 K St. NW, for a discussion with Derek Chollet, principal deputy director for policy planning at the State Department, leading young professionals, and YOU!

More speakers to be announced in the coming days. To RSVP, email NextAmerica@csis.org. Look out for a formal invitation in your inbox.

One of the ongoing discussions over the last few months among young observers of U.S. foreign policy is how the Obama administration will shape its policy toward Asia generally, and China specifically.  Secretary Clinton’s early trip to Asia demonstrated the region is at the forefront of U.S. interests, but the substance of the administration’s approach to regional issues and Asian states is still forming, especially towards China.  The U.S. approach to China should be anchored in a smart power framework.    

Next America’s partner, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP) is hosting an outstanding line-up of senior-level speakers this weekend and you are invited. Young professionals and students are invited to join discussion groups on a wide variety of foreign policy topics ranging from NATO expansion, to microfinance, to Africa & Defense. Space in each track is limited so you will have the opportunity to directly engage senior decision makers. 

It is evident that the United States must address concerns regarding energy security and climate change.  With the current state of the economy and the progression of energy initiatives within the new administration, there must be a practical format of addressing the realistic concerns for our future. Recently, CSIS and WRI released the report, “A Roadmap for a Secure, Low-Carbon Energy Economy: Balancing Energy Security and Climate Change”, which outlined practical recommendations for the administration and Congress.

A portion of the $30 billion chunk of the stimulus designed to go toward energy modernization will be used to develop a “smart” power grid.  This involves equipping the national grid with computers and sensors in order to better monitor and oversee the flow of energy.

Last week brought several major developments in US-Russia relations. First, reports surfaced early in the week from the New York Times and the Russian newspaper Kommersant that President Obama had sent a secret letter to the Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, allegedly offering to back down on the Bush administration’s plans for missile defense in exchange for Russia’s help in persuading Iran to end its nuclear program.

President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have signaled a willingness to shift American foreign policy to what has been deemed a “Smart Power” approach by promising more resources to international development and civilian capabilities.  However, with the global economy in shambles and resources becoming increasingly difficult to come by, there is a large gap between the idea of Smart Power and the capacity to implement Smart Power.  Today, in light of the new policy direction, the Center for U.S.

President Barack Obama has taken yet another step away from the policies of President Bush by vastly expanding the National Security Council to include the attorney general, the secretary of homeland security, the secretary of energy, and the ambassador to the United Nations.  The expansion fits into Obama’s promise to include economic, energy, and climate issues in national security policy decisions.

A recent story in The New York Times takes an interesting approach to America’s “War on Terror,” describing the changing perceptions of the word, “terrorism.”  By showing the transformation of the word “terrorism” from a concrete definition to an abstract thought with no general consensus, the story iden

Today, Barak Obama is travelling to Canada for his first official trip abroad as President. Though it will be a brief working visit lasting only about six hours, the importance of the trip should not be underestimated.