Projects

Fulcrums of Order analyzes the worldviews and strategic behavior of key Global South powers to understand their roles in great‑power competition and inform how the United States can recalibrate its global partnerships for the future.

The CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention analyzes the growing use of hostage taking for political leverage and evaluates U.S. and international responses to strengthen resilience and improve coordination.

Dr. Alterman’s work on Iran analyzes its evolving regional role and domestic shifts to clarify how Tehran’s actions, and U.S. policy choices, shape regional stability.

Dr. Alterman’s work on China in the Middle East analyzes how Beijing’s expanding political, economic, and security engagement is reshaping the region and what implications that has for U.S. policy and Middle East stability.

The CSIS Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy drafted several scenarios to help think through aspects of the world in 2035. It then turned to trusted experts, inside and outside of CSIS, for their comments, insights, and concerns. The experts' contributions overlay the scenarios themselves, highlighting further areas of emphasis, implications, or alternative outcomes.

Shifting global power dynamics, renewed great power competition, and intensifying transnational challenges are reshaping the foundations of the international order.

This project examines why some independence movements lead to stability while others struggle, offering a framework to assess their prospects and help policymakers and communities improve outcomes for people seeking self‑determination.