Departments

National Security and International Policy

Advancing progressive national security policies that are grounded in respect for democratic values: accountability, rule of law, and human rights

Representatives of the U.N. Security Council members raise their hands to vote in favor of a draft resolution at the U.N. headquarters in New York, September 30, 2021. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

What We're Doing

Defending democracy

Democracies around the globe—including our own—face threats not seen in generations. We work to bolster the guardrails of democracy around the world, strengthening the rule of law and accountability, and in so doing, we add our voice to the chorus pushing against authoritarian forms of government.

Revitalizing diplomacy

The United States’ most enduring advantage is our network of alliances. Alliances and relationships are increasingly important components of U.S. national power, furthering economic, security, and humanitarian aims. We develop and support approaches for revitalizing diplomacy to further U.S. engagement in improving lives at home and around the world.

Putting climate at the center of U.S. foreign policy

Climate change threatens global security, stability, and humanity, bringing sweeping changes to our world. We are working to center climate in our international efforts and policies by transforming strategy, culture, and budgets; outlining collective responses; and defining new bilateral and multilateral alliances that can advance collective solutions to these urgent problems confronting the country and the world.

Redefining American security in today’s threat environment

Many of today’s most foreseeable threats are those that affect daily life and prospects for prosperity: COVID-19, climate change, systemic inequality, racism, and global disinformation aimed at undermining rights and democratic practices. We are working to reconceptualize what national security means in the 21st century and how U.S. national security institutions and foreign policy priorities can adapt to protect Americans and safeguard human security for all.

Latest

Compact View

Select Committee Democrats: A Smart and Confident U.S.-China Policy Past Event

Select Committee Democrats: A Smart and Confident U.S.-China Policy

Please join the Center for American Progress Action Fund for a discussion on how Democratic policymakers are advancing a vision of democracy and stability in the Indo-Pacific that will help the American public.

Reviving transatlantic relations after Trump In the News

Reviving transatlantic relations after Trump

Max Bergman explains how a new administration could revive or transform the transatlantic relationship between the United States and Europe.

Social Europe

Max Bergmann

Absentee Voting, the Military, and Our Democracy In the News

Absentee Voting, the Military, and Our Democracy

Lawrence Korb writes about the military's use of mail-in voting—and why it is important.

Just Security

Lawrence J. Korb

How the U.S. Can Fight Corruption After Trump In the News

How the U.S. Can Fight Corruption After Trump

Author Trevor Sutton argues that in order to fight international corruption, which threatens democracy and progressive values around the globe, the United States needs to address the shortcomings and lack of transparency in its own financial institutions.

Washington Monthly

Trevor Sutton

Why Trump’s Troop Withdrawal from Germany Is Only the Beginning In the News

Why Trump’s Troop Withdrawal from Germany Is Only the Beginning

Authors Max Bergmann and James Lamond explain why President Trump's harsh approach toward NATO could be dangerous.

The National Interest

Max Bergmann, James Lamond

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