Asian Security

The Asian Security initiative takes a new, more sharply focused look at the emerging security situation in Southeast Asia, and it also picks up and extends existing Stanley Foundation work on future multilateral economic engagement with North Korea. It adds in an examination of the evolving relationship between the United States, China, and Japan. And it incorporates a major look at the emerging political/security architecture throughout greater Asia—including Central, Southeast, South, and Northeast Asia.

Nuclear Weapons, Nonproliferation, and Energy

The nuclear regime is under tremendous strain in the face of continuing proliferation, resistance to US nuclear dominance, the rise of new nuclear states, and the increasing demand for energy alternatives. This initiative explores each aspect and their interconnectedness to propose and promote avenues toward national and global security.

Rising Powers

The advent of India, China, Brazil, Egypt, and others on the world stage as increasingly more powerful actors is causing a major transformation of the global political system. Our work on Rising Powers and US security looks at the ramifications of this systemic transformation, including the impact within regions and globally. A significant part of the initiative considers how regional and global organizations are structured and operate.

United Nations Effectiveness

As part of its longstanding focus on the United Nations, the Stanley Foundation has actively pressed the proposals for UN renewal put forward by the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change. The foundation also works to strengthen the United Nations' capability to manage significant global issues—e.g., terrorism, arms control and disarmament, etc. Since the US stance is a major factor in any action at the UN, the foundation's efforts have also included extensive communication with the American public on these issues.

US and Global Security

This initiative explores in depth the global security role that the United States could and should play in the 21st century. Events and trends that used to seem too remote to be America's concern now ripple across the entire globe. As Americans debate how to achieve security in an increasingly interconnected global system, the foundation is focusing on the role of international norms and cooperation in US national security. In particular, it examines how the United States should work with other nations to strengthen the multilateral rules-based order rather than stand apart from it.

US-Middle East Relations

The Persian Gulf is still the center of the most easily accessible oil and gas deposits—commodities for which there is increasing demand and dwindling supply. The wider Middle East is perhaps the most conflict-riddled region in the world. Can cooperative multilateral efforts contribute to managing those conflicts? Stanley Foundation programming explores whether and how they could.

Community Partnerships

Thinking globally, acting locally. The Stanley Foundation organizes and supports a number of international, multicultural, and global education projects in and near our hometown of Muscatine, Iowa.

New Publications

United Nations Reform: Improving Peace Operations by Advancing the Role of Women (128.8 KB PDF)
In November 2006, over 75 experts gathered in New York and Washington to discuss "United Nations Reform: Improving Peace Operations by Advancing the Role of Women."

Economic Perspectives on Future Directions for Engagement With the DPRK in a Post-Test World (289.7 KB PDF)
From an economic perspective, this Policy Analysis Brief explores the consequences of North Korea's recent missile and nuclear tests and the UN actions in response. It also examines the options for the major stakeholders involved.

Coercive Diplomacy: Scope and Limits in the Contemporary World (223 KB PDF)
Bruce W. Jentleson reviews coercive diplomacy's track record and looks at how the US used it to deal with Libya. Jentleson also presents policy recommendations that might be applied to current cases such as Iran and North Korea.

China's Energy Security and Its Grand Strategy (171.4 KB PDF)
China considers energy security critical to sustainable growth. Xuecheng Liu discusses China's strategies of conservation, efficiency, and a shift toward alternative fuels, and examines the implications on international relations and security.

Failing States and US Strategy (143 KB PDF)
The issue of failing states is one of the principal challenges facing the US. Anatol Lieven offers policy recommendations that reflect the tenets of "developmental realism" and advocates specific criteria for future international interventions.

Nuclear Weapons, Energy, and Nonproliferation: Pressures on the Global Community (285.6 KB PDF)
At a time when the global nuclear regime—dependent on the United Nations, its bodies, and international law—is under great stress, this report summarizes the discussions and recommendations of UN diplomats and nuclear policy experts.

The US-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (95.7 KB PDF)
A proposed nuclear agreement between the US and India stretches the nonproliferation regime. Enactment hinges on both the US Congress and the international Nuclear Suppliers Group. This brief discusses the critical issues.

America's Uncomfortable Relationship With Nationalism (127.6 KB PDF)
Is there such a thing as American nationalism or is it simply "patriotism"? Why do Americans view "nationalism" in such a negative light? Graham Fuller analyzes Americans' problem with nationalism, and why it is such a dangerous topic to ignore.

More Policy Publications