Beyond participation trophies: The EU’s credibility crisis in the Western Balkans In the NewsOctober 6, 2025 Beyond participation trophies: The EU’s credibility crisis in the Western Balkans In an op-ed published by Euractiv, Robert Benson argues that the EU cannot credibly preach democracy abroad while tolerating stagnation in its own neighborhood. Oct 6, 2025 Euractiv Robert Benson
A Green Light for Authoritarianism: How the Trump Administration Fuels Global Autocracy ArticleSeptember 19, 2025 A Green Light for Authoritarianism: How the Trump Administration Fuels Global Autocracy When U.S. support retreats, autocrats escalate their attacks, leaving democratic institutions vulnerable. This creates a global environment where authoritarianism can thrive. Sep 19, 2025 Dan Herman, Robert Benson
The Turnberry trap: Trump, Europe and global reordering In the NewsSeptember 3, 2025 The Turnberry trap: Trump, Europe and global reordering In an op-ed published by Politico Europe, Robert Benson argues that President Trump's recent trade deal with the European Union represents an alarming global reordering—one that empowers bullying, sows division, and destabilizes international norms. Sep 3, 2025 Politico Europe Robert Benson
The Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting: Preventing a Surrender Summit ArticleAugust 12, 2025 The Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting: Preventing a Surrender Summit Trump’s planned Alaska meeting with Putin risks becoming a “surrender summit” that pressures Ukraine into abandoning NATO aspirations and accepting imposed neutrality, rewarding Russian aggression. Aug 12, 2025 Robert Benson, Damian Murphy
The Authoritarian Playbook in Action: What Global Cases Tell Us About Trump’s 2025 Military Deployments ArticleAugust 12, 2025 The Authoritarian Playbook in Action: What Global Cases Tell Us About Trump’s 2025 Military Deployments The cases of Canada, South Korea, and Turkey illustrate a dangerous escalatory pattern: When elected leaders rely on the military to resolve domestic challenges, they often accelerate democratic backsliding. Aug 12, 2025 Dan Herman, Robert Benson, Vishal Gogusetti
America’s Window To Stop Russia Is Closing ArticleJuly 31, 2025 America’s Window To Stop Russia Is Closing Trump’s hasty ultimatum and symbolic tariffs will not deter Putin; only rapid weapons deliveries and enforceable energy sanctions can shift the battlefield and force Moscow to meaningfully negotiate, creating the conditions for a Ukraine ceasefire. Jul 31, 2025 Robert Benson
NATO’s 76th Summit Is a Reckoning—Not a Celebration ArticleJune 18, 2025 NATO’s 76th Summit Is a Reckoning—Not a Celebration President Donald Trump’s second term has begun, and the NATO alliance faces its most existential threat yet. Jun 18, 2025 Robert Benson
As Trump Abandons Global Leadership, G7 Must Still Address World’s Pressing Challenges ArticleJune 11, 2025 As Trump Abandons Global Leadership, G7 Must Still Address World’s Pressing Challenges Strong, clear cooperation among the world’s other leading democracies can help maintain momentum on global priorities such as confronting Russian aggression, climate change, trade, and humanitarian assistance. Jun 11, 2025 Allison McManus, Robert Benson, Ryan Mulholland, 1 More Courtney Federico
Democratic backsliding in Europe holds lessons for America In the NewsApril 24, 2025 Democratic backsliding in Europe holds lessons for America In an op-ed for Politico EU, Robert Benson discusses how America can more effectively push back against authoritarian creep by learning from the experiences of European countries. Apr 24, 2025 Politico EU Robert Benson
100 Days of the Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy: Global Chaos, American Weakness, and Human Suffering ReportApril 24, 2025 100 Days of the Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy: Global Chaos, American Weakness, and Human Suffering In only 100 days, the Trump administration has wrought chaos around the world and weakened the United States’ place in it—leaving the American people and billions of others worldwide to pay the price. Apr 24, 2025 Allison McManus, Ryan Mulholland, Andrew Miller, 3 More Dan Herman, Robert Benson, Courtney Federico
Trade, Trust, and Transition: Shaping the Next Transatlantic Chapter ReportApril 22, 2025 Trade, Trust, and Transition: Shaping the Next Transatlantic Chapter The Center for American Progress and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies offer essays on the most pressing transatlantic issues. Apr 22, 2025 Allison McManus, Robert Benson
How State Capture and Corruption Harms Citizens: Lessons From Abroad ArticleApril 15, 2025 How State Capture and Corruption Harms Citizens: Lessons From Abroad Examples from abroad serve as prescient warnings that corruption and state capture erode services, impoverish societies, and compromise public safety. Apr 15, 2025 Robert Benson