RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Carlos Pascual, January 15, 2009, The Brookings Institution
The 44th president will face a world of transnational threats and multiple crises. The United States cannot succeed alone. Task 1 is to rebuild U.S. credibility. We must forge positions on nuclear security and climate change, or watch these issues shaped without us. This memorandum sets an agenda to lead internationally. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael Fullilove, January 07, 2009, Sydney Morning Herald
Michael Fullilove explores the idea that the U.S. is in decline as a world power and what an Obama presidency may do to challenge the idea. Fullilove argues that the U.S. does face formidable challenges, but that most countries still look to America for leadership and answers. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Buchanan, December 2008, The Brookings Institution
In this Issues in Governance Studies, Bruce Buchanan examines how Congress and the American people evaluate presidential wars of choice. When it comes to whether or not to use American military power, presidential discretion is virtually unchecked. Using the Korean War, Vietnam War and the current Iraqi operation as case models, Buchanan explores the presidential accountability for wars of choice and recommends the use of policy trials. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen Hess, December 19, 2008, The Brookings Institution
As the capital has grown more partisan in recent years, confirmation battles over high-level appointments have grown increasingly fractious and fraught with peril for appointees. Stephen Hess advises the new president on how to navigate the process. Read More
VIDEO
Vanda Felbab-Brown and Stephen Hess, December 18, 2008
Brookings expert Vanda Felbab-Brown says Pakistan is suffering from its greatest internal crises in decades, while Afghanistan remains far from stable with a resurgent Taliban. In this podcast, she proposes recommendations to expand stability in the region, while Politico Senior Editor David Mark and author Steve Hess discusses the president-elect's press conferences.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Strobe Talbott, December 16, 2008, Spiegel Online
In a Spiegel interview, US foreign policy expert Strobe Talbott discusses the daunting foreign policy challenges facing Obama, the next president's desire to turn Americans into global citizens and the prospects for reinvigorated trans-Atlantic relations. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael Fullilove, December 15, 2008, The New York Times
During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised that in the first 100 days of his administration he would "travel to a major Islamic forum and deliver an address to redefine our struggle." Michael Fullilove suggests there is no better place than Indonesia. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen Hess, December 12, 2008, The Brookings Institution
The Washington world is full of talented, accomplished people whose expertise in their fields is unquestioned – yet many fail as cabinet officers at the pinnacle of power. Stephen Hess advises the new president on where to look for cabinet talent. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
December 11, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Even though the 1988 presidential transition featured a handover from a two-term president (Ronald Reagan) to his own vice president (George H.W. Bush), experts at Brookings recognized that even an intra-party transition between political allies suffered from a lack of communication between outgoing presidential aides and their counterparts in the new administration. Read More
VIDEO
Martin Neil Baily and Stephen Hess, December 11, 2008
Brookings expert Martin Baily says there is plenty of blame to go around for the financial crisis, and President-elect Obama will have his hands full. In this transition podcast, Baily proposes long-term efforts to restore confidence in the financial system, while author Steve Hess discusses the critical role of the White House speechwriters.
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Washington, DC
The fight against global poverty has become a fight for global security. But after an awkward entrance into the 21st century, America must redefine its role in the world, including its relations with developing countries. Colin Bradford offered a public memo to the president-elect with recommendations how to modernize U.S. aid efforts and address the global development challenges of the new century effectively and with accountability. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Colin I. Bradford and Noam Unger, December 10, 2008, The Brookings Institution
America cannot afford to retreat from the fight against global poverty in a world where remote challenges can rapidly metastasize into global threats. Instead the United States must demonstrate renewed leadership and showcase its national spirit by investing wisely through more effective global development cooperation. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen Hess, December 05, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Will the soaring rhetoric of President-elect Obama's campaign speeches translate to the White House, where he has named 26-year-old wordsmith Jon Favreau to head his speechwriting staff? Former Eisenhower speechwriter and longtime presidential aide Stephen Hess discusses the role of the speechwriter in delivering the chief executive's vision to the people. Read More
PAST EVENT
Friday, December 05, 2008
8:45 AM to 4:30 PM
Washington, DC
A new administration presents an ideal opportunity to reshape the nation’s tax code. Improving the equity, simplicity and efficiency of the tax system will help to better prepare taxpayers, businesses and the economy for the challenges that lay ahead. Brookings, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and Tax Analysts co-hosted a forum to explore timely policy recommendations for the incoming president and his transition team. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William G. Gale and Benjamin Harris, December 05, 2008, The Brookings Institution
A new administration presents an ideal opportunity to reshape the nation’s tax code. Improving the equity, simplicity and efficiency of the tax system will help to better prepare taxpayers, businesses and the economy for the challenges that lay ahead. Read More