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Transition 2012

A guide to foreign policy and the 2012 U.S. presidential transition.

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Video Brief Roundup: Foreign Aid, Global Economy, and Trade

by Newsteam Staff

These videos are from a series with CFR fellows and other experts on vital foreign policy and national security topics that will face President Barack Obama in his second term. They were recorded during the campaign and originally posted as part of the President’s Inbox, a collection of materials on issues that will face the next president beginning next year.

Isobel Coleman on Foreign Aid

Isobel Coleman, director of CFR’s Civil Societies, Markets, and Democracy Initiative says the incoming administration will have to retain the relevancy of U.S. foreign aid programs in an environment where the role of official foreign assistance from governments has dramatically reduced. The next administration will likely continue to shift aid resources away from Iraq and Afghanistan, and away from middle-income countries towards poorer countries, Coleman says.

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Midday Update: Obama, Romney Close on Foreign Policy

by Newsteam Staff
Protesters wearing masks of U.S. President Obama and GOP nominee Romney in New York October 18, 2012. (Eduardo Munoz/Courtesy Reuters) Protesters wearing masks of U.S. President Obama and GOP nominee Romney in New York October 18, 2012. (Eduardo Munoz/Courtesy Reuters)

President Barack Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney are nearly tied in a new Pew survey on which candidate would do a better job making wise foreign policy decisions, with 47 percent favoring Obama and 43 percent choosing Romney. This represents a gain of fifteen points for Romney since September. Read more »

Views From Abroad: North America’s Economic Opportunity

by Newsteam Staff
A worker maintains machinery at an industrial building of Meco Corporation in Saltillo January 25, 2011. (Tomas Bravo/Courtesy Reuters) A worker maintains machinery at an industrial building of Meco Corporation in Saltillo January 25, 2011. (Tomas Bravo/Courtesy Reuters)

In this week’s Views, we have a guest post from Amy L. Glover, a member of Mexico’s Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI). The thoughts below are her own and do not reflect the positions of COMEXI. Read more »

What They’re Saying: Syria a Bigger Blunder Than Benghazi

by Newsteam Staff
Two members of the Free Syrian Army stand on a tank as they gesture "V" for victory October 12, 2012. (Eyad Garood/Courtesy Reuters) Two members of the Free Syrian Army stand on a tank as they gesture "V" for victory October 12, 2012. (Eyad Garood/Courtesy Reuters)
On Syria:

Amid the ongoing criticism of President Obama over the consulate attack in Benghazi, Jackson Diehl writes in the Washington Post that “when historians look back on Obama’s mistakes in the last four years, they will focus on something entirely different: his catastrophic mishandling of the revolution in Syria.” Read more »

Midday Update: Romney, Obama Pivot Back to Economy

by Newsteam Staff
Photo of the Day: An Occupy Wall Street activist in New York September 17, 2012.(Brendan McDermid/Courtesy Reuters) Photo of the Day: An Occupy Wall Street activist in New York September 17, 2012.(Brendan McDermid/Courtesy Reuters)

After last week’s focus on foreign policy following deadly protests in the Middle East, both President Barack Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney are expected to try to steer the focus of their campaigns back to the economy (WashPost). Read more »

Views from Abroad: A Mexican Take on the GOP Platform

by Newsteam Staff
A marker on the road signifies the border line between the United States and Mexico at the border crossing in San Ysidro, Mexico September 27, 2011. (Mike Blake/Courtesy Reuters) A marker on the road signifies the border line between the United States and Mexico at the border crossing in San Ysidro, Mexico September 27, 2011. (Mike Blake/Courtesy Reuters)

On this week’s Views, we head to Mexico for another guest post. This time we have Miguel Escobar Valdez, a consul general for Mexico based in Arizona and a member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI), another institution participating in CFR’s initiative to connect foreign policy institutes from around the world. Read more »

Convention Update: Touting Obama’s Foreign Policy Record

by Newsteam Staff
President Barack Obama accepts the 2012 U.S Democratic presidential nomination during the final session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 6, 2012. (Jason Reed/Courtesy Reuters). President Barack Obama accepts the 2012 U.S Democratic presidential nomination during the final session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 6, 2012. (Jason Reed/Courtesy Reuters).

Most of the 2012 campaign has focused on domestic policy, particularly the economy. But President Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the close of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., made room for foreign policy concerns as well, tying them with his plans for the U.S. economy: Read more »

Convention Update: Dems’ Spotlight on National Security

by Newsteam Staff
First lady Michelle Obama addressed the first session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 4, 2012 (Eric Thayer/Courtesy Reuters). First lady Michelle Obama addressed the first session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 4, 2012 (Eric Thayer/Courtesy Reuters).

Democrats kicked off their convention in Charlotte, N.C. Tuesday, highlighting Obama administration accomplishments on defense and foreign policy as well as domestic issues such as healthcare, education, and economic policy.

Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine outlined the policy promises he says President Barack Obama has kept in his first term (Fox), especially national security. Read more »

Convention Update: GOP on Foreign Policy, Competitiveness

by Newsteam Staff
Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan accepts the nomination as at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2012 (Eric Thayer/Courtesy Reuters). Rep. Paul Ryan accepts the GOP nomination for vice president at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2012 (Eric Thayer/Courtesy Reuters).

The United States’ role on the world stage and in the global economy were central topics during the second night of the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) accepted his party’s nomination for vice president of the United States. Read more »

China Update: Ryan Echoes Romney on Trade Issues

by Newsteam Staff
A worker at a textile mill in Huaibei, Anhui province, China August 1, 2012 (Courtesy Reuters). A worker at a textile mill in Huaibei, Anhui province, China August 1, 2012 (Courtesy Reuters).

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) made his first foreign policy pronouncement since becoming GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate, hitting China on intellectual property theft and currency manipulation as questions begin to surface about his record on trade issues. Read more »