The Chicago Council for Global Affairs
Defense and Security
Global Politics
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Global Economy
Younger Americans see globalization and free trade not as threats to their jobs, but assets to improve their standard of living and reduce the cost of goods.
Global Economy
As the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement heads toward its first review in 2026, Julián Ventura shares what’s at stake for the region’s economies.
Food and Agriculture
The global response to Cuba’s worsening humanitarian plight reveals a growing divide over whether limiting access to food and energy is an acceptable form of leverage or if there is a shared international responsibility for humanitarian intervention.
Global Politics
The Iran war is presenting the greatest test yet of the limits of America's power in an increasingly multipolar world.
America at 250 High School Essay Competition
The Council is inviting high school juniors and seniors across the Midwest to weigh in on a defining question: As the US marks its 250th anniversary, how do you see the Midwest advancing America's global engagement in the next generation? Submissions are due by April 26, 2026.
Council in the News
US Foreign Policy
" Even talking about the US formally leaving or just slowly disengaging sends a very dangerous signal to Moscow," Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow Ambassador Julianne Smith said of President Trump's remarks about withdrawing from NATO.
US Foreign Policy
Tensions between the United States and its European allies are mounting. Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri joins DW News to discuss.
Global Economy
"What we're seeing, of course, is that the global economy runs on energy, and a significant shock like this will move through the system for years to come," Council Senior Nonresident Fellow Rachel Bronson tells Bloomberg Open Interest.
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Expert Insight on the Issues That Matter
In a world shaped by shifting power, rapid technological change, and global challenges, understanding what’s happening and why matters more than ever. Council experts bring clarity through independent research and informed analysis to help you make sense of the forces shaping our world.
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