European Union

Dirt on Our Hands

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 04/29/14 By Michael Shank  and Daniel L. Davis Before allowing pride to further cloud sound judgment in global engagement, it is critical for America to bring back into balance an appropriate recognition of our country’s strengths – and a sober recognition of its weaknesses – […]

Experts to Analyze Ukraine Crisis, Crimea Conflict

MASON NEWS 04/21/14 By Buzz McClain The drama of the conflict in Crimea comes to Arlington on April 23 when representatives from Ukraine and Russia share the stage during a program called “Beyond Crimea: The Evolution of the Crisis in Ukraine.” The April 23 forum will include — in addition […]

Ukraine Diplomatic Deal: Necessary Next Steps

HUFFINGTON POST 04/17/14 By Michael Shank The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) urges Congress, the Obama administration and policymakers throughout the European Union to adopt policies toward the Ukraine crisis that deescalate the conflict while providing a constructive path forward. The diplomatic deal struck this week by diplomats from […]

The Dangers of Soft Power

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 04/14/14 By Michael Shank The United States Department of Defense used it recently in Yemen and Pakistan. The U.S. State Department is using it right now in Afghanistan and Nigeria. The U.S. Agency for International Development used it in the last elections in Kenya. It’s […]

Ukraine Crisis Underscores Need for Renewables Push

CNN 04/07/14 By Michael Shank and Former Congressman Russ Carnahan Editor’s note: Russ Carnahan was a U.S. Representative from Missouri and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He is now a partner at Carnahan Global Consulting, a consultancy that also advises firms in the energy sector. Michael Shank […]

How to Defuse the Ukraine Crisis

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 03/31/14 By Michael Shank Returning in March from transatlantic dialogues in Poland and Germany in which I and other policy types from Washington discussed the situation in Ukraine and Crimea with our policymaking counterparts from Warsaw, Berlin and Kiev, there is little question that we […]

Oil Is At The Heart Of The Ukraine Crisis

POLITIX 03/24/14 By Michael Shank For anyone questioning the fundamental energy and resource connection to most geopolitical struggles and conflicts, the West’s wrestle with Russia over Crimea is illustrative of merely the latest energy-related conflict in a long litany of ones. While perhaps not as dramatic as America’s removal 60 […]

Caustic Encounters: Western Demands on Putin Escalate Crimea Crisis

CDN 03/22/14 By Michael Shank WASHINGTON, March 22, 2014 — Returning home last week from Poland and Germany, as part of a United States and European Union transatlantic policymaker conversation on the crisis in Ukraine, Crimea and Russia, as well as other salient U.S.-E.U. issues like trade, climate change and […]

U.S.-E.U. Rhetoric on Russia as Destructive as a Chekhovian Duel

HUFFINGTON POST 03/22/14 By Michael Shank Returning home last week from Poland and Germany, as part of a United States and European Union transatlantic policymaker conversation on the crisis in Ukraine, Crimea and Russia, as well as other salient U.S.-E.U. issues like trade, climate change, and income inequality, I found […]

Bosnia Back on the Brink

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 03/17/14 By Michael Shank and Clint Holmes Ukraine would be wise to take a lesson from Bosnia’s economic and political turmoil. Post Arab-Spring, and now in Eastern Europe, we are witnessing the repercussions of societies that failed to deliver economic stability and growth for their […]