A Tale of Two Aids: Why France Must Pivot Where the US Failed
American development aid has often missed the mark. Can France chart a better course? A look at the lessons worth heeding.
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Macron’s Nuclear Moment: The Making of France’s “Forward Deterrence” Posture
How France’s nuclear doctrine, long rooted in strict national independence, evolved under Macron into a cornerstone of European strategic autonomy.
In Conversation with Brune Poirson
A former French Secretary of State for the Ecological Transition and Kennedy School alumna, Brune Poirson reflects on her path, the limits of France’s climate diplomacy, the declared failure of the COP model, and the role of business in the face of urgency.
Tribute to Robert Badinter, by Stephen Breyer
A tribute delivered at Robert Badinter’s funeral, in which former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer traces the life of the man who made French justice “no longer a justice that kills”—and reminds the young that the rule of law must be defended.
The Omnivore Strategy: Green Deal, Geopolitics, and the Transatlantic Split
The transatlantic rift over the European Green Deal, and how geopolitical tensions are reshaping trade alliances between Europe and the United States.
What Harvard and MIT Taught a French Officer about Defense Innovation
A French officer at the Belfer Center observes how Harvard, MIT, and Stanford turn military needs into testable prototypes — and proposes a mechanism France has yet to build.
Leaving to Grow
From Monaco to Cambridge: Harvard student-athlete Giulia Viacava on the crossing—the arrival, the roommates, the dining hall, the pools, the 5:30 a.m. mornings, and everything you discover about yourself when you trade the familiar for what becomes home.
Europe, Year Zero
Former Prime Minister of France and current mayor of Le Havre, Édouard Philippe delivers a clear-eyed warning on the crumbling of the transatlantic order — and the urgent need for Europe to shed the illusions that stifle its ambition.
The Brain Drain in Science and Tech
Why is Europe losing its brightest scientists? A look into this quiet migration driven by competitive salaries, national narratives, and the strategic stakes of deep tech.
Rethinking Europe’s Security Dilemma: The Illusion of Strategic Autonomy
Faced with the Russian threat and waning American support, Europe is awakening to the full extent of its military dependence. Can it still claim strategic autonomy without overhauling its budgetary priorities?