Editorial Team: Our Open Think Tank is devoted to promoting women voices in the transatlantic security debate. The op-ed competition in celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day and the 10th anniversary of UN Resolution 1325 seeks to empower women in peace and security.
The mission of atlantic-community.org is to broaden the foreign policy debate, give a voice to a new generation of thinkers and to contribute to a more diverse transatlantic strategic community. Since women are still underrepresented in positions of power and political leadership, a key part of this mission is providing publishing and networking opportunities to encourage more young women to share their own ideas on international security issues with senior experts.
Therefore we have organized the op-ed competition "Women on Transatlantic Security" sponsored by the United States Mission to NATO and the NATO Public Diplomacy Division.
Submissions have included a wide range of topics related to transatlantic security, with authors from NATO members and partner countries.
Below are some of the many submissions from the competition. We encourage you to read and comment on the work of our female members.
Some of the Articles from Afghanistan:
- Basia A Bubel: Promoting Women's Education
The education of Afghan women should become the central focus of US policy in the region. Increased female education in Afghanistan will create sustainable and long-term stability and development. - Eva Gross: Making the Transition Sustainable
Afghanistan and the international community need a civilian and a political strategy to ensure the sustainability of transition. But for that to happen, the planning and implementation of such a strategy has to start - now. - Elizabeth Royall: Afghanistan: Rules of Disengagement
President Barack Obama and the NATO community must strengthen their resolve to South Asia and communicate their commitment to Afghanistan and its neighbors; otherwise, the regional players will continue to hedge their bets and problems will remain intractable. Guarantees on short term policy in Afghanistan need to be given to ensure future stability.
Some of the articles from Arab Uprisings:
- Memo 30: Arab Spring: The West's Chance for a Fresh Start
Focusing on societal engagement, economic reform, and military confidence building, we should break with our questionable past and respond to the Arab uprisings by taking bold action to improve our reputation. - Sarah Redohl: A Choice Between Reform and Stability
In the wake of uprisings in North Africa, NATO may be forced to make a choice between much-needed reform or stable dictatorships. With a hefty aim to be the world guarantor of security by 2020, NATO will need to reconsider its newest partnerships, beyond the interest of its allies, and start guaranteeing actual security. - Gillian Kennedy: Egypt's Revolution is Europe's Reawakening
As the revolution rapidly unfolds in Egypt, many are looking to the United States to take the lead on the international diplomatic response. Europe, however, unlike the US, has more to gain and is better suited to take advantage of this opportunity, to actively promote democratization in Egypt.