Abigail McGowan

CFR Staff

Abigail McGowan

Research Associate, Southeast Asia and U.S. Foreign Policy

Abi McGowan is a research associate for Southeast Asia and U.S. foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Before joining CFR, she served as an AmeriCorps member and interned with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, and the House of Commons of Canada. She received her BA from the Ohio State University and an MA in Global Security and Borders from Queen's University Belfast, where she was a Hillary Rodham Clinton Scholar.

China

China in the Indo-Pacific: September 2024

China’s involvement in the Indo-Pacific this month included territorial disputes with neighboring countries and strengthened security coordination with others.

Article by Abigail McGowan September 27, 2024 China Strategy Initiative
Philippines

Why Tensions in the South China Sea Are Bolstering the U.S.-Philippines Alliance

Manila has fully allied with Washington amid increasingly dangerous standoffs with Beijing in the South China Sea, heightening the prospect of a wider war.

Expert Brief by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan September 5, 2024 Asia Program
United Kingdom

UK Elections: What to Know

The United Kingdom appears poised for a political shift in response to deep economic concerns, but its foreign policy priorities are likely to remain consistent.

In Brief by Abigail McGowan June 27, 2024
Myanmar

How Myanmar Became a Global Center for Cyber Scams

Organized crime groups in Southeast Asia have seized on Myanmar’s instability amid civil war to establish a string of scam centers engaged in global online fraud operations.

In Brief by Clara Fong and Abigail McGowan May 31, 2024
Southeast Asia

The Specter of Transnational Repression

A recent report by Freedom House demonstrates the widespread normalization of transnational repression.

Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan December 27, 2023 Asia Unbound
China

Review of Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World

According to a new book by Axios reporter Bethany Allen, China has developed an authoritarian economic statecraft to reshape the global order.

Post by Abigail McGowan November 14, 2023 Asia Unbound
China

Prized Panda Diplomats Return to Beijing

The National Zoo’s giant pandas will return to China by mid-November.

Post by Michelle Kurilla and Abigail McGowan October 27, 2023 Asia Unbound
Territorial Disputes

Azerbaijan’s Pressure on Nagorno-Karabakh: What to Know

Azerbaijan appears to have eased a blockade that had cut off food and medical supplies to the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, but there are still heightened concerns about conditions facing more than one hundred thousand civilians there.

In Brief by Abigail McGowan September 14, 2023
Vietnam

Assessing the Bolstered U.S.-Vietnam Relationship

President Biden's historic trip to Hanoi symbolizes growing shared interests between the United States and Vietnam.

Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan September 11, 2023 Asia Unbound
Thailand

Thailand's Summer of Political Uncertainty

Despite strong support for democratic change in Thailand's national elections, the ruling establishment has maneuvered to preserve power.

Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan August 31, 2023 Asia Unbound
Singapore

Is Singapore's Stability Unraveling—And What Will it Mean for the PAP?

A series of scandals have upset Singapore's typically stable politics.

Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan August 17, 2023 Asia Unbound
Cambodia

Cambodia's Unfree Election and Potential Succession Crisis

Cambodia's recent election exposes its looming succession crisis.

Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan July 26, 2023 Asia Unbound
Thailand

The Thai Establishment Plays with Fire

The ruling Thai establishment risks violence if it prevents the democratic opposition from taking power.

Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan July 19, 2023 Asia Unbound
Thailand

Thailand's Political Negotiations: The Current State of Play

The nomination of a compromise candidate for speaker of the House of Representatives demonstrates the pro-democracy coalition's pragmatism, but its chances of forming a new government are still uncertain.

Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan July 5, 2023 Asia Unbound
Philippines

Marcos’ All-In Bet on the United States Could Leave the Philippines Out in the Cold

with Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan via World Politics Review December 20, 2024
Immigration and Migration

Mediterranean Tragedy: The Deadly Path to Europe’s Shores

with Abigail McGowan via Think Global Health December 1, 2023
Southeast Asia

The United States and China Aren’t Southeast Asia’s Only Options

with Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan via World Politics Review November 19, 2024
European Union

Why Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland Deal Will Fail

with Abigail McGowan via Foreign Policy April 4, 2023

Latin America

Mercosur: South America’s Fractious Trade Bloc

Three decades after its founding, Latin America’s largest trade bloc continues to seek new global agreements. The recent conclusion of a deal with the European Union could help, but it faces roadblocks.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors December 12, 2024

Trade

What Are Tariffs?

U.S. Presidents Trump and Biden have both turned to tariffs to support local industries amid economic confrontation with China. Here’s how these taxes work and how they’ve been used historically.

Backgrounder by Andrew Chatzky, Anshu Siripurapu and Noah Berman November 26, 2024 Renewing America

International Criminal Court

The Role of the ICC

The International Criminal Court was created to bring justice to the world’s worst war criminals, but debate over the court still rages.

Backgrounder by Claire Klobucista and Mariel Ferragamo November 22, 2024

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