Joseph S. Nye Jr.

Joseph Nye is university distinguished service professor and former dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He has served as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, chair of the National Intelligence Council, and deputy under secretary of state for security assistance, science, and technology. His recent books include Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics, Understanding International Conflicts (7^th edition), The Power Game: A Washington Novel, and The Powers to Lead. He is based in Cambridge, MA.

Iran

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards

The IRGC is one of the most powerful organizations in Iran, conceived as the principal defender of the 1979 revolution, and now a critical link to Islamist militant groups violently opposed to Israel and the United States.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors November 1, 2024

Lebanon

What Is Hezbollah?

The Iran-backed Shiite militia was considered the most powerful non-state group in the Middle East, but an Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah in 2024 has considerably weakened it.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors October 29, 2024

United States

U.S. Disaster Relief at Home and Abroad

The U.S. government responds to scores of disasters each year in coordination with foreign, state, and local partners, but more frequent and severe storms, fires, and floods are straining resources.

Backgrounder by Diana Roy, Amelia Cheatham and Rocio Cara Labrador October 23, 2024

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