Civil Society

The world is entering a new era characterized by reduced U.S. foreign aid across all sectors. CSIS scholars are at the forefront of analysis on the impacts of civil society organizations and foreign aid distribution around the world.

Photo: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket/Getty Images

Photo: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket/Getty Images

Bridging the Gap: LEO Satellite Internet and Human Rights

Low Earth orbit satellite internet holds tremendous promise for keeping government functioning and civil society connected in the direst of circumstances, but it must be harnessed for the public good and evade continued authoritarian efforts to fully shut off the internet.

Critical Questions by Andrew Friedman — August 6, 2026

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Noam Unger

Noam Unger

Vice President, Global Development Department, Director, Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative and Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development
Hadeil Ali

Hadeil Ali

Chief of Staff, Global Development Department
Romina Bandura

Romina Bandura

Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development
Caitlin Welsh

Caitlin Welsh

Director, Global Food and Water Security Program

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Bridging the Gap: LEO Satellite Internet and Human Rights

Low Earth orbit satellite internet holds tremendous promise for keeping government functioning and civil society connected in the direst of circumstances, but it must be harnessed for the public good and evade continued authoritarian efforts to fully shut off the internet.

Critical Questions by Andrew Friedman — August 6, 2026

Red Kraken: The Coming Age of Agentic Cyber Strategy

In a tabletop exercise, members of Congress faced Red Kraken, an AI agent trained to emulate Beijing. Benjamin Jensen and Emily Harding examine how China could target ports and logistics to delay U.S. mobilization and argue for AI-enabled gaming to strengthen cyber defenses.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen and Emily Harding — July 28, 2026

The Vatican Just Outmaneuvered Washington on AI

The Vatican’s AI intervention exposes Washington’s blind spot: Policymakers are debating hypothetical doomsday scenarios while missing the real crises already reshaping human dignity, work, truth, and power. Washington must move beyond abstract AGI fears and build a civil society dialogue on human dignity, supply chains, truth, and statecraft.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen — May 26, 2026

How to Lose an Information War in 10 Days

The United States cannot win modern wars on the battlefield alone. To counter adversaries’ information operations, Washington needs faster public diplomacy, stronger information coordination, and credible messaging before disinformation spreads.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen, Nico Vacca, and Jose M. Macias III — May 5, 2026

Hungary After Orbán: The Hard Road Back to Democracy

The road back to democracy from authoritarianism is a difficult one, filled with fits and starts that thwart even the best attempts; Hungary holds some lessons for others trying to walk that path back to democracy.

Commentary by Andrew Friedman and Donatienne Ruy — April 27, 2026

AI and the Future of Mediation

As conflicts grow more complex and harder to resolve, AI offers new tools for mediation, but also new risks. This report explores how algorithmic systems can support negotiators without undermining trust, confidentiality, or human judgment.

Report by Yasir Atalan, Benjamin Jensen, and Ian Reynolds — April 27, 2026