The Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies is Stanford University’s hub for nonpartisan, interdisciplinary research, teaching and policy impact in international affairs.

Welcome to the FSI Policy Roundup for February 2026. This monthly series highlights our scholars' analyses on pressing policy issues around the globe.

Starting this month, we're expanding the Roundup to include even more policy-relevant content, including upcoming events and spotlights on policy recommendations from across the institute.

Read the articles, register for the events, browse highlights from our recent panel on the global trends shaping geopolitics in 2026, and listen to the latest episode from our World Class podcast (an interview with former U.S. national security advisors Jake Sullivan and H.R. McMaster).

Take a deep dive using the links below, and let us know what you think by replying to this email.

Should We Be Climate Adaptation Optimists? by Marshall Burke

Why AI Sovereignty Depends on Interoperability Standards by Eileen Donahoe

New START Ends. But a One-year Extension Could Bring Many Benefits. by Rose Gottemoeller

A Social-Media Ban Really Could Do a Lot of Good by Keith Humphreys

The Weakness of the Strongmen by Stephen Kotkin

Does America's New National Security Strategy Actually Put 'America First'? by Oriana Skylar Mastro

2026 Oksenberg Conference | Coping with a Less Predictable United States

2:00 - 5:30pm - March 3, 2026
REGISTER

Rebuilding Democracy in Venezuela: Transforming the Security Sector

12:00 - 1:15pm | March 13, 2026
REGISTER

In the first of a new quarterly series, scholars from the Freeman Spogli Institute evaluated how U.S. competition with China is shaping the global political landscape. READ MORE

On the World Class podcast, former U.S. national security advisors Jake Sullivan and H.R. McMaster joined host FSI Director Colin Kahl for an overview of what to expect from geopolitics in 2026. LISTEN HERE