The Center on US Politics and Power (CUSPP) is the leading research center in the Nordic countries that focuses on US foreign policy. CUSPP provides research and expertise on the US’s evolving global and regional role, as well as the domestic drivers of foreign policy. The Center works in conjunction with the Global Security Research Program at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. The Center’s activities as well as its Visiting Senior Fellow program are supported by a generous grant from the Jane & Aatos Erkko Foundation.
Main Goals of the Center for Research on U.S. Politics and Power:
- In line with the Finnish Institute of International Affairs’ strategy, produce high-quality, policy-relevant, and academic research, support decision-making, and engage in societal debate at public, academic, and expert levels.
- Increase the capacity for research on U.S. foreign and domestic policy and strengthen the institute’s expertise in this field.
- Collaborate and network with other researchers and institutions studying U.S. policy.
Key Tasks of the Center for Research on U.S. Politics and Power:
- Produce high-quality research and timely publications on U.S. foreign and domestic policy, as well as the country’s role in world politics.
- Provide commentary and policy analysis to support public discourse.
- Organize research seminars.
- Support decision-making.
- Create and maintain a network of researchers focusing on U.S. politics.
Research Focus of the Center for Research on U.S. Politics and Power:
The center focuses on U.S. foreign and domestic policy and its global role, including transatlantic relations. The U.S. is in the midst of a geopolitical crossroads, where its superpower status is undergoing change. Post-World War II continuities in its foreign and security policy are being challenged, domestic political polarization influences external and security policy more than it has in a century, and democratic institutions are under strain.
In 2024-2025, the center will study these broad trends, with its central research project titled The U.S. at a Crossroads: The Future of Foreign and Domestic Policy in an Era of Confrontation (US-SARANA). This project aims to explore how the intertwining of domestic and foreign policy affects the U.S.’s global actions. It is funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.
Networks
The Transatlantic Periscope is a 360° view of the transatlantic relationship that provides users with an in-depth catalog of the most essential news, analysis, and data related to bilateral relationships between the United States and each of the members of the European Union and the United Kingdom. It is an interactive, real-time platform featuring expert curation of content, combining artificial intelligence and collective human intelligence. The Transatlantic Periscope is founded and managed by the Bertelsmann Foundation.
The core of the Transatlantic Periscope is the bilateral relationship pages that offer an at-a-glance view of the state of play and easy access to comprehensive analysis and data. Beyond that, users can explore content relating to a specific topic that reaches well beyond bilateral ties in the Deep Dive section. Finally, if you don’t find what you’re looking for elsewhere, the Search page allows you to browse the universe of content behind the Transatlantic Periscope to find any information you’re looking for.