Regions

Strategic Competition Is Global. So Is Our Focus.

Development priorities and strategic competition intersect differently around the world, shaped by local realities and global trends. From infrastructure and trade to governance and technology, each region faces unique challenges and opportunities.

The NYU Development Research Institute—through its WISC Initiative and partners the Financial Access Initiative, Africa House, and the Center for Technology and Economic Development—applies robust research and cross-regional analysis to inform policies that foster inclusive and lasting growth.

Together with its initiatives and affiliates, DRI applies robust research to help regions worldwide foster inclusive growth and build resilience.

Featured

America’s AI Strategy: Playing Defense While China Plays to Win

America is making a critical mistake in its AI strategy—it is overreaching in playing defense but doing the opposite in playing offense. While Washington is busy building regulatory walls to restrict access to AI compute power (a term encompassing computational resources used to train and run AI models), China is circumventing these barriers and strategically developing asymmetric advantages. […]

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Biden, Xi to Meet in Peru following Trump Election Win

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Preparing for the Next Conflict: How NATO is Fortifying Its Defenses

When asked what the response should be as to why the US military is stationed in Europe, a burly American airman succinctly replied, “I would tell them to read a history book.” This sentiment underscores an enduring truth: as much as Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt sought to keep the US out of foreign […]

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Canada to host G7 summit in shadow of global crises

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Representative Analyzes Geopolitical Implications of Beijing’s Expanding Global Influence

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What Can Russia Do For China?

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Regions

Explore below how strategic competition is evolving in key regions.

Indo-Pacific

The Indo-Pacific is a hub of economic dynamism and a focal point of strategic competition. As China advances economic and maritime ambitions, the region’s chokepoints, alliances, and technology ecosystems hold global significance. The NYU Development Research Institute examines how trusted infrastructure, resilient supply chains, and inclusive development models can reinforce regional stability and expand opportunity.

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China

China’s state-led approach to trade, technology, infrastructure, and security presents a systemic challenge to open development models. From AI governance to global lending practices, Beijing is reshaping the rules of economic engagement. The Institute studies how open societies can advance transparency, innovation, and equitable cooperation to counter coercive approaches.

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Europe

Europe stands at the intersection of energy transition, digital governance, and alliance leadership. While Russia’s war in Ukraine has strengthened transatlantic resolve, differences in regulatory, industrial, and technological policy continue to test cohesion. The Institute analyzes how Europe’s choices influence global resilience, innovation capacity, and values-driven growth.

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Ukraine & Russia

The war in Ukraine underscores the deep links between development, deterrence, and democratic strength. From disrupted supply chains to the defense of sovereignty, the conflict challenges global systems. The Institute assesses its implications for economic resilience, institutional trust, and the credibility of collective action.

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Middle East & Africa

Infrastructure, investment, and digital connectivity are shaping new development pathways in the Middle East and Africa. Intensified competition between authoritarian and open models raises critical questions about alignment and influence. The Institute explores how collaborative, transparent, and locally responsive strategies can foster inclusive growth and reduce dependency on coercive actors.

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Americas

Across Latin America and the broader Western Hemisphere, development and strategic competition converge in ports, critical minerals, and governance systems. The Institute examines how regional cooperation can strengthen democratic institutions, secure supply chains, and expand opportunity through investment aligned with local priorities.

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Rajeev Dehejia

Faculty Co-Director

"Every region presents unique development challenges, but effective solutions emerge from aligning local priorities with global cooperation."

Mark Kennedy

Director, Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition

“The frontlines of strategic competition run through every continent. Regional alignment with trusted partners is how we turn values into advantage.”

Sadek Wahba

Chair of WISC GAC, DRI Senior Fellow

"Infrastructure choices reflect more  than development priorities—they define alliances, shape influence,  and project values across borders."

Shared Pillars. Diverse Realities.

Across regions, WISC and DRI’s work is anchored in seven interrelated pillars—Development, Infrastructure, Resilience, Innovation, and Alliances. These pillars connect regional insight to global strategy, reinforcing security, prosperity, and inclusive growth worldwide.

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