Along with honoring retired Admiral James G. Stavridis and the Nokia Corporation, this year’s Pragmatist + Idealist Awards will feature the work of Stimson’s Managing Across Boundaries Initiative.

MAB seeks to attain solutions to complex transnational challenges. It has conducted a significant amount of substantial research and worked with partners across the globe on many national security issues, including combatting terrorism, human trafficking, smuggling of counterfeit goods and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It underscores how the private sector plays a pivotal role in both security and economic development.

Here’s a short video with Stimson President Ellen Laipson and  Brian Finlay, Managing Director of the Managing Across Boundaries Initiative, talking about the event and MAB’s ongoing mission:

Some recent work by the MAB team include examining how poaching is used to provide support for terrorists (and how technology can be used to combat it) as well as convening a commission headed by retired General John Abizaid to issue a set of pragmatic policy recommendations on U.S. drone policy for the Obama administration.

Some op-eds written by our experts:

Blocking Syria’s Chemical Network, Reuters, September 18, 2013

Killing Lions, Buying Bombs, New York Times, Aug. 9, 2013

Unarmed Drones Can Strengthen US/African Security, International Business Times, July 16, 2013

Private Sector Can Reduce Weapons Proliferation, International Business Times, June 2013

Public-Private Partnerships Essential to Combat Poaching, World Politics Review, May 1, 2013

Tell the Truth About the Arms Treaty, The New York Times, April 11, 2013