Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed poorly received ordinances in an attempt to thwart protests, which included soaring fines for protesters. 

Andy Thayer is no stranger to controversy. He’s had a key role in organizing protests in Chicago.

Germany led talks of economic reforms and bailouts in the European Union this past year.

France has been a reluctant partner in the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

Turkey serves as the eastern anchor in the NATO alliance, sharing a border with non-member states such as Syria, Iraq and Iran.

Greece went bankrupt last year, highlighting decades of central government mismanagement.

One of NATO’s harshest critics is President-elect Vladimir Putin, Russia’s longtime leader, who was just voted in to a third term.

This year, NATO grabbed headlines for its active intervention in Libya, a non-member state in North Africa.

President Giorgio Napolitano is trying to undo two decades of widespread corruption and poor management

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is the only foreign policy think tank in Chicago.

President of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Michael Shields has repeatedly called for more officer training before the summit.

As some business leaders expressed concern about the summits, the city hired security firm Hillard Heintze, which will meet weekly with the business community.

As Chicago Police superintendent, Garry McCarthy is the public face of security during the NATO summit.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been focusing on the potential economic upside of the NATO summit since his lobbying brought it to Chicago, but it’s his security plans that have had some up in arms.

Illinois was pegged as a pivotal win for GOP presidential hopefuls. Mitt Romney won big, but there were very few surprises in state elections. Carol Marin and her panel have the details.