Demonstration against Israeli Government in Jerusalem, July 25 2020. Photo Credit: Gershon Diner, Mehazkim NGO public domain stockpile. Introduction The past year has been one of an almost unprecedented turmoil for Israeli politics. The small state had gone through three consecutive elections prior to the emergence of the coronavirus crisis. The latter eventually led to the … Continue reading Reclaiming Security: The Time Has Come for a Progressive Israeli Security Agenda
The FBI Has a Racism Problem and it Hurts Our National Security
Photo Credit: The Federal Bureau of Investigation As stories of ISIS brutality in the Middle East began filling news cycles in 2014, there was an uptick in coverage describing foiled ISIS plots in the United States. The FBI seemed to be finding young men about to fly to Syria, blow up parades, or take hostages … Continue reading The FBI Has a Racism Problem and it Hurts Our National Security
Police and the People: Perspective on Police Reform
The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police in early 2020 sparked protests across the world, drawing critical attention to how Americans relate to the police officers sworn to protect and serve them. To understand this relationship, this paper reviews the historical background on policing and police reform in the United States, outlines the current environment and obstacles to reform, and looks at actions being taken in the wake of public outcry in America to forge a new path forward. The historical record shows that policing practices in the United States have largely been influenced by political considerations rather than genuine efforts to curb or control crime. Whereas recent protests and calls for action seem directed at the United States federal government, control of around 18,000 municipal, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies stems from the local level. To address the number of issues that plague police relations, such as the strength of police unions, qualified immunity, and the militarization of law enforcement, meaningful changes must be made at the state and local levels. Action being taken at the federal level in the wake of public outcry, although not insignificant, may only be symbolic in nature, as the November Presidential election looms and Congress remains divided.
Checkmating Chavismo: An Evaluation of US Sanctions Against Venezuela
In this article, guest contributor Dr. Ryan C. Berg and columnist Josh Chang evaluate the effectiveness of US sanctions on the Maduro regime in Venezuela and offer recommendations on how to improve the sanctions framework with the ultimate goal of facilitating a democratic transition in the country.
Who’s in the Room? Part I: The Case for a More Diverse State Department
Photo Credit: US Department of State Careers International relations and security have long been acknowledged as “good old boys’ clubs” fields, particularly mired by white privilege and sexism, as well as lacking in religious, geographic, age, and educational diversity, among other factors. The present political climate in the United States has drawn attention to this … Continue reading Who’s in the Room? Part I: The Case for a More Diverse State Department
Racial Justice Requires Domestic Terrorism Laws
Attorney General William P. Barr defended federal response to protests at an oversight hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla via The New York Times. The Argument As protests over police violence against Black people and systemic racism continue across the U.S., many still wonder how and when justice will be served. While … Continue reading Racial Justice Requires Domestic Terrorism Laws
Security for Whom? The Case for a Decolonial IR
Photo Credit: London School of Economics Department of Government Blogpost The United States is coming to a crossroads today. With COVID-19 killing more people every day and Black Lives Matter protests happening all around the U.S., the conversation about systemic racism is more relevant than ever. Academics highlight the need to address the diversity of … Continue reading Security for Whom? The Case for a Decolonial IR
A Tale of Two Rogue States: The Iran-Venezuela Partnership
Iran and Venezuela find themselves on the receiving end of high-pressure US sanctions for gross abuses of international norms and human rights. They are ostracized by regional neighbors for these violations. Their regimes openly embrace an ideology of anti-imperialism that viciously criticizes what they perceive to be Washington’s interventionist foreign policy, which unites them in what Alberto Garrido dubs a “strategic alliance.”
Rethinking the Traditional US National Security Agenda: Part One
Photo Credit: Science|Business The events that have unfolded in 2020 thus far underscore the need to rethink the US national security agenda. For decades, the U.S. has zeroed in on great power competition and terrorism as leading US national security concerns. This ordering reflects the traditional security paradigm, which places the state at the center … Continue reading Rethinking the Traditional US National Security Agenda: Part One
The Argument for A Democratic Public Health Surveillance Program
A CDC scientist pipetting specimens in one of the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) laboratories, located in Atlanta, GA. Photo Credit: Public Health Image Library. Minimizing the spread of coronavirus has been at the forefront of leaders’ and policymakers’ efforts since the onset of the pandemic. Evidently, the benefits of mass surveillance … Continue reading The Argument for A Democratic Public Health Surveillance Program