The Institute of World Politics

Congratulations to Taylor Weinsz, Salutatorian of the Class of 2024! 🎓

Don't miss the latest episode of the IWP Podcast, where Dr. Jim Robbins examines Iran's Operation True Promise, Israel's response, and the shifting dynamics in the Middle East, offering analysis on potential next steps and approaches to foster stability in the region. Listen here: https://redcircle.com/shows/the-iwp-podcast/ep/614a58a6-bdd9-4a75-b499-68c61f90cfc5

IWP student 𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐲, Senior Program Advisor with the U.S. Navy, presented his research on "𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫" at an event for the Student Speaker Series this spring. Dr. McCarthy is currently the Senior Program Advisor with the US Navy’s only explosives, weapons, and foreign materiel Technical Exploitation command. The command, now named Expeditionary Exploitation Unit ONE (EXU-1), spans the globe working with Combatant Commanders, Special Operations Command and forces, and the Intelligence Community supporting technical exploitation, technical intelligence collection, counterterrorism, and irregular warfare activities. Always seeking to enhance and broaden his knowledge base, Dr. McCarthy is currently enrolled in IWP’s Certificate of Graduate Study program focusing on Statecraft and National Security. His full lecture is at soundcloud.com/theiwp or at the link in stories.

Our "Winning Without War in 2024" conference was held in Silicon Valley last week. Topics included Russian aggression and the outlook in Ukraine, the deterrence of Iran, emerging challenges in Asia, and the crisis in American education. Several IWP professors spoke, including former CIA Senior Officer Glenn Corn, Academic Dean Dr. James Robbins, and head of IWP's China/Asia Program Amanda Won. Lisa Daftari, Editor of The Foreign Desk, also spoke. IWP President Amb. Aldona Wos gave the keynote address on "The Present Danger and Our Best Hope."

IWP hosted a conference on “The Intelligence Community: Back to the Future” today at our Reston campus. This event was the fourth Spring Conference and Career Fair of the DC Intelligence Studies Consortium. Three IWP students spoke on panels, and five IWP students shared their research during poster presentations. The event concluded with a career fair with representatives from NCIS, the Secret Service, CIA, Crisis24, FBI, NSA, Army CID, State Department, ODNI, NIU, and IWP. Co-sponsors included @georgemasonu, @georgetownuniversity, @catholicuniversity, @tamu, @jamesmadisonuniversity, @johnshopkinsu, @univofmaryland, @virginia.tech, @uofnh, @marymountu, and National Intelligence University. Many thanks to Prof. Aaron Danis for organizing!

Our interns toured the Capitol this week! 🇺🇸 #dcinternships #nationalsecurity #internationalaffairs

Ann-Elise Quinn (‘15), a research analyst at Thomson Reuters Special Services and subject matter expert in human rights crimes related to forced labor, discusses her work investigating supply chains connected to forced labor. Full interview at YouTube.com/@theiwp

We recently had the pleasure of hosting LTC Gavin Rice, a 2014 graduate of the Professional M.A. in Strategic and International Studies at IWP. During the conversation, we delved into Gavin's work at the Pentagon, his day-to-day responsibilities, and what it's like to work with a brand new Chairman. We also discussed the trajectory of his career, including his time in the military and his transition to strategy work. In this clip, he discusses the importance of understanding your craft, knowing history, and using this knowledge to be an innovative thinker. The full interview is at: https://www.iwp.edu/alumnifiles

Over-classification: How Bad Is It, What’s the Fix?

Mr. Henry Sokolski and Mr. Ezra Cohen will discuss ongoing efforts and recommendations for reforming security classification policy. About the Speakers: Mr. Henry D. Sokolski is the Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, a Washington-based nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to promote a better understanding of strategic weapons proliferation issues among policymakers, scholars, and the media. He teaches graduate-level classes on nuclear policy in Washington, D.C. He is also a Senior Fellow for Nuclear Security Studies at the University of California at San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy. From 1989 to 1993, Sokolski served as the Deputy for Nonproliferation Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, for which he received the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Outstanding Public Service. Prior to this, he worked in the Secretary of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment on strategic weapons proliferation issues. In addition to his Executive Branch service, Mr. Sokolski worked on the Hill from 1984 through 1988 as senior military legislative aide to Senate Armed Services Committee member Dan Quayle and from 1982 through 1983 as special assistant on nuclear energy matters to TVA Subcommittee Chairman Senator Gordon J. Humphrey. He also worked as a consultant on nuclear weapons proliferation issues to the Intelligence Community’s National Intelligence Council; received a Congressional appointment to the Deutch Proliferation Commission, which completed its report in July 1999; served as a member of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Senior Advisory Panel from 1995 to 1996; and was a member of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, which operated until 2010. Mr. Sokolski has been a resident fellow at the National Institute for Public Policy, the Heritage Foundation, and the Hoover Institution. He also has taught political science courses at the University o

The Role of Multilateral Cooperation in Shaping AI Governance

Mr. Mohammed Motiwala will discuss the importance of multilateral cooperation on AI and the U.S. government's efforts in this year. About Lecture: Are you curious about the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and how they are shaping the world? As AI rapidly advances, it is increasingly clear that cooperation among nations is essential for maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks of this powerful technology. Join us for a lecture on the importance of multilateral diplomacy in AI cooperation, presented by Mohammed Motiwala, a Foreign Service Officer with extensive experience in international relations. In this talk, you will learn: The current state of AI technology and its potential applications in various fields. The challenges and risks associated with AI, such as biases, privacy concerns, and cyber attacks. The importance of international cooperation in promoting trustworthy AI. Examples of successful multilateral initiatives in AI cooperation and their impact on global governance This lecture is open to anyone interested in the intersection of technology and diplomacy, whether you are a student, a researcher, a policymaker, or a curious citizen. Join us and discover how multilateral diplomacy can help us navigate the future of technology and build a better world. About the Speaker: Mohammed Motiwala is a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service. He is currently in the Cyberspace and Digital Policy Bureau covering the OECD and the Global Partnership on AI. Mohammed's most recent assignment was a graduate program at the National Intelligence University where he focused on Eurasia. Prior to that, he was an Analyst focusing on Russia in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the State Department’s component of the Intelligence Community. His last overseas assignment was as an Assistant Cultural Affairs officer in Kyiv, Ukraine. His other overseas assignments were in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Lebanon. Prior to joining the Department

A Historical Overview of Coercive Persuasion

Dr. Enrico Suardi ('19) will discuss state and non-state actors' attempts at developing tools of psychological coercion and manipulation. About the Lecture: This presentation is part of a series of lectures on the behavioral sciences in US national security and public safety. The premise is that the human factor is the basis of crises and the source of solutions. Is the human mind the new, sixth domain of operations, or has it been the main domain of operations since Sun-Tzu advised winning without fighting? Nation-states and non-state actors have attempted to develop tools for brainwashing. These efforts have yielded no truth serum, no recruitment pill. Group pressure and psychological manipulations under conditions of deprivation break down most of us over time. However, false confessions are elicited and the coerced individuals are psychologically maimed. Dr. Suardi will start off by providing a historical overview of coercive persuasion, and will then discuss the psychology and neuroscience of coercion and ethical persuasion. He will conclude with highlights of the ongoing 21st-century cognitive warfare. About the Speaker: Dr. Enrico Suardi (IWP Class of 2019, Executive MA in National Security Affairs) is director of psychiatry at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, director of forensic services at the Ross Center in Washington, D.C., and the 2024-25 president-elect of the Washington Psychiatric Society A diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry, on faculty at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Georgetown University, and George Washington University, he has served as chief child and family psychiatrist at the U.S. State Department. Dr. Suardi studied political psychology with Jerrold Post, completed his M.D. and a residency in preventive medicine in Milan, Italy, and obtained an MSc in Public Health and Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Maoist Revolutionary War Outside China

Dr. Christopher C. Harmon will discuss the phenomenon and exportation of Maoist revolutionary warfare. ***This event is part of IWP's China Series, organized by the China/Asia Program.*** About the Lecture: The ideas of Mao tse Tung had a powerful impact—whatever one may think of their morals or their intellectual value. Maoism created the modern People's Republic of China and was then sent on outward marches to influence others around the world. The “export” of Maoist revolutionary warfare began by 1950, was refreshed with the 1965 pamphlet of Defense Minister Lin Biao “Long Live the Victory of People’s War,” and has recently been re-examined by scholar Julia Lovell’s 2019 volume Maoism: A Global History. Dr. Harmon is lecturing on Wednesday, May 17th about this phenomenon, bringing forward examples of Maoist revolutions in Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Peru. The lecture draws upon the substance of his new syllabus at the Institute of World Politics, a course on the theory and practice of Maoism, to commence this summer (2nd term; July-August). About the Speaker: Christopher C. Harmon directed “Comprehensive Security Responses to Terrorism” at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, a program detailed in Jane’s Intelligence Review (“Regional Teamwork,” September, 2018). Dr. Harmon lectured on Maoist revolutionary warfare for many years at the staff college for Majors at Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, where he later held three academic chairs. He has published on the Peruvian Maoists of “Shining Path” in the journal Small Wars and Insurgencies. Harmon’s eighth book--Warfare in Peacetime, is forthcoming this spring.

Affordable and Mass-Producible Nuclear Safeguards for Homeland Security

Dr. Will H. Flanagan will discuss proposed nuclear safeguards for mass-produced nuclear energy and the risks involved in doing so. About the Lecture: In the nuclear era, a single weapon snuck through a border is able to significantly shift geopolitical balances. In 2007, Congress mandated the use of radiation detectors on all inbound containers but there is currently no way effectively meet this goal. Nuclear safeguards exist at all major ports of entry, though they are not always able to scan every item of cargo. Cerium Laboratories is addressing one aspect of this problem by producing a semiconductor-based “neutron intercepting system on a chip” (NISoC). Such detectors are made a modern semiconductor fabrication facilities in batches of 10,000 with a cost of a few dollars per device. This has the potential to shift nuclear safeguards in a direction where a detector can be placed on every inbound container ship. The current status of this effort will be discussed as well as future prospects. About the Speaker: Dr. Will Flanagan received his undergraduate education at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Lured from astronomy research by the fascinating connection between cosmology and particle physics, he began doing Large Hadron Collider (LHC) phenomenology at Texas A&M through a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship. Dr Flanagan later returned to Texas A&M for his PhD, searching for dark matter at the CMS experiment along the LHC beam line. His hitchhike through the field of particle physics has included various neutrino experiments as well as development of novel particle detectors. Dr Flanagan’s current focus is developing a solid-state neutron detector with Austin-based Cerium Labs. The team recently completed a short journal publication and is actively developing future prototypes with applications from nuclear nonproliferation to hydrogen exploration. Before joining Cerium, Dr. Flanagan was an assistant professor at Univer

Ronald Reagan’s Global Strategy for Peaceful Victory in the Cold War

Dr. William Inboden will discuss President Reagan's strategy and approach to defeating the Soviet Union towards the end of the Cold War. About the Lecture: With decades of hindsight, the peaceful end of the Cold War seems a foregone conclusion. But in the early 1980s, most experts believed the Soviet Union was strong, stable, and would last into the next century. Ronald Reagan entered the White House with a different view. Rather than seeing the Soviet Union as a rival superpower to be contained, Reagan viewed Soviet Communism as a vile idea to be defeated. Accordingly, he developed a comprehensive strategy designed to deter Soviet strengths, exploit Soviet weaknesses, and bring Soviet communism to a negotiated surrender. About the Speakers: Dr. William Inboden is Executive Director and William Powers, Jr. Chair at the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas-Austin. He also serves as Associate Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Editor-in-Chief of the Texas National Security Review. Inboden’s other roles include Associate with the National Intelligence Council, Member of the CIA Director’s Historical Advisory Panel, and member of the State Department’s Historical Advisory Council. Previously he served as Senior Director for Strategic Planning on the National Security Council at the White House, at the Department of State as a Member of the Policy Planning Staff, as a staff member for Representative Tom DeLay and Senator Sam Nunn, and as a Civitas Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and his commentary has appeared in numerous outlets including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Review, NPR, CNN, and BBC. Inboden is the author or co-editor of four books. His most recent book is The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and the World on the Brink (Dutton, a Penguin Random House imprint 2023). Inboden rece

IWP founder Dr. John Lenczowski discusses the benefits of having a mission-oriented mindset in your professional life.

The War in Ukraine: An Estonian Perspective

Amb. Kristjan Prikk will discuss Estonia's views on the War in Ukraine and how the conflict is about much more than just Ukraine. About Lecture: - The tragedy unrolling in Ukraine right now is not a result of a temporary misunderstanding but rather of a long-term Russian strategic gamble - The immediate impact of the war is mostly felt in Ukraine and in her neighboring countries but the consequences are considerably wider - This is a European war. However, U.S. global vital interests are clearly in play more than in any recent conflict. - The strategic objective and how to reach it. About the Speaker: Amb. Kristjan Prikk has served as Estonia´s Ambassador to the United States since May 2021. This is his third diplomatic posting to Washington, DC. Before assuming his current duties, Prikk served for nearly three years as the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense. In this role he was responsible for the management of the Ministry and for the coordination of activities of the agencies under the Ministry, including the Estonian Defense Forces, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, and the Centre for Defense Investments. Prior to becoming the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Prikk worked as Undersecretary for Defense Policy in the Ministry of Defense from July 2017 to August 2018. From 2015 to 2017 Mr. Prikk was the Director of National Security and the Defense Coordination Unit of the Estonian Government Office, coordinating the development and implementation of the whole-of-government interagency approach to national defense in Estonia and advising the Prime Minister on these issues. He also served as Deputy Director of the same office for two years prior to becoming the Director in 2015. His previous Ministry of Defense assignments include serving as Defense Counsellor at the Estonian Embassy in Washington, D.C. (2010-2013) and as Director of International Cooperation Department in Tallinn (2007-2010). Prior to joining the Ministry of Defe

The Free World's Response to a Sino-Taiwanese War

LCDR Chris D. Glass will discuss the West's potential response to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. ***This event is part of the China Lecture Series*** About Lecture: In the aftermath of the calamitous withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, America’s authoritarian rivals increasingly discerned an upset to the global order. Furthermore, recent years of nationalistic and quasi-isolationist rhetoric, an ongoing economic downtown, and a global pandemic have exacerbated the international perception of America’s decline. These factors likely contributed to Russia’s seemingly miscalculated invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and are very likely impacting the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) own strategic assessments regarding a forceful reunification with Taiwan. This has been evidenced by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) increasingly bellicose rhetoric in addition to nascent civil-military fusion between the Chinese military and state-owned enterprises (SOE); the latter of which could potentially enable the PRC to advance its timeline for an invasion of Taiwan. In response to this evolving threat, it is incumbent on the U.S., coalition partners, and the free world to consider a range of options to deter Beijing during the current competition phase; de-escalate, demonstrate substantial cost, and force the CCP to recalculate in the window of a crisis; and should such a crisis escalate to a Sino-Taiwanese conflict, execute operations to aid Taiwan. About the Speaker: As a Navy civilian at ONI, Mr. Glass previously worked as an all-source intelligence analyst with the Global Maritime Environment Division’s Transnational Threat Department providing fleet and national decision-makers with in-depth knowledge of the maritime domain in USINDOPACOM and USSOUTHCOM. Mr. Glass presently runs a large and growing team of U.S. Naval officers, enlisted, and civilians as the lead analyst for ONI Kennedy Maritime Analysis Center, Fleet Operations Integration D

In Defense of Capitalism: Debunking the Myths

Dr. Rainer Zitelmann will discuss his book, In Defense of Capitalism: Debunking the Myths, including popular superstitions of capitalism. About the Speaker: Rainer Zitelmann is a historian, sociologist and multiple bestselling author, whose books include Hitler’s National Socialism and The Power of Capitalism. He published 26 books. His books have been translated into numerous languages around the world. In recent years, he has written articles and been the subject of interviews in leading media such as Forbes, Newsweek, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, Le Monde, Corriere della Sera, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, and numerous media in Latin America and Asia. His latest book In Defense of Capitalism is to be published in 30 languages. About the Book, In Defense of Capitalism: "One of the most important books in decades defending capitalism... Adam Smith would have been impressed – and proud.” -Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media "The many myths critical of capitalism are refuted with a wealth of facts and cogent arguments that the critics will not be able to effectively answer. Anyone who wants to know the truth about capitalism should read this book.” -John Mackey, Whole Foods Markets Founder

The US-Philippines Alliance

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez will elaborate on what's in store for Philippine-U.S. relations. About the Lecture: With the inaugural anniversary of the Marcos Jr. administration coming up, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez will elaborate on what's in store for the Philippine-US relations on topics of PH-US bilateral relations, PH foreign policy priorities, PH perspectives on global and regional security challenges, the PH-US alliance within the context of the Indo-Pacific, and prospects for future relations. About the Speaker: Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States of America in July 2017 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. On 29 November 2017, he presented his credentials to US President Donald J. Trump and formally assumed office as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Additionally, as the head of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Romualdez is concurrently the Philippines’ emissary to the Commonwealth of Jamaica, Republic of Haiti; Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; Dominica; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and Saint Lucia. Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Romualdez was designated as a special envoy of the Philippine President to the United States. He also served as a member of several Philippine business delegations visiting the United States, China, Japan and New Zealand from 1989 to 2012. Ambassador Romualdez has extensive experience as a media practitioner and business executive. He used to be the Chief Executive Officer of Stargate Media Corporation and Publisher of People Asia Magazine (The Philippine Star affiliate). He was president of the Manila Overseas Press Club and vice-president of Rotary Club of Manila. Ambassador Romualdez writes columns for The Philippine Star. All his columns have a wid