From the experiences and viewpoints of citizens growing up in the global South to the challenges faced by policymakers in understanding the complex dynamics of a globalized world, we explore the interplay between economics, the environment, and social dynamics. Join us as we navigate through the nuanced thinking styles and biases that influence decision-making, drawing on insights from experts with diverse backgrounds and expertise.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion against Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been likened to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The comparison is apt, but NDISC Director Michael Desch asks us to truly reckon with it. He did so though his article in Harper's Magazine (https://harpers.org/archive/2023/10/the-tragedy-of-volodymyr-zelensky/), which prompted today's conversation between Dr. Desch and Senator Jim Webb.

Mike and Jim talk with former Lieutenant General Newbold about the recent actions of Senator Tuberville to block the president of the United States' selection of a new Commandant of the Marine Corps. In doing so, they compare the military's cultural history to today's political divide and attempt to uncover how and why they have changed.

In this episode of "Outside the Box," co-hosts Dr. Michael Desch and Sen. Jim Webb welcome Christopher Layne to discuss his recent co-authored article "Why Are We in Ukraine?" published in "Harper's Magazine" in June 2023. Christopher Layne is University Distinguished Professor of International Affairs and the Robert M. Gates Chair in National Security at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. His fields of interest are international relations theory, great power politics, U.S. foreign policy, and grand strategy. Read Chris Layne's and Ben Schwarz' piece in "Harper's Magazine": https://harpers.org/archive/2023/06/why-are-we-in-ukraine/ Visit the Notre Dame International Security Center: https://ndisc.nd.edu/

An Interview with Ambassador Nancy Jo Powell by Pranav Guntupalli Interview Summary : Ambassador Nancy Jo Powell speaks about the history of US relations with South Asia including the death of American ambassador Arnold Raphel in 1988, nuclear tension in the subcontinent, and re-emerging non-alignment in India’s foreign policy today. She also recounts her experience in the foreign service and shares advice for aspiring diplomats. Biography: Ambassador Nancy Jo Powell is one of the most distinguished diplomats in modern American history. Ambassador Powell joined the foreign service in 1977, and served with distinction for over 37 years, including assignments as the US ambassador to Uganda, US ambassador to Ghana, US ambassador to Pakistan, US ambassador to Nepal, and as the first female US ambassador to India. In 2006, Amb. Powell received one of the US government’s most prestigious awards – The Homeland Security service to America award – for her work as the State Department’s senior coordinator on the Avian and Influenza epidemics. Amb. Powell holds the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest rank in the US foreign service.

An Interview with Chaplain Col. Billy Graham of the US Army by Pranav Guntupalli Interview Summary: In this episode of the Students Talk Security podcast, Chaplain Billy Graham speaks about his military experience and the uniqueness of chaplaincy corp. Billy explains the crucial role of a Chaplain when a soldier dies in active duty, and shares his advice for ROTC students on how to cope with grief and stay "spiritually fit". Through personal anecdotes, Billy exposes a deeply human side of the military. Biography: Chaplain Billy Graham is an US Army War College Fellow, which is the Army strategic education forum for senior officers. He has served as an Army chaplain for 20 years and been in the Army 28 years. He has served in different locations around the world including the Pentagon and three deployments to the Middle East. He is married to Robin and they have three grown children and 10 grandchildren. He enjoys outdoor activities, military history, and biblical studies.

Episode summary – In this episode of Students Talk Security, Notre Dame senior and NDISC Undergraduate Fellow Benjamin Erhardt sits down with retired Navy fighter pilot, admiral, and fellow podcaster James A. “Sandy” Winnefeld, Jr. Their discussion covers topics ranging from the Admiral’s storied career – including his time as unit commander of the USS Enterprise during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and his tenure as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – to his insights on the crisis in Ukraine, the U.S.’s great power competition with China, the future of American innovation in defense, TOPGUN, Top Gun (yes, both!), and more. All throughout, Adm. Winnefeld imparts noteworthy wisdom and leadership advice for both budding and seasoned professionals in military, political, and business disciplines. He also provides timely advice on how to handle stressful decisions in today’s volatile world. Interviewee bio – Adm. James A. Winnefeld, Jr. is a retired four-star admiral and was the ninth vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His 37-year U.S. Navy career includes having served as commander of U.S. Northern Command and of NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command. His operational commands include having served as commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, and of Allied Joint Command Lisbon. He also is a graduate of and former instructor at Navy Fighter Weapons School (a.k.a., TOPGUN). His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and five Battle Efficiency awards.

An Interview with Major Gregory M. Scott of the US Marine Corp by Pranav Guntupalli Interview Summary: In the first episode of the "Meet the NDISC fellows" series, Pranav Guntupalli speaks to the NDISC War College fellow, Major Gregory Scott, about his military service. They discuss his time in Okinawa (Japan) and in South America with the Embassy Security group, and Maj. Scott shares the insights he gained from his time being stationed in different countries around the world. Biography: Major Gregory M. Scott has served as a Fire Support Officer in Okinawa, Japan, Darwin, Australia, Thailand, Crow Valley, Philippines, and Korea. He has served with the Department of State in the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group covering South America. He attended Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia. His last fleet tour he was stationed in San Diego California serving as a Battery Commander of a HIMARS unit in the 1st Marine Division. He has Scott deployed to Djibouti and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Major Scott participated in operation ALLIES REFUGE in Kabul Afghanistan, conducting the largest non-combatant evacuation in United States history. Currently, he is a Fellow with Notre Dame University under the Marine Corps Commandant Fellowships from Marine Corps University to the Notre Dame International Security Center.

In this episode of Outside the Box, co-host (and six-time novelist) Jim Webb switches to the interviewee seat to join University of Notre Dame English Professor, Iraq War Army veteran, and novelist Roy Scranton to talk about novels and war. In a wide-ranging discussion, the authors of Fields of Fire and War Porn discuss how their experiences in war led them to become novelists, the creative writing process, and how fiction can convey truths about war in a way that history cannot. Recorded: April 28, 2022

Roseanne W. McManus is an Associate Professor in the Political Science Department at the Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on signaling and coercion in an international security context. She received her B.A. from the University of Maryland and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before pursuing an academic career, she was a Senior Analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency. Recorded: April 19, 2022

In this episode of ‘Students Talk Security’, Dr. Farr, the leading expert in the interconnection between international religious freedom, human rights, and United States National Security will discuss his work on the implications rights internationally have on defense and security domestically. His work has led to not only scholarship and legislative and State Department action, but to the creation of the Religious Freedom Institute, the leading scholarly institution on global religious freedom. Dr. Farr and I will be discussing this argument for increased emphasis on religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy, its implications within policy itself, and its usage in current issues of national security. Interviewee: Dr. Thomas Farr Interviewer: Maura Brennan

Matt Duss is a congressional staffer and has worked with Senator Bernie Sanders since 2017. Previously he was the President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, and a national security and international policy analyst at the Center for American Progress. Recorded: March 29, 2022

This episode will cover how the Senate can influence foreign policy in the face of new threats and increasing executive power, and what an NSA for a Senator sees as the biggest future threats to American security and power. Interviewer: Christopher Libero Interviewee: Thomas Mancinelli

In this episode of Outside the Box, Mike and Jim engage LtGen Gregory Newbold, former Director of Operations (J-3) for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a hard-hitting and wide-ranging discussion of proposed modernization of the U.S. Marine Corps in the XXIst Century, the role of the U.S. Congress in shaping the development of the armed forces, the legitimate avenues of military dissent, and how to grow a more effective general officer corps for the U.S. military in the years to come. Recorded: March 14, 2022

Major Jeremy Grunert is an officer in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. In this capacity, he has served as a military prosecutor and legal advisor at assignments in Afghanistan, Qatar, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Major Grunert is currently assigned to the United States Air Force Academy, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Law. He instructs the Academy’s core “Law for Air Force Officers” course and is the course director for the Academy’s new “Space Law” course. Major Grunert is also the Chief of Research for the Academy’s Law, Technology, and Warfare Research Cell; in this capacity, he hosts a monthly webinar series on the subject of space law. Finally, Major Grunert has published a number of journal articles and commentaries in publications such as War on the Rocks, the Air Force Law Review, the Journal of Drone Law & Policy, and the Pepperdine Law Review. Recorded: March 1, 2022

Šumit Ganguly is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and holds the Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is a specialist on the international and comparative politics of South Asia. His most recent book (edited with M. Chris Mason) is The Future of US-India Security Cooperation (Manchester University Press, 2021).

In 2014 Lt. Gen. Daniel Bolger published his book Why We Lost: A General’s Inside Account of the Iraq and Afghan Wars. Seven years before the fall of Kabul, he had already foreseen the chaotic end of that campaign in the Global War on Terrorism. Bolger says there is much blame to go around but focuses his fire on his profession and colleagues: the senior leadership of the U.S. military. In this episode, General Bolger joins Jim and Mike to discuss why we lost and what we need to do to win our wars in the future.

Bear F. Braumoeller is Professor in the Department of Political Science at The Ohio State University and the holder of the Baronov and Timashev Chair in Data Analytics. He conducts research in the areas of international relations, political methodology, and complexity and human behavior. He received his B.A. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and he held faculty positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Harvard University before moving to Ohio State. His present work focuses on the decline-of-war thesis, the relationship between international order and international conflict, and causal inference based on observational data. He currently co-directs the Computational Social Science community of practice under the Translational Data Analytics Institute at Ohio State. For more information, visit the Computational Social Science CoP page at TDAI.

The episode considers the future of counterterrorism in the context of a Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Beginning with a discussion of how the Taliban was able to regain control so swiftly, the podcast draws on the counterterrorism knowledge and expertise of the FBI’s Former Assistant Director for Counterterrorism Mike McGarrity to explore how the landscapes of counterterrorism and counterintelligence have shifted. Interviewer: Nick Carter Interviewee: Mike McGarrity Official Title: Former Assistant Director for Counterterrorism at the FBI Biography: Mike McGarrity served as the FBI’s Assistant Director for Counterterrorism, managing the Bureau’s global counterterrorism operation for two years between 2018 and 2019. Mr. McGarrity’s 23 year tenure with the FBI began when he joined the New York field office in 1996, where he investigated violent gangs, drug organizations, and international money laundering networks. In 2003, he moved to the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, where he participated in numerous international terrorism investigations. Over the next decade and a half, Mr. McGarrity served in a number of critical leadership positions at the Bureau. He was the FBI’s Supervisory Special Agent at the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center, the deputy on-scene commander in Afghanistan, the Assistant Section Chief for the Counterterrorism Division of the International Terrorism Operations Section, the Director of Counterterrorism at the White House’s National Security Council, and the FBI’s legal attaché in Swizterland. In 2015, he became the first director of the U.S. Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, a complex multi-agency task-force dedicated to recovering American hostages abducted abroad. He has been recognized by the President and Director of the FBI Christopher Wray for his work. Mr. McGarrity holds a J.D. and a B.A. in economics from The Catholic University of America. He is a graduate of the Government Senior Executive Program in National Security at the Harvard Kennedy School and Northwestern Kellog’s Navigating Strategic Change Program. He is currently a member of the Atlantic Council’s Counterterrorism Working Group and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Committee on Counterterrorism. He’s worked in the private sector since 2020.

Jayita Sarkar is an Assistant Professor at Boston University Pardee School of Global Studies, where she teaches diplomatic and political history. Her research has been published in the Journal of Cold War Studies, Cold War History, International History Review, Journal of Strategic Studies, Nonproliferation Review, and elsewhere. Her first book, Ploughshares & Swords: India's Nuclear Program in the Global Cold War (Cornell University Press, forthcoming, 2022) examines the first forty years of India's nuclear program through the prisms of geopolitics and technopolitics. Recorded: Nov 16, 2021 | Speaker: Jayita Sarkar

In this episode of ‘Students Talk Security’, undergraduate fellow, Callie Whelan, speaks with Pamela Fierst-Walsh, the Senior Advisor on Conflict Minerals and U.S. Representative to the Kimberley Process at the U.S. Department of State. Callie and Pamela dig into critical mineral supply chains, their relationships with electric vehicle production, and what it means for the United States.

An Interview with U.S. Army Civil Affairs Captain Ben Ordiway by Cullen Geahigan where they discuss the purpose and function of Army Civil Affairs operations as well as the value of Civil Affairs missions as part of the Army's guiding mission. Additionally, we covered the future role Civil Affairs will play in great power competition.

Recorded: Aug 31, 2021 Host: Dan Lindley Speaker: Fred Kaplan

The Fall of Afghanistan: What Does it Mean for America and the World? A virtual flash panel discussion on the fall of Afghanistan featuring Michael Desch, Mary Ellen O'Connell, Dina Smeltz, and Eugene Gholz. Recorded: August 24, 2021

Summary: In this episode, Mike and Jim interview Andrew Bacevich, author After the Apocalypse: America's Role in a World Transformed. In this latest book, Bacevich, a retired U.S. Army officer, former professor at Boston University, and President of the new Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, laments that America has failed both domestically and internationally since the end of the Cold War. To those failures should now be added, on the very day the interview was recorded, the unexpectedly rapid collapse of the pro-American regime in Kabul, Afghanistan. How the unipolar moment became such a disappointment what is the way forward for a renewed America at home and abroad were the topics of our discussion.

Summary: In this episode of Outside the Box, Mike and Jim are joined by Doug Bandow of the CATO Institute to discuss national service. We are once again hearing calls to institute some form of national service; whether in the military through conscription or via some form of mandatory civilian service along the lines of AmeriCorps. Proponents of some form of national service could bolster citizen engagement with our national life and inculcate a stronger sense of community, especially among younger Americas. Critics worry about both the feasibility as well as the ethics of imposing mandatory national service. We'll hash these things out on our next show.

Recorded: May 4, 2021 Host: Joseph Parent Speaker: Jeffrey Taliaferro

An Interview with Associate Professor Karrie J. Koesel by Andrew DelVecchio Summary: In this episode of Students Talk Security, Professor Karrie Koesel discusses the role that Russian domestic politics play in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Professor Koesel uses her experience with contemporary Russian politics to explain how President Putin is constrained and catalyzed by popular opinion and NATO's best avenue for de-escalating the conflict. Biography: Karrie J. Koesel is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame where she specializes in the study of contemporary Chinese and Russian politics, authoritarianism, and the politics of religion. She is the author of Religion & Authoritarianism: Cooperation, Conflict and the Consequences (Cambridge University Press, 2014) and co-editor of Citizens and the State in Authoritarian Regimes (Oxford University Press, 2020). Her research has been featured in World Politics, Perspectives on Politics, The China Quarterly, Post-Soviet Affairs, Economics and Politics, Demokratizatsiya, and the Review of Religion and Chinese Society and has been funded by the John Templeton Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), the Fulbright program, the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), and IDCAR. Professor Koesel is a Public Intellectual Fellow for the National Committee on US-China Relations.

An interview with Former U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly by Liam Karr Summary: In this podcast, I discuss America's role in the regional conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Trump and Biden Administrations have taken drastically different approaches to both our ally and our adversary, and we'll break down the different outcomes this could cause. We discuss Saudi Arabia's unique leadership situation and its role in Yemen, and also go over how America seeks to contain Iran, with a special focus on a return to the Nuclear Deal. We'll then wrap up with a broader analysis of America's relationships and actions in the Middle East, and whether they need any updating.

An Interview with Former U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly by Carson Whitesell Summary: In this episode of “Students Talk Security,” former United States Senator Joe Donnelly discusses the domestic terrorism in the United States with an emphasis on recent events like the storming of the Capitol on January 6th. Donnelly brings a special perspective to the problem because of his time in the Senate, which gives him insight into what Congress and the federal government in general can do to combat this preeminent national security threat. Biography: Joe Donnelly served as the three term U.S. Representative from Indiana’s Second Congressional District from 2007 to 2013 and the United States Senator from Indiana from 2013 to 2019. Senator Donnelly is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Notre Dame Law School. While in the House of Representatives, Congressman Donnelly served on the Veterans’ Committee, the Financial Services Committee, and the Agriculture Committee. While in the United States Senate, Senator Donnelly served on the Aging Committee (primarily Senior Issues), the Agriculture Committee, the Banking Committee, and the Armed Services Committee. Senator Donnelly was the Ranking Member of the Banking Committee’s National Security and International Trade and Finance Subcommittee. Donnelly was also the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee’s Strategic Forces Subcommittee. Senator Donnelly was a member of the Armed Services Committee’s Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee and the Airland Subcommittee. Senator Donnelly currently teaches National Security at the University of Notre Dame, practices law at the firm of Akin, Gump and is the Board Chairman of the Soufan Center, a research center dedicated to global security issues and emerging threats.

Recorded: April 6, 2021 Host: Joseph Parent Speaker: Steven Pincus

Title: A New Faustian Bargain? Understanding the Lessons of the Soviet-German Cooperation An Interview with Professor Ian Johnson by Charles Sedore Summary: In this episode of Students Talk Security, Charles Sedore, a Notre Dame senior, and Professor Ian John, Assistant Professor of Military History, discuss the history surrounding the German-Soviet Cooperation that occurred during the interwar period and the lessons learned about Russian foreign policy choices. From this historical discussion, the conversation looks to the future as a means of assessing what Russian foreign policy regarding China could look like. Biography: Professor Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Military History at the University of Notre Dame’s Department of History. Prior to joining Notre Dame, Professor Johnson received his PhD from the Ohio State University in 2016, with his dissertation focusing on the secret military cooperation between the Soviet Union and Germany during the interwar period. Also, during his time prior to Notre Dame, Professor Johnson received a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship, was a pre-doctoral fellow at Yale University, a postdoctoral fellow at the Clements Center for National Security, and an Associate Director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy at Yale University. Currently, Professor Johnson has focused his efforts on war, both in its origins and conduct, and the maintenance of peace. This has led to a forthcoming publication from the Oxford University Press, The Faustian Bargain: Secret Soviet-German Military Cooperation in the Interwar Period. On top of the publication, Professor Johnson is also working on a new manuscript about early Cold war military history focusing on collective security and the plans for an international military force.

Recorded: March 23, 2021 Host: Joseph Parent Speaker: Mariya Grinberg

Summary: On this episode of “Outside the Box,” Jim and Mike speak with Dr. William Ruger, Vice President for Policy at the Charles Koch Foundation, Iraq War Veteran, President Trump’s nominee as ambassador to Afghanistan, and author of a widely discussed New York Times Op/Ed piece urging the Biden Administration to hold to the May 1, 2021 deadline in the United States’ agreement with the Taliban to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

Title: Geopolitics: The Competing Maritime and Continental World Orders of China, Russia, and the United States Recorded: March 16, 2021 Host: Joseph Parent Speaker: Sarah Paine

Full Title: Large-N Qualitative Analysis (LNQA): Everything You Wanted to Know about Doing a Cornell-Princeton Book, Part I Speaker: Gary Goertz and Stephan Haggard Host: Joseph Parent Recorded: February 23, 2020

Title: Anticipate, Prevent, Respond: Conflict Stabilization and U.S. Foreign Policy in Africa Hosted by Katherine McLaughlin Summary: With 54 voting UN members, economies ripe for investment and development, and the emergence of foreign influence in the continent, Africa’s future is of strategic importance to U.S. foreign policy. In this episode of “Students Talk Security,” Kate McLaughlin sits down with Foreign Affairs Officer Libby Strait to discuss the priorities and challenges facing the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. Biography: Libby Strait has served as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State since 2011. She currently works in the Bureau of Conflict & Stabilization Operations (CSO), where she leads the bureau’s efforts to prevent and mitigate violent conflict in West Africa. She has previously served as Acting Deputy Director for the bureau’s Africa Office and as Team Lead for East Africa. During her tenure with the Department, Libby has deployed to U.S. Missions in Nigeria, Kenya, and Mozambique, serving as an advisor to U.S. Ambassadors, country teams, and partners on conflict-related foreign policy challenges. She has also served at U.S. Africa Command and in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs. Prior to joining the State Department, Libby worked in international development and as a writer and editor for the Minnesota State House of Representatives. Libby is a proud Minnesotan, earned a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MA in International Affairs and Conflict Resolution from the George Washington University.

Summary: Sanctions expert and Professor Emeritus of Peace Studies George A. Lopez draws on his extensive research and experience in sanctions design and peace building to explain the advantages and drawbacks of targeted economic sanctions as a diplomatic tool, particularly in how they enable the US to intervene in nuclear threats, corrupt regimes, and human rights abuses. Biography: George A. Lopez is the Hesburgh Chair in Peace Studies, Emeritus, at the Kroc Institute, University of Notre Dame. Lopez's research and consultancy work focuses on economic sanctions, human rights, and various aspects in peacebuilding. Since 1992, Lopez has advised various international agencies and governments regarding sanctions issues, ranging from limiting their humanitarian impact to the design of targeted financial sanctions. He has written more than 40 articles and book chapters, as well as authored/ edited eight books, often with David Cortright of the Keough School, on economic sanctions. He frequently publishes op-eds on economic sanctions. From October, 2010 - July, 2011, he served on the United Nations Panel of Experts for monitoring and implementing UN Sanctions on North Korea. From September 2013 – July 2015 he was Vice President at the United States Institute for Peace in Washington, D.C.

Title: No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy: The Importance of Law and Humanitarian Values on the Battlefield An Interview with Colonel Ian Brasure by Evan Muller Summary: In this episode of ‘Students Talk Security’, Evan Muller will discuss Col. Brasure's career, the importance of international law, his involvement in humanitarian operations, and current and future events in military justice. Bio: Ian Brasure serves as an Attorney Advisor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where his legal practice includes the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and the U.S. telecommunications sector. Prior to joining DHS, he served as a Legal Advisor and Special Advisor to the Armed Forces Department in the International Committee of the Red Cross Regional Delegation for the United States and Canada, where his work concerned emerging issues related to armed conflict and their humanitarian impact. Ian served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 30 years and concluded his career as Deputy Legal Advisor at the White House within the National Security Council (NSC). This assignment included responsibility for the provision of legal advice to the President of the United States and the National Security Advisor on matters pertaining to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, arms control/nonproliferation, weapons of mass destruction, and space and maritime law. During his tenure at the NSC he was the senior Marine Corps officer serving at the White House.

Summary: On our second episode of Outside the Box, Mike and Jim discuss U.S.-Israel relations after the Trump Administration. Under the 45th President, the United States moved closer to the positions of the Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud government than any previous Administration, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, encouraging the historic Abraham Accords between the Jewish state and the United Arab Emirates, and withdrawing from the Obama Administration’s Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). On the other hand, the Israel-Palestine conflict remains frozen and the new Biden Administration has committed itself to reengaging Iran. To discuss these and other issues, Mike and Jim are joined by Jessica Smith, Chief Operating Officer, and Dylan Williams, Senior Vice President for Policy and Strategy of J Street, an organization committed to providing a political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans.

Recorded: February 9, 2021 Host: Joseph Parent Speaker: Keren Yarhi-Milo

What’s in the Box for the Biden Administration? by Notre Dame International Security Center

An interview with Lt. General Eric T. Fick USAF by Martin Heli Summary: Martin Heli, a Notre Dame senior, and Lt. General Eric T. Fick USAF, the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (Notre Dame class of ‘90) discuss the implications of international partnership in the F-35 program. Key topics are the technological advantages of fifth-generation aircraft in alliances, partner input in development, and the challenges of successful cooperation on such a complex system. Biography: Lt. Gen. Eric T. Fick is the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Virginia. The F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office is the Department of Defense’s agency responsible for developing, delivering and sustaining the F-35A/B/C, the next-generation strike aircraft weapon system for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, eight international partners and four current foreign military sales customers. Lt. Gen. Fick entered the Air Force in September of 1990 after graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. He has served as a Logistics Plans and Programs Officer, F-16 Fighting Falcon Mechanical Systems Engineer, Computational Fluid Dynamics Research Engineer, Joint System Program Office Chief of Test, Air Staff Branch Chief, Deputy Chief of the Air Force Senate Liaison Office and Director of Global Reach Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. Lt. Gen. Fick has commanded at the squadron and group level and served twice as an Air Force Program Executive Officer. Additionally, he has logged more than 350 hours in the T-38 Talon, F-15 Eagle, F-16 and other military and civilian experimental aircraft. Prior to his current assignment, Lt. Gen. Fick was the Deputy Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program.

Speaker: Lindsey O'Rourke Host: Eugene Gholz Recorded: November 3, 2020

Title: The Arrest of a Foreign General: Corruption, Cartels, and U.S.-Mexico Cooperation An interview with Guillermo Trejo by Tatiana Pernetti Summary: In this episode of ‘Students Talk Security’, Associate Professor of Political Science and Faculty Fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Guillermo Trejo, will describe the recent U.S. arrest of Mexico's General Salvador Cienfuegos. As an adviser to the Mexican government, Professor Trejo provides insight into corruption in Mexico and how it affects U.S.-Mexico cooperation. Biography: Guillermo Trejo is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame and Faculty Fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Trejo's research focuses on political and criminal violence, social movements, human rights, and transitional justice. He is the director of the Violence and Transitional Justice Lab at the Kellogg Institute. Professor Trejo is the author of two books and more than thirty articles and book chapters for which he has received seven international awards from the American Political Science Association and the American Sociological Association. Trejo just published a book last month titled “Votes, Drugs, and Violence: The Political Logic of Criminal Wars in Mexico” which seeks to explain the outbreak of major drug wars in Mexico as the country transitioned from authoritarian rule to democracy. He is also advising me on my thesis on rule of law in Latin America.

Title: Arctic Shock: Utilizing Climate Change to Test A Theory of Resource Competition Speaker: Jonathan Markowitz Host: Eugene Gholz Recorded: October 27, 2020

An Interview with Captain Brockelmeyer and LTC Trey Lachicotte by Clark Bowden andEvan Muller Biographies: Cody Brockelmeyer enlisted in the Marine Corps in April of 2006, and served at the Legal Services Support Section in Okinawa, Japan where he served as NCOIC of the Pacific Regional Defense Counsel’s office. From 2009 to 2013, he served as Legal Management Chief for the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. During this time, Sergeant Brockelmeyer deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland University College. In 2013, Staff Sergeant Brockelmeyer was accepted to the Enlisted Commissioning Program, attended OCS, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He was designated as a supply and logistics officer, he was assigned to Second Battalion, Seventh Marines in Twentynine Palms, CA. From 2014-2016, he deployed twice to the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, and completed his Master of Business Administration degree from Northwest Christian University. In 2017, Captain Brockelmeyer was promoted to his current rank, and was assigned to his present duties as Marine Officer Instructor for the NROTC unit, University of Notre Dame. He currently teaches Fundamentals of Maneuver Warfare and Evolution of Warfare, and has completed a Doctor of Business Administration degree from Northcentral University. Capt. Brockelmeyer primarily works with the senior MIDN leadership, providing guidance to the BCO, BXO, and BOPS. Additionally, he teaches both the Fundamentals of Maneuver Warfare and the Evolution of Warfare classes. _____________________________________ LTC Trey Lachicotte is a 2000 graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he received two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Accounting and Finance. Upon Graduation, he received a commission in the Infantry. His civilian education also includes a Master of Art in Global and International Studies from the University of Kansas, as well as, a Master of Military Art and Science in Theater Operations from the US Army Command and General Staff College. LTC Lachicotte has served in the United States Army for 20 years as an officer in the Infantry and Special Forces branches.

An Interview with Lt. Austin Chung by Benjamin Erhardt Summary: Notre Dame sophomore Benjamin Erhardt sits down with his former professor and current Notre Dame Naval ROTC instructor, Lt. Austin Chung, USN, to discuss a variety of topics centered on the theme of bolstering American security while promoting unity. Their discussions include: the importance of international alliances in promoting American security and foreign policy interests abroad, Lt. Chung's own experiences from his time serving in the Navy while based in Japan, and -- in light of the upcoming 2020 elections -- civil discourse in the military and how it helps promote unity and constant maintenance of American security. Biography: Lt. Austin Chung graduated from Villanova University in 2013 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He received a commission through the Villanova University Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps as a Surface Warfare Officer Nuclear Option and reported to his first tour onboard USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) stationed in San Diego, CA. While serving onboard USS Chancellorsville, he received his Officer of the Deck, Surface Warfare Coordinator, and Surface Warfare Officer qualifications. He then reported to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) based in Yokosuka, Japan where he served as the Reactor Controls Division Officer and deputy to the commands Reactor Training Assistant. While stationed with Forward Deployed Naval Forces Japan, he completed four Western Pacific Patrols and two maintenance availabilities, received his Propulsion Plant Watch Officer, Engineering Officer of the Watch and Nuclear Engineer Officer qualifications, and was recognized as the 2017 Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific Propulsion Plant Watch Officer of the Year. At Notre Dame, Lt. Chung works with senior-year students in Notre Dame's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. In this role, he prepares the seniors to enter the fleet as well as teaching the Naval Operations class.

Title: The Sources of Forced Displacement Speaker: Lise Howard and Filip Savatic Host: Eugene Gholz Recorded: October 13, 2020

An Interview with Erin Connolly by Kenzie Phillips Summary: A discussion with a rising national security professional about nuclear policy and women in security. Biography: Erin Connolly is the associate program director for Girl Security and a fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, where she previously worked as a research assistant. Erin has written on topics including nuclear terrorism, Iran, North Korea, and next-generation engagement. Erin is currently pursuing a Masters in global affairs and international peace studies at The University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs and Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. As part of this program, Erin is working with King's College London Center for Science and Security Studies July - December 2020 where she is focusing on nuclear arms control.

An Interview with Professor Thanos P. Dokos by Joseph Simone Summary: In this episode of ‘Students Talk Security’, we will discuss security issues involving countries in the Mediterranean and Easter European region and learn how they impact the world as a whole. Biography: Professor Thanos P. Dokos received his Ph.D. in International Relations from Cambridge University and has held research positions at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt and the Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. Dokos has previously served as the Director for Research in the Strategic Studies Division for the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense and as an Advisor on NATO issues to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1999 he moved to the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy as Director of Research, and in 2006 he became Director-General of the think tank. Dokos has also taught at the Universities of Athens and Piraeus, the Hellenic National Defense College, the Diplomatic Academy, and the Hellenic National Security School, and currently teaches at College Year in Athens. He is a specialist in Greek-Turkish relations and Mediterranean security.

An interview with Dr. James McAdams by Zoe Desch Summary: This podcast will be about the destabilizing effect lies (or the lack of truth) from politicians and public figures can have on a country. A well educated citizenry is important to the democratic process and with the advent of social media information and misinformation are quickly and easily disseminated to the public. This information divides and confuses the electorate such that the truth becomes difficult to find. Dr. McAdams' class on Truth and Politics addresses the danger of losing sight of the truth and the dangers presented by misinformation to liberal democracies. Biography: Dr. McAdams is a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, where he holds the William M. Scholl Endowed Chair in International Affairs. His primary fields of research and teaching are in comparative politics, international relations, and political history. Between 2002 and 2018, he was Director of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, an interdisciplinary institute dedicated to the study of contemporary Europe, in the broadest sense of the term. He is also a fellow of the Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies and the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. All of these institutes are affiliates of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs. He also has a passion for political philosophy.

Title: America's First Failed War on Terror: Understanding the Failure of Reconstruction Speaker: Dan Byman Host: Eugene Gholz Recorded: September 22, 2020

An Interview with Major Mike Murrell by Matthew Carranza **Any opinions that Maj. Murrell expresses are completely his own and do not reflect those of the US Army.** Summary: In this episode of ‘Students Talk Security’, Matthew Carranza focuses on the military aspect of international relations given Major Murrell’s background. Matthew is interested in his past experiences, his thoughts on how overall missions work on the ground level, and what he has seen while deployed in foreign nations. Matthew believes Major Murrell’s perspective on US military relations with other nations will be particularly insightful, and will give us a closer look to what actually happens as a result of our national defense policies. Biography: Major Mike Murrell enlisted in the Army in 2003. After 4 years of service, he attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning where he was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer in 2008. He has served in several leadership roles including Battalion S2 for the 95th Military Police Battalion in Mannheim, Germany, was the Company Commander with Division West, First Army, and was a Strategic Planner for J2 at US Southern Command. His awards and decorations include, but are not limited to, the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 2 bronze oak leaf, and Army Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Excelsior College and a master’s degree in Military Arts and Science from the Air University. He is currently in his second year as an Assistant Professor of Military Science in Notre Dame’s Army ROTC program.

An Interview with Dr. Ernesto Verdeja by Lauren Pizzella Summary: In this episode of ‘Students Talk Security’, Associate Professor of Political Science and Peace Studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Ernesto Verdeja, will provide a brief summary of what mass atrocities are, what are their causes, and what we can do to prevent them. It will discuss current international events that pertain to mass atrocities and human rights including the Myanmar ethnic cleansing, the rise of the far-right in the US, US sanctions on ICC officials, and COVID-19. Lastly, it will allow Professor Verdeja about his experiences working with governments and some of the challenges he has faced during peacebuilding. Biography: Professor Verdeja is an associate Professor of Political Science and Peace Studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Professor Verdeja’s research has focused on large-scale political violence (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity), transitional justice, forgiveness and reconciliation, and trials, truth commissions, apologies, and reparations. He is the author of “Unchopping a Tree: Reconciliation in the Aftermath of Political Violence” and is co-editor of volumes on peacebuilding and social movements, the field of genocide studies, and the international politics of genocide. Professor Verdeja received his Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from the New School for Social Research in New York City. He has worked on human rights at the International Center for Transitional Justice and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (now Human Rights First) and also served on the Advisory Board of the International Association of Genocide Scholars and the United States Institute of Peace's RESOLVE Research Advisory Group. He is currently working on a book project on comparative genocide as well as co-directing a project mapping state security force structures around the world and working as the Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Genocide (a non-profit organization founded in 1982 to promote research and policy analysis on the causes and prevention of genocide and political violence.) Professor Verdeja also regularly consults with the U.S. government, foreign governments, and human rights organizations on genocide and mass atrocity prevention, and on justice and reconciliation efforts.

Title: The Theoretical Case for Taking American Exceptionalism Seriously Speaker: Hilde Restad Host: Eugene Gholz Recorded: September 1, 2020

Recorded: April 21, 2020 Hosted by: Dan Lindley Chaplain (Colonel) Larry Dabeck is the 2019-2020 US Army War College Fellow, studying and writing for the Army on developing senior strategic leadership. He has three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was awarded the Bronze Star for, “selfless and dignified service in caring for the spiritual needs of wounded and deceased enemy soldiers….” He served for three years as the graduate instructor for ethics at the US Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC), helping to found the GEN Hugh Shelton Chair in Ethics. He presented his research on Virtuous Combatants at the 2012 CGSC Annual Army Ethics Symposium. He most recently served as a senior religious affairs advisor for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, and Combatant Commands. Chaplain Dabeck serves as a US Army Chief of Chaplains senior leader and a senior ethicist for the Army Chaplain Corps.

Title: Small Arms: Children and Terrorism Speaker: Mia Bloom Host: Dan Lindley Recorded: April 30, 2019

Title: The North Korean Nuclear Crisis Speaker: Vipin Narang Host: Dan Lindley Recorded: April 16, 2019

Title: Power: A Temporal View Speaker: Daniel Drezner Host: Dan Lindley Recorded: April 2, 2019

Title: Dispelling the Terrorist Safe Haven Myth: Why Americans are Safer than They Think Speaker: Risa Brooks Host: Dan Lindley Recorded: February 26, 2019

An interview with Assistant Professor Joseph Parent by Andrew Jarocki Summary: Can America retrench? In this edition of Students Talk Security, student Andrew Jarocki sits down with international relations expert Joseph Parent to discuss if recent headline news from various hotspots around the world should cause a change in American grand strategy. From Saudi Arabia to Venezuela, Professor Parent and Andrew discuss (and sometimes argue) over where and when America should still be involved. Biography: Joseph Parent is a well-regarded writer and lecturer on international affairs, Parent received his Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professor Parent, who came to Notre Dame after teaching at Miami, is currently Associate Professor of Political Science and Associate Director of the Notre Dame International Security Center. He teaches international relations theory, security studies, grand strategy, and foreign policy. Some Parent Trivia: A Notre Dame fan since way back when, he attended the football game against Boston College during which the final scene from the movie Rudy was filmed! He is the published author or co-author of American Conspiracy Theories, Uniting States, and most recently, Twilight of the Titans

An interview with Professor Felipe Fernandez-Armesto by Joseph Simone Summary: In this episode of ‘Student Talk Security’, Prof. Felipe Fernandez-Armesto will compare U.S. foreign policy of the past and present, discuss security threats today and other times in history, and explain how current U.S. policy is affecting the Hispanic community. Biography: Felipe Fernandez-Armesto is an esteemed member of the University of Notre Dame History Department. Born in London to a Spanish father and an English mother, Prof. Fernandez-Armesto completed his undergraduate and doctoral education at the University of Oxford. He joined the Notre Dame faculty in 2009 after previously holding positions at the University of Oxford and Tufts University. Prof. Fernandez-Armesto has authored over twenty books, contributed numerous times to news sources such as the New York Times and BBC, and has received many awards including the Grand Cross of the Order of Alfonso X the Wise.

Recorded November 10, 2018 Adm. Christopher Grady is a native of Newport, Rhode Island. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and was commissioned an ensign through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program. Grady is a distinguished graduate of Georgetown University where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies while concurrently participating as a fellow in Foreign Service at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also a distinguished graduate of the National War College earning a Master of Science in National Security Affairs. He assumed command of U.S. Fleet Forces Command/U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command on May 4, 2018. In his most recent assignment, he was the commander, U.S. 6th Fleet and the commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, while simultaneously serving as the deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa. Additional flag assignments include director of the Maritime Operations Center (N2/3/5/7), Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1/Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group where he deployed for nearly 10 months to the Western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf conducting combat operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve; and commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic. At sea, Grady’s initial tour was aboard USS Moosbrugger (DD 980) as combat information center officer and antisubmarine warfare officer. As a department head, he served as weapons control officer and combat systems officer aboard USS Princeton (CG 59). He was commanding officer of Mine Countermeasures Rotational Crew Echo aboard USS Chief (MCM 14), and deployed to the Arabian Gulf in command of USS Ardent (MCM 12). Grady then commanded USS Cole (DDG 67), deploying as part of NATO’s Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean. As commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, he deployed to the Arabian Gulf as sea combat commander for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Ashore, Grady first served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then as naval aide to the chief of naval operations. He also served on the staff of the chief of naval operations as assistant branch head, Europe and Eurasia Politico-Military Affairs Branch (OPNAV N524). He then served as executive assistant to the Navy’s Chief of Legislative Affairs. Next, he served as the deputy executive secretary of the National Security Council in the White House. He then went on to serve as the executive assistant to the chief of naval operations. His personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four gold stars, Meritorious Service Medal with four gold stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, and the Combat "V", and Joint Service Achievement Medal. Grady is a joint specialty officer.

Title: The Insular Advantage: Geography and the Durability of American Alliances Speaker: Josh Shifrinson Host: Rose Kelanic Recorded: November 6, 2018

America's Longest War: Prospects of Peace in Afghanistan An interview with Ambassador David Robinson by Fabiola Shipley Summary: In this episode of ‘Student Talk Security’, Ambassador David Robinson will discuss recent developments in Afghanistan, the politics of the upcoming peace talks and the potential for lasting peace in the wake of America’s longest war. Biography: Ambassador Robinson was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations and Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization on January 4, 2016. He is a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. Throughout his Foreign Service career, Ambassador Robinson has worked in conflict zones and unstable environments, specializing in refugee and migration issues. Previously, Ambassador Robinson served as the Principal Deputy High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina where he was responsible for implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan from 2013 to 2014, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration from 2009 to 2013, and the Special Coordinator for Venezuela in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs from 2008 to 2009. Ambassador Robinson also served as the United States Ambassador to Guyana from 2006 to 2008, as Deputy Chief of Mission in the United States Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia and in Asunción, Paraguay at different times. Earlier he had assignments in posts in El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Iceland. Ambassador Robinson received a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. from the National War College, and a Master of Divinity from Christ the King Seminary.

Internet Security in China and US An interview with Professor Michel Hockx by James Luk Summary: This podcast is a timely discussion of Internet Security in China and the US during National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Cybersecurity is of increasing prevalence in today’s world, this podcast will examine the topic of erecting boundaries and borders within cyberspace. Biography: Professor Michel Hockx is a professor of Chinese Literature in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and the Director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies in the Keough School of Global Affairs. Hockx has published both in English and Chinese on topics related to modern Chinese poetry and literary culture, especially early 20th-century Chinese magazine literature and print culture and contemporary Internet literature. His latest book, Internet Literature in China, was listed by Choice magazine as one of the “Top 25 Outstanding Academic Titles of 2015.” Prior to Notre Dame, Hockx served as the director of the China Institute at SOAS, University of London, Hockx earned his PhD from Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Title: No Such Thing as a Little War: Beliefs, Intellectual History, and Liberal Military Intervention Speaker: Jacqueline Hazelton Host: Rose Kelanic Recorded: October 30, 2018

Drones: A Revolution in Airpower? An interview with Colonel Raymond O'Mara (ret.) by Patrick O'Mara Summary: This podcast will address how the rise and use of drones has changed air warfare. Biography: Dr. Raymond O’Mara is the founder and owner of Pointblank Strategic Analysis, where he provides multidisciplinary analysis and insight at the operational and strategic levels supporting defense and national security concept development for organizations. Dr. O’Mara has extensive experience in the startup and defense aviation sectors, having served as the Director of Strategic Programs for the Humatics Corporation, where he was responsible for developing strategic relationships with key aerospace partners as well as directing defense-oriented research and development, and also the Director of Air Campaign Strategy at Aurora Flight Sciences, a position that he took following his retirement after 29 years in the United States Air Force. During his Air Force career, he completed several operational and operational test flying assignments, amassing over 2,000 hours in the F-15C aircraft, served on the USAF headquarters staff, commanded the USAF’s Air-to-Air Weapon System Evaluation Program, and served as Chair of the Strategy Department at the Air War College. Dr. O’Mara is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Air Command and Staff College, the School of Advanced Airpower Studies and the Air War College. He completed his Ph.D. at MIT in Technology, Policy, and Engineering Systems.

States, Companies, and Terrorists: Global Affairs in the 21st Century An Interview with General Frank Taylor by Griffin Cannon Summary: In this episode we will examine the role of the state, as well as various non-state actors, in relation to the challenges we face moving into the 21st Century. Biography: General Frank Taylor is a distinguished member of the faculty of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs. Earning his Bachelors and Masters degrees at Notre Dame, General Taylor began his career in the United States Air Force. After 31 years in uniform, he transitioned to positions in government, serving in various roles at the Department of State, including as the ambassador-at-large for counterterrorism directly after the attacks of September 11th, 2001. General Taylor has also served in the Department of Homeland Security as the Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis as well as in the private sector as the vice president and chief security officer for General Electric.

Speaker: Ahsan Butt Host: Rose Kelanic Recorded: October 9, 2018

Phantom Warriors: What Happened to the Kurds? An interview with Dr. F. Gregory Gause, III by Carlo Perri Summary: In considering contemporary Middle Eastern geopolitics, it is nearly impossible to exclude discussion of the distinct groups of people who make up its major players. Furthermore, in light of the recent turmoil that has plagued the region, one of those major players has risen to prominence and earned the general support of the West. That group is the Kurds. Serving a crucial role in the defeat of ISIS in the Levant, these people enjoyed a distanced celebrity status with America and her allies. In the many months since, however, Western media has been relatively quiet on the activities of the Kurds. It seems strange that such an indispensable group in the defeat of one of the World’s greatest threats could, virtually over-night, disappear from the Western media’s ever-vigilant radar. That leaves us with the burning question: what happened to the Kurds? Bio: Dr. F. Gregory Gause III is the incumbent John H. Lindsey ’44 Chair and Head of the Department of International Affairs at Texas A&M University’s Bush School. Prior to this, he held faculty positions at the University of Vermont, Columbia University, and Harvard University. Dr. Gause graduated from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia with a degree in Political Science (1980) and earned a doctorate in the same subject from Harvard University (1987). He also studied Arabic at the American University in Cairo (1982-83) and Middlebury College (1984). He has since been a Fellow for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, a Fulbright Scholar at the American University in Kuwait, and a research fellow at the King Faisal Center for Islamic Studies and Research in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Gause focused his research on international politics in the Middle East, with a special focus on the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf. He has published three books, most notably The International Relations of the Persian Gulf (Cambridge University Press, 2010). His articles have been published in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Middle East Journal, Security Studies, Washington Quarterly, and National Interest, among others, and he has testified before both the House Committee on International Relations and the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on issues pertaining to the Persian Gulf. He continues to be a renown expert on Middle Eastern politics today.

Applying Lessons from Failed Peace Talks to Current Efforts: The 2006 Darfur Conflict Mediation, Syria, and Yemen An interview with Laurie Nathan by Monica Montgomery Summary: This episode discusses the failed 2005-2006 mediation effort in Darfur in which Professor Nathan was involved, examines why it failed, and applies some of its lessons to current mediation efforts. Brief Bio: Laurie Nathan is director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies’ new mediation program, which will serve as an international center of excellence for mediation research, training, policy and practice. Professor Nathan is also a Senior Mediation Advisor to the United Nations, serves on the UN Academic Advisory Council on Mediation and is the lead designer and trainer of the UN High Level Mediation Course. He has participated in high-level peacemaking efforts in Africa and helped design the mediation units of the African Union and African sub-regional bodies. He is the author of four books, co-editor of two books, and author of over 50 articles and chapters. Professor Nathan is a native of South Africa and was involved in the anti-apartheid movement.

Beyond Traditional Security: The Ascending Trajectory of Economic Security in China's National Security Portfolio An interview by Liam Dalton Interviewee: Huang Shan | Deputy Managing Editor and Editorial Board Member, Caixin Media

An interview with Ambassador Nina Hachigian by Alex Hachigian This episode delves into some of the most controversial issues that concern the United States and China today with the intention of developing the basis for sound foreign policy. After receiving her Bachelors of Science from Yale University, magna cum laude, and her J.D. from Stanford University, with distinction, Ambassador Nina Hachigian went on to work on the National Security Council for the Clinton Administration.  Then she joined the RAND Center for Asia Policy, ultimate serving as its director for four years. Next, she became Senior Vice President and a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress focussed on Asia Policy.  Then, in 2014, President Obama nominated Ambassador Hachigian to serve as the second U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. After being confirmed by the Senate, she went on to have a remarkable tenure as ambassador by strengthening American relations with Southeast Asia and being awarded the State Department's Superior Honor Award for her service.  Since the end of her time as ambassador, she has served the City of Los Angeles as Deputy Mayor for International Affairs. Ambassador Hachigian has published numerous articles and books, including as editor of the book Debating China: The U.S. – China Relationship in Ten Conversations.

Speaker: John Mearsheimer Host: Rose Kelanic Recorded: September 11, 2018

7 - 13 - 18 An interview with Garret Martin, Daniel Kelemen, Michael Desch on the SiriusXM Business Radio Powered by The Wharton School.

An interview with Dean Sara Sievers by Erin Hayes Summary: This episode of Students Talk Security addresses some of the refugee and migration crises around the world, their impact on security, and outlooks for the future. Sara Sievers is the Associate Dean of Policy and Practice for Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs. Prior to this position, Sara served as the founding executive director of Columbia University’s Center for Globalization and Sustainable Development and Harvard University’s Center for International Development. She also began the Developing Country Policy and Advocacy portfolio for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Health Program, building the strategy and early funding streams for the foundation’s global health objectives.

Speaker: Nuno Monteiro Host: Eugene Gholz Recorded: April 10, 2018

Speaker: Jennifer Erickson Host: Eugene Gholz Recorded: March 6, 2018

Recorded: March 1, 2018 Hosted by: Victoria Hui

Recorded: February 27, 2018 Hosted by: Eugene Gholz

An interview with Chris Haw by Griffin Cannon Starting from the recent papal conference on disarmament and moving on to the broader questions of religion and politics, this episode will discuss the difficult question of where the church features in the world of international relations. Christopher Haw does theology and peace studies here at Notre Dame. He earned his BA in theology and sociology from Eastern University and a masters in theology from Villanova. Leaving academia, he founded the Camden Community House, following in the tradition of the Catholic activist Dorothy Day and her Catholic Worker Houses. After ten years of this work and two books, Haw has returned to academia, writing his dissertation on the works of french scholar René Girard.

An Interview with Professor Kaufman by Eddie Damstra This episode will be about the present state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the potential or lack thereof to resolve the conflict in the foreseeable future.

An Interview with George A. Lopez by Monica Montgomery Returning from a conference on nuclear disarmament, Monica Montgomery and Professor George A. Lopez discuss the implications of Pope Francis’ statement on nuclear disarmament, current nuclear risks, the Nuclear Ban Treaty, and the strategy of deterrence.

An interview with Dr. Jimmy Gurulé by Erin Hayes In this episode, we will discuss the need for dynamic strategies in countering terrorism financing. We will also address recent updates regarding Iran, and the role that the Department of the Treasury plays in these issues.

General Michael Hayden (Former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency) A Jack Kelly and Gail Weiss Lecture Friday, October 27, 2017

Stacie Goddard Associate Professor, Political Science Wellesley College

An interview with Professor John Soares by Nicholas Marr Bringing a ​historical perspective to the international security discussion,​ ​John Soares offers insight into the​ underestimated role of sport, particularly hockey, during the Cold War.​ Nick and Prof. Soares​ also​ look at ​the successes and failures of U.S. deterrence strategy during the Cold War and ​accordingly, ​considerations ​that​ should guide ​future ​decision-making on the appropriate application of deterrence.

Speaker: Dr. Suzanne Fry Host: Dr. Rose Kelanic Co-sponsored with the Keough School of Global Affairs

Seminar Series speaker, Joslyn Barnhart, from Wesleyan University.

Given the recent Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar, Alex Yom and Susan Ostermann discuss how the formation of the Rohingya crisis, the greater geopolitical effects that the crisis has on regional powers in Asia such as India and China, and possible next steps for the United Nations and the United States. Susan Ostermann is Assistant Professor of Global Affairs at the Keough School of Global Affairs, with expertise in regulatory compliance and comparative politics in South Asia.

Madeleine O’Mara speaks to Professor Gholz about how a restrained grand strategy would be in the national interest.

An in-depth interview with Beth Grosoli

Given the recent escalation of missile tests, Mackenzie Nolan and Mr. Jae Woong Lee will speak about the dire situation with North Korea. Specifically, this talk will cover the Six Party talks, the 1994 Agreed framework, the international implications and possible solutions for moving forward. Mr. Jae Woong Lee is a diplomat of the Republic of Korea and a visiting fellow at the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian studies. He has spent extensive time working on multilateral cooperation and will return to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to serve as a career diplomat after his time here.

Recorded: September 8, 2017

An in-depth interview with Beth Grisoli.

An in-depth interview by Beth Grisoli.

An in-depth interview by Beth Grisoli.

An in-depth interview with Notre Dame International Security Center's Associate Director, Eugene Gholz, by Beth Grisoli.

An in-depth interview of the Notre Dame International Security Center director, Michael Desch, by Beth Grisoli.

Wendy Pearlman - After the 'Refugee Crisis': Host State Policies, Socio-Economic Class, and a New Syrian Diaspora in Turkey and Germany

Jacob Shapiro - Linking Small Successes to Strategic Victory by Notre Dame International Security Center

Chris Layne - International Politics, U.S. Grand Strategy, and the End of the Pax Americana by Notre Dame International Security Center

Walter McDougall - The Tragedy of U.S. Foreign Policy by Notre Dame International Security Center

NDISC Unmanned Aerial Systems John Coglianese Lecture by Notre Dame International Security Center

Page Fortna - Choosing Terror: Rebels' Use of Terrorism in Civil Wars 1970 - 2014 by Notre Dame International Security Center

Seok Joon Kim - Do Costly Signals Matter? A Survey Experimental Study by Notre Dame International Security Center

Army War College - National Security Strategy: Recommendations for the Next President by Notre Dame International Security Center

Sebastian Rosato - The Road to Hell: Uncertainty, Intentions, and Great Power Politics by Notre Dame International Security Center

Jason Lyall - Why Armies Break - Explaining Mass Desertion In Conventional War by Notre Dame International Security Center

Dina Smeltz - Foreign Policy and Public Opinion in 2016 by Notre Dame International Security Center

Carrie Lee - Politics Of Military Operations: Evidence from Vietnam by Notre Dame International Security Center