How a shift in tactical orientation by activists opposing the border camps might make all the difference.
The Enemy’s Gate is Down
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Bad Advice on Making Academic Babies: opting in and out of heteronormative panic
What I remember most about my post-grad Gender and Politics seminar were the extensive discussions we had about having babies. It was 2004, and debates about babies vs careers, and whether women...
Belated Friday Nerd Blogging: Scottish Secession Edition
I am not a fan of Scottish independence, so I thought we should get equal time from the Yes/Aye side:
Tweets of the Week
Though I've been blogging at the Duck of Minerva for more than 9 years, I haven't posted much content for several years. My last post here was in mid-February. You can find maybe half a dozen...
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Tuesday Afternoon Linkage Club
A very restricted number of links today: Jennifer Victor lays out the strategy for an effective lobbying effort for political science. [The Mischiefs of Faction] Phil Schrodt delivers a sensible assessment of the state of play, including a warning about vitriol and a savage critique of the APSA. My thoughts are mixed: Vitriol is probably counterproductive, but some form of targeted shaming is probably justified---a vote against NSF independence is a vote against knowledge---but Schrodt is definitely right that the NSF won't play games with projects if Congress gives it clear instructions....
Shakespeare, Cyprus, and the End of the Euro Crisis
Much ado. Investors keep getting burned in betting on the exit of members of the Eurozone, let alone the breakup of the currency/monetary union of the EU. And econ/business experts keep getting their predictions wrong. The simple reason: the EU, from its econ/financial area to the vast array of its other policy areas, at heart is a political project. Events continue to show that despite the painful strains of major economic duress, this commitment remains intact. Despite the messy manner in which its member state governments deal with crises--largely explained by institutional reasons,...
The US-Iraq Conflict: A War of Rivalry?
This is a guest post by Konstantinos Travlos of the University of Illinois and Brandon Valeriano of the University of Glasgow. The mark of the ten year anniversary of the beginning of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 has been, as such anniversaries tend to be, a chance for scholars, pundits and politicians to take stock of the past and evaluate the present. Reactions have ranged from a stubborn support of the war  to quasi-celebrations on the side of opponents of the war. For all sides, the causes of the war have been a major point of contention. We concern ourselves with this part of the...
Debating the Benefits of Nuclear Superiority for Crisis Bargaining, Part II
Todd Sechser and Matthew Fuhrmann argue that possessing nuclear weapons confers few benefits for coercive diplomacy.
Debating the Benefits Nuclear Superiority for Crisis Bargaining, Part I
Matt Kroenig argues that states should strive for nuclear superiority as it confers strategic advantages.
Foreign Entanglements: Iraq Anniversary Edition
Catch my prescient NCAA prediction at the beginning.
Monday Morning Linkage
Good morning, Duckaroos! Â Here's your Monday linkage from... "Dixie": The South will rise again - according to the UN. Â No, not that South, the Global South. Â For the first time in two centuries, Brazil, India, and China's combined GDP is nearly equivalent to the combined GDP of the leading powers of North America and Europe. Â What lessons can the US learn? Himadeep Muppidi's "Reflections on Narrative Voice" in IR is a smart, "must read" article over at the Disorder of Things blog. Â He writes, "After soaking oneself in the nuance and complexity of narratives, conventional accounts of IR...
ISA Survival Guide for Grad Students: the essential clothing, food, shelter, and networking dos and don’ts
It is time again for the International Studies Association Annual Conference. With thousands of attendees, a phone book full of panels, and a slough of receptions, dinners, meetings, and opportunities, the whole thing can be a bit overwhelming as a grad student (and for everyone else too!). You've likely received advice on how to present your work in 10 seconds or less- but what about the rest of the conference? Here are a couple of key tips for surviving the four days and getting the most out of the experience. Before we get to the real essentials (food, shelter, and clothing), let's start...