So everyone is bashing Obama’s use of red lines on Syria. In Sunday's New York Times, Daniel Byman took the concept of red lines to task because failure to act on them weakens America’s credibility and reputation: …when deterrence fails, the United States looks weak and indecisive.... Moreover, not acting after issuing ultimatums harms America’s reputation. As Mr. Rogers and others have argued, inaction makes it more likely that American red...
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Call for Nominations: ISA Theory Section Book Award
The International Studies Association Theory Section Book Award The International Studies Association Theory Section Book Award recognizes the best book or edited volume published over the past two years that contributes to the theorization of world politics. The award is open to all forms and styles of theorization. Criteria include such considerations as innovativeness, quality of argumentation, and significance for the broad discipline of...
Human Rights Treaties are Like Virginity Pledges, Part Deux
A little over a month ago, I wrote about the growing academic literature concerning human rights treaties and their lack of influence on human rights practices. Based on my own experiences growing up in parts of the U.S. where it’s assumed we can "[Rebuild] Our Culture One Purity Ball at a Time,” I likened human rights treaties to virginity pledges, saying that “in most circumstances, these human rights “pledges” don’t work to improve human...
Save Marriage
Well, the American Community Survey's "number of times married" question. I'm reprinting the following (mass) email from the Minnesota Population Center about pending changes to the ACS that will dramatically affect our ability to know how many times Americans have been divorced or married. Social science solidarity! Dear IPUMS User, I am writing to alert you that the Census Bureau is planning to drop the question on "number of times married"...
This Monster Duck is Coming to Eat You. And Your Family Too.
Many, many people have emailed or tweeted this image to me. But the best version, by far, is the one above. It has been making the rounds on Facebook and comes from "OP."
Monday Morning Linkage
Good morning ducks! Here's your update from District 12... Kalpona Aktar just wants you to know who is making your clothes. Myra MacDonald argues that the TTP has a plan to influence the elections and the people do not. The "bewildering bloodbath" will go on and the only way to keep track is to count the dead children. These photos make the exercise of biopower seem so clean and clinical. Jean Valjean is living below the poverty...
North Korea is an ‘Upper Volta with Missiles’ who Cried Wolf Too Often
The North Korea flap seems to be calming down, so here I reprint my original essay from the Diplomat a few weeks ago on the crisis, plus a follow-up ‘response to my critics’ essay from the China Policy Institute Blog of the University of Nottingham and e-IR. Together, I think they make a nice whole, although it's a little long for a blog-post. I would like to thank Harry Kazianas of the Diplomat, John Sullivan of Nottingham, and Max Nurnus of...
Sharing Power: America’s Strategic Choices
The Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College has just published my latest effort, a study of America’s strategic choices and the prospects for a grand strategy based on the two principles of Concert and Balance. The PDF is free to download. Bottom Line: the US does not have to choose between unipolar hegemony and 'coming home', as the reductionist debate often characterises it. Somewhere in that middle ground, it can retrench...
Friday Nerd Blogging: The Eve of the Fourth
With tomorrow being May 4th, it is only good and proper that we mark the eve of that most awesome of nerd holidays with this video. I have a serious case of envy. It would be a heap of fun to do what it takes to join the 501st Legion. I would definitely choose to wear a Rebel outfit. But I don't have the dedication or the skills to do what it takes. All I can say is: May the Fourth Be With You. And it will be with all of us soon enough as...
Talking Academic Journals: Publishing the “Best Work”
Note: this is the second in a series of posts opening up issues relating to journal process for general discussion by the international-studies community. All journals commit to publishing "the best work" that they receive within their remit. All journals aspire to publish "the best work," period, within their specialization. This raises special challenges for a journal such as the International Studies Quarterly, which constitutes the...
National Day of Prayer, Political Science Edition
Of the 6 churches I passed on my way to the office this morning, 3 reminded me that today is National Day of Prayer. In the spirit of the day, I’m following my Grandmother-in-Law’s advice and suggesting that we all pray for our enemies.[1] Here’s my list: Reviewer 2. Thanks for the suggestions! XOXO That guy I know from the chemistry department who always stops me in the grocery store to say things like “Hi, Ms. Political Scientist,...
Thursday Morning Linkage
Here is your Thursday Morning Linkage. Back on the Africa theme from a couple of weeks ago, here are some good reads from the week: More reports on the elephant poaching crisis in CAR Last rhinos in Mozambique killed by poachers with the help of park rangers; time for Kruger fences to come back up Alex de Waal trolls celebrity activists like Enough, Kony 2012, faults them for insufficient consultation with local actors on the ground Nigerian...