Duck of Minerva
@duckofminerva.bsky.social
đ€ 2408
đ„ 0
đ 78
Academic international relations/political science blog.
Rest Well, Raul Pacheco-Vega Our community lost the inimitable RaĂșl Pacheco-Vega this week. Someone who knew him better than me should write a more definitive remembrance and maybe they have in some other corner of the internet. But, I havenât seen a longer treatment yet (here is a terrific one!),âŠ
loading . . .
Rest Well, Raul Pacheco-Vega
Our community lost the inimitable RaĂșl Pacheco-Vega this week. Someone who knew him better than me should write a more definitive remembrance and maybe they have in some other corner of the internet. But, I havenât seen a longer treatment yet (here is a terrific one!), so I thought Iâd have a go at a remembrance. RaĂșl lived his life…
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/06/rest-well-raul-pacheco-vega.html
13 days ago
2
68
32
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Duck contributor
@raulpachecovega.bsky.social
. He was a friend to all on their social science journeys. If anyone would like to write a tribute, please DM us.
add a skeleton here at some point
17 days ago
0
20
10
Dugin, the Ultimate Tradwife Alexander Dugin is one of those figures who hover permanently in the discussions about Russian ideology, Eurasianism, empire, conservatism, and whatever else people project onto modern Russia. Contrary to popular belief, he is not âPutinâs favorite philosopherâ (thatâŠ
loading . . .
Dugin, the Ultimate Tradwife
Alexander Dugin is one of those figures who hover permanently in the discussions about Russian ideology, Eurasianism, empire, conservatism, and whatever else people project onto modern Russia. Contrary to popular belief, he is not âPutinâs favorite philosopherâ (that would be Ivan Ilâin). But given that the Russian state has yet to articulate the vision of Russiaâs future, I settled for the next best thing: an…
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/06/dugin-the-ultimate-tradwife.html
17 days ago
0
2
1
I choose to celebrate Eurovision There are two posts I could have written about the latest Eurovision song contest. One would focus on another controversy over Israelâs participation and high vote count. The other would focus on the first-time win for Bulgaria; a well-deserved win in my opinion. IâŠ
loading . . .
I choose to celebrate Eurovision
There are two posts I could have written about the latest Eurovision song contest. One would focus on another controversy over Israelâs participation and high vote count. The other would focus on the first-time win for Bulgaria; a well-deserved win in my opinion. I choose the latter. Another Israel controversy Despite saying I wouldnât write a post about Israel, I feel like I need to at least acknowledge the controversy.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/05/i-choose-to-celebrate-eurovision.html
30 days ago
0
1
1
Whither Scottish progressivism? Much of the discourse about the recent UK local elections had to do with the decline of Labour under Keir Starmer and the worrisome rise of the far-right Reform Party. This is obviously important, but the outcome in Scotlandâs parliamentary elections may have justâŠ
loading . . .
Whither Scottish progressivism?
Much of the discourse about the recent UK local elections had to do with the decline of Labour under Keir Starmer and the worrisome rise of the far-right Reform Party. This is obviously important, but the outcome in Scotlandâs parliamentary elections may have just as much of an impact on the future of UK politics. Devolution and Scotland This is a different topic than what I normally write about, although I have a…
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/05/whither-scottish-progressivism.html
about 1 month ago
0
0
0
Britain is experiencing wave of antisemitic terrorism: Whether organic or state-sponsored, it needs to be addressed Iâve been meaning to write this for awhile, and unfortunately it hasnât gone out of date. On April 29th, a man stabbed two Jewish people in London. Shortly before that someone threwâŠ
loading . . .
Britain is experiencing wave of antisemitic terrorism: Whether organic or state-sponsored, it needs to be addressed
Iâve been meaning to write this for awhile, and unfortunately it hasnât gone out of date. On April 29th, a man stabbed two Jewish people in London. Shortly before that someone threw a Molotov cocktail through the window of a synagogue. A string of attack preceded that, including the arson near the former offices of a Jewish charity, bricks being thrown at a synagogue, and the destruction of ambulances belonging to a Jewish organization.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/05/britain-is-experiencing-wave-of-antisemitic-terrorism-whether-organic-or-state-sponsored-it-needs-to-be-addressed.html
about 1 month ago
0
0
0
This Protestant feels confused: On moral authority and the Pope-Trump divide As I have discussed here, I am a proud Protestant. I was raised Lutheran, and am now Episcopalian. While there is some variation among Episcopalians and Anglicans over whether they see themselves as Protestant, both myâŠ
loading . . .
This Protestant feels confused: On moral authority and the Pope-Trump divide
As I have discussed here, I am a proud Protestant. I was raised Lutheran, and am now Episcopalian. While there is some variation among Episcopalians and Anglicans over whether they see themselves as Protestant, both my birth and adopted traditions are united in a rejection of the Popeâsâor as some call him, the Bishop of Romeâsâauthority. And as a fan of medieval and early modern history, I always vicariously sided with the political leaders who stood up to the Roman Catholic church.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/04/this-protestant-feels-confused-on-moral-authority-and-the-pope-trump-divide.html
about 2 months ago
0
2
2
I have a new open-access article out in Global Studies Quarterly, âWhatâs at Stake in the Indigenous Empire Debate,â in which I argue against historian Pekka HĂ€mĂ€lĂ€inenâs claims that the Comanche and the Lakota constituted empires.
loading . . .
Whatâs at Stake in the Indigenous Empire Debate
I have a new open-access article out in Global Studies Quarterly, âWhatâs at Stake in the Indigenous Empire Debate,â in which I argue against historian Pekka HĂ€mĂ€lĂ€inenâs claims that the Comanche and the Lakota constituted empires. Many others have provided reasons why we ought not to think of the Comanche or the Lakota polities as empires, but as I argue, this debate has been inconclusive because it has been lacking any clear definition of âempireâ according to which we might assess Comanche or Lakota practices.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/04/whats-at-stake-in-the-indigenous-empire-debate.html
about 2 months ago
1
3
4
The Gulf is a vital lynchpin of global stability, and it goes far beyond energy The US and Israelâs war on Iran and regional instability threatens to disrupt critical global migration patterns. These serve as vital pressure release valves for overcrowded and socio-economically stagnant mega citiesâŠ
loading . . .
The Gulf is a vital lynchpin of global stability, and it goes far beyond energy
The US and Israelâs war on Iran and regional instability threatens to disrupt critical global migration patterns. These serve as vital pressure release valves for overcrowded and socio-economically stagnant mega cities in the global south. Their disruption may cut off vital income for tens of millions and risk social unrest and instability far beyond the region. This precarious migration system operates at a massive scale.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/04/the-gulf-is-a-vital-lynchpin-of-global-stability-and-it-goes-far-beyond-energy.html
2 months ago
0
0
0
The Scripts We Perform: Militarized Masculinity and the Gendered Order Over the past month, U.S. President Donald Trump has shifted from misogynistic jabs to fullâscale performances of militarized authority, an evolution entirely consistent his political brand of hegemonic, martial masculinity. InâŠ
loading . . .
The Scripts We Perform: Militarized Masculinity and the Gendered Order
Over the past month, U.S. President Donald Trump has shifted from misogynistic jabs to fullâscale performances of militarized authority, an evolution entirely consistent his political brand of hegemonic, martial masculinity. In late 2025, U.S. Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley announced that the country had entered âan era of real masculinity thanks to the bold, muscular leadership of President Trump and our Secretary of War Pete Hegseth,â contrasting it with what she called the Biden administrationâs âdestructive, stupid era of toxic masculinity.â
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/04/the-scripts-we-perform-militarized-masculinity-and-the-gendered-order.html
2 months ago
0
3
3
Religious nationalism makes the profane sacred: True faith uses the sacred to heal the world For Western Christians, Holy Weekâthe most important time of the church calendarâjust finished. Like many other Christians, it is a powerful and challenging time of the year. We are meant to reflect on howâŠ
loading . . .
Religious nationalism makes the profane sacred: True faith uses the sacred to heal the world
For Western Christians, Holy Weekâthe most important time of the church calendarâjust finished. Like many other Christians, it is a powerful and challenging time of the year. We are meant to reflect on how we are self-assured in our devotion to Jesusâ teachings one minute and turn on Him the next, seeing ourselves in the disciples who abandoned him. We are supposed to meditate on the simultaneous horrors and hope in His crucifixion.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/04/religious-nationalism-makes-the-profane-sacred-true-faith-uses-the-sacred-to-heal-the-world.html
2 months ago
0
0
2
Watching Scientific Progress in Action Reacting to a recent event on the study of religion, conflict and peace
loading . . .
Watching Scientific Progress in Action
Reacting to a recent event on the study of religion, conflict and peace
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/04/watching-scientific-progress-in-action.html
3 months ago
0
0
0
Was I wrong on the Gulf states and Iran? An exercise in academic humility When I was in graduate school, my training included the methods and theories of international relations but also some of the epistemology and philosophy of science behind the sub-field. We discussed what makes a goodâŠ
loading . . .
Was I wrong on the Gulf states and Iran? An exercise in academic humility
When I was in graduate school, my training included the methods and theories of international relations but also some of the epistemology and philosophy of science behind the sub-field. We discussed what makes a good research program and how can we tell if weâre making any progress in understanding the world. One of my advisors was a fan of Imre Lakatosâ approach, which looks at whether a research program is uncovering new novel facts or adjusting its initial claims to make up for discrepant observations.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/03/was-i-wrong-on-the-gulf-states-and-iran-an-exercise-in-academic-humility.html
3 months ago
0
1
0
The Best and Worst of U.S. Foreign Policy(?) The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) recently published results of a survey of historians on the best and worst foreign policy decisions in U.S. history.
loading . . .
The Best and Worst of U.S. Foreign Policy(?)
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) recently published results of a survey of historians on the best and worst foreign policy decisions in U.S. history. There are few surprisesâwars in Vietnam and Iraq fared poorly, and the post-WWII creation of the institutions we associate with the âliberal international orderâ receives high marks. Among the most striking results to me is the fact that two of the ten worst foreign policy decisions in this list are related to the Indian Removal Act (one is the act itself; one is the forcible removal of the Cherokee).
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/03/the-best-and-worst-of-u-s-foreign-policy.html
3 months ago
1
2
1
6+1 Questions about Exit from International Organizations What is the name of the book and what are its coordinates? The book is Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change. It was published in June 2025 by Cambridge University Press. Whatâs the argument?âŠ
loading . . .
6+1 Questions about Exit from International Organizations
What is the name of the book and what are its coordinates? The book is Exit from International Organizations: Costly Negotiation for Institutional Change. It was published in June 2025 by Cambridge University Press. Whatâs the argument? Governments leave international organizations â such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or the World Health Organization (WHO) â in two ways.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/03/61-questions-about-exit-from-international-organizations.html
3 months ago
0
1
1
Iran and the shadow of the Kosovo intervention When I was in grad school in the mid-aughts, one Professor was a die-hard supporter of George W. Bushâs foreign policy. When challenged over the legality of Iraq, he noted that it is inconsistent for any liberal to oppose the invasion of Iraq whileâŠ
loading . . .
Iran and the shadow of the Kosovo intervention
When I was in grad school in the mid-aughts, one Professor was a die-hard supporter of George W. Bushâs foreign policy. When challenged over the legality of Iraq, he noted that it is inconsistent for any liberal to oppose the invasion of Iraq while supporting the NATO intervention in Kosovo. Both were ostensibly in support of humanitarian goals, and neither received UN Security Council authorization, rendering them illegal.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/03/iran-and-the-shadow-of-the-kosovo-intervention.html
4 months ago
0
0
0
Rubioâs civilizational appeals will backfire US Secretary of State Marco Rubioâs speech at the Munich Security Conference demonstrated he is a better diplomat than Vice President J.D. Vance, although thatâs not much of a hurdle to clear. Where Vance gave a bullying lecture, Rubioâs speech focusedâŠ
loading . . .
Rubioâs civilizational appeals will backfire
US Secretary of State Marco Rubioâs speech at the Munich Security Conference demonstrated he is a better diplomat than Vice President J.D. Vance, although thatâs not much of a hurdle to clear. Where Vance gave a bullying lecture, Rubioâs speech focused on emphasizing the importance of transatlantic ties and maintaining the US-European alliance. He argued the goal of this alliance, however, was to defend a common culture against the âthreatâ of immigration, raising concerns.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/02/rubios-civilizational-appeals-will-backfire.html
4 months ago
0
1
0
âFair Tradeâ and the revenge against the âForeignerâ: From Chamberlain to Trump A century before Trumpâs tariff threats, Joseph Chamberlain pitched the same idea: use duties as a âbig revolverâ to force rivals into âfair trade.â That history helps explain why âunfairnessâ rhetoric and coerciveâŠ
loading . . .
âFair Tradeâ and the revenge against the âForeignerâ: From Chamberlain to Trump
A century before Trumpâs tariff threats, Joseph Chamberlain pitched the same idea: use duties as a âbig revolverâ to force rivals into âfair trade.â That history helps explain why âunfairnessâ rhetoric and coercive foreign policy keep returning when hegemonic powers decline.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/01/fair-trade-and-the-revenge-against-the-foreigner-from-chamberlain-to-trump.html
5 months ago
0
1
0
Whatâs with all the racism? Iâve been wanting to write this post for some time. But every week just brings more bad news. More terrible examples. In November last year, the Dutch government almost collapsed over racist remarks made by one of the coalition government ministers. December was witnessâŠ
loading . . .
Whatâs with all the racism?
Iâve been wanting to write this post for some time. But every week just brings more bad news. More terrible examples. In November last year, the Dutch government almost collapsed over racist remarks made by one of the coalition government ministers. December was witness to the horrifying antisemitic attack at Bondi beach. President Donald Trump has called Somalis âgarbage.â
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/01/whats-with-all-the-racism.html
5 months ago
0
2
0
An Accidental Academic: 20 Years Later This is my 20th year at the University of Texas. Although my dad was a university professor, I'm something of an accidental academic. I sought to get my PhD with the hopes of doing something more in terms of public service. I started off my PhD at GeorgetownâŠ
loading . . .
An Accidental Academic: 20 Years Later
This is my 20th year at the University of Texas. Although my dad was a university professor, I'm something of an accidental academic. I sought to get my PhD with the hopes of doing something more in terms of public service. I started off my PhD at Georgetown inauspiciously. In the first week of school, I sat down with the legendary comparativist…
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/01/an-accidental-academic-20-years-later.html
5 months ago
0
3
1
How To Review Efficiently and Fairly Instead of Dry January, I'm going review free for January after having nearly 80 review requests last year. My New Year's resolution was to have a healthier relationships with reviewing, which had become a part-time, unpaid job (though I recognize that I'mâŠ
loading . . .
How To Review Efficiently and Fairly
Instead of Dry January, I'm going review free for January after having nearly 80 review requests last year. My New Year's resolution was to have a healthier relationships with reviewing, which had become a part-time, unpaid job (though I recognize that I'm still coming from a place of privilege). Nevertheless, while I didn't accept all of those requests, I did more than 30 last year.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/01/how-to-review-efficiently-and-fairly.html
5 months ago
0
3
1
Renee Goode and the limits of false terrorism charges On 7 January, US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents opened fire on Renee Goode, killing her. To be honest, I wanted to write a post on just how sad and terrifying this murder was. How wrong it is that ICE agents are targetingâŠ
loading . . .
Renee Goode and the limits of false terrorism charges
On 7 January, US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents opened fire on Renee Goode, killing her. To be honest, I wanted to write a post on just how sad and terrifying this murder was. How wrong it is that ICE agents are targeting opposition-led cities and using brutal tactics against people suspected of being in the US illegally and protesters, including…
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/01/renee-goode-and-the-limits-of-false-terrorism-charges.html
5 months ago
0
0
0
Trump, US foreign policy and Venezuela: Aberration or Honesty? In my international relations classes, I encourage my students to not just express their (mostly negative) views of Trumpâs foreign policy. I also ask them to reflect on the extent to which Trumpâs actions are in line with the historyâŠ
loading . . .
Trump, US foreign policy and Venezuela: Aberration or Honesty?
In my international relations classes, I encourage my students to not just express their (mostly negative) views of Trumpâs foreign policy. I also ask them to reflect on the extent to which Trumpâs actions are in line with the history of US foreign policy. Some see the United States as adhering to liberal international norms, with Trump a major break. Others argue the United States was always domineering and aggressive, so Trump shouldnât be much of a surprise.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/01/trump-us-foreign-policy-and-venezuela-aberration-or-honesty.html
5 months ago
0
1
0
Is Peer Review Broken? Should Reviewers Be Paid? My New Year's resolution for 2026 is to somehow make peace with reviewing for journals. Something is amiss, at least for me, but perhaps it reveals a larger problem related to journal and book publishing. I kept a running tally of review requestsâŠ
loading . . .
Is Peer Review Broken? Should Reviewers Be Paid?
My New Year's resolution for 2026 is to somehow make peace with reviewing for journals. Something is amiss, at least for me, but perhaps it reveals a larger problem related to journal and book publishing. I kept a running tally of review requests for 2025. Give or take some error, I had 79 review requests, which includes some R&Rs, book proposals, and a several full books.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2026/01/is-peer-review-broken-should-reviewers-be-paid.html
5 months ago
0
1
3
Remembering Our Lost Colleagues I started this post sort of confessionally. It's been a while since I wrote on the blog. I had started one earlier this year on the destruction of USAID and PEPFAR but redirected my energy into advocacy (such as it was). One reason for my relative absence on theâŠ
loading . . .
Remembering Our Lost Colleagues
I started this post sort of confessionally. It's been a while since I wrote on the blog. I had started one earlier this year on the destruction of USAID and PEPFAR but redirected my energy into advocacy (such as it was). One reason for my relative absence on the blog is government service. From 2021 to 2023, I was in the Biden Administration serving as a Senior Climate Advisor in the Department of Defense.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/12/remembering-our-lost-colleagues.html
6 months ago
1
9
2
Farewell The Hayseed Scholar podcast has come to a close. In this farewell episode, Brent's brother Kyle hosts it and they chat about the podcast and why Brent is closing it down. Two friends of the pod, Matt McDonald and Jelena Subotic, also join to mention what they liked and what theyâŠ
loading . . .
Farewell
The Hayseed Scholar podcast has come to a close. In this farewell episode, Brent's brother Kyle hosts it and they chat about the podcast and why Brent is closing it down. Two friends of the pod, Matt McDonald and Jelena Subotic, also join to mention what they liked and what they (Jelena) did not like about the podcast. Brent closes by asking Kyle, who is a LinkedIn rockstar, about the changing landscape of social media and reaching beyond an academic audience, before the two of them sign-off for good.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/12/farewell.html
6 months ago
0
5
2
Can the news ever be impartial? Probably not, but the problem isn't impartiality it's the politics of impartiality On November 9th, the director general of The BBC, Tim Davie, along with the head of news, Deborah Turness, resigned. Their resignation was in response to a report published in theâŠ
loading . . .
Can the news ever be impartial?
Probably not, but the problem isn't impartiality it's the politics of impartiality On November 9th, the director general of The BBC, Tim Davie, along with the head of news, Deborah Turness, resigned. Their resignation was in response to a report published in the British newspaper, The Telegraph, that claimed a BBC News programme, Panorama, edited a speech by President Donald Trump to make it appear as though he encouraged the Capital Riot.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/11/can-the-news-ever-be-impartial.html
7 months ago
0
2
0
Here We Go Again: Why American Presidents Canât Resist Regime Change The U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean is confusing the MAGA faithful. With rumors swirling of an imminent operation to topple Venezuelaâs Nicolas Maduro, the presidentâs supporters are asking what happened to âAmericaâŠ
loading . . .
Here We Go Again: Why American Presidents Canât Resist Regime Change
The U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean is confusing the MAGA faithful. With rumors swirling of an imminent operation to topple Venezuelaâs Nicolas Maduro, the presidentâs supporters are asking what happened to âAmerica Firstâ? Tucker Carlson recently remarked it was a âlittle strangeâ that the U.S. was telling another country, âwe donât like your leadership â leave or weâll kill you.â Trumpâs former chief strategist, …
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/11/here-we-go-again-why-american-presidents-cant-resist-regime-change.html
7 months ago
0
2
1
Bullies, Follies, and Decadent Orders: Constructing Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern On November 1, 2025, President Donald Trump threatened to end all U.S. assistance to Nigeria and â if he deemed it necessary â launch a military attack against insurgents in the country. As NationalâŠ
loading . . .
Bullies, Follies, and Decadent Orders: Constructing Nigeria as a Country of Particular ConcernÂ
On November 1, 2025, President Donald Trump threatened to end all U.S. assistance to Nigeria and â if he deemed it necessary â launch a military attack against insurgents in the country. As National Public Radio reported: âIf the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, âguns-a-blazing,â to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,â Trump posted on social media.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/11/bullies-follies-and-decadent-orders-constructing-nigeria-as-a-country-of-particular-concern.html
7 months ago
0
1
1
Exploring the Meaning of Responsibility Iâve been thinking a lot about the meaning of âresponsibility,â specifically in the context of politics and governance. We live in an age of populism, rising authoritarianism, disinformation, climate change, and the slaughter of civilians in places like GazaâŠ
loading . . .
Exploring the Meaning of Responsibility
Iâve been thinking a lot about the meaning of âresponsibility,â specifically in the context of politics and governance. We live in an age of populism, rising authoritarianism, disinformation, climate change, and the slaughter of civilians in places like Gaza and Sudan. The notions of responsibility associated with the so-called âliberal international orderâ are all under strain. Most of us, I think, rely on a kind of â
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/11/exploring-the-meaning-of-responsibility.html
7 months ago
0
1
0
Nuclear apocalypse now? Reflections on the movie âHouse of Dynamiteâ I had high hopes for director Kathryn Bigelowâs House of Dynamite, a new Netflix movie about U.S. nuclear command and control. Thereâs so much potential for cinema to unpack the dilemmas and tragedies of living under a nuclearâŠ
loading . . .
Nuclear apocalypse now? Reflections on the movie âHouse of Dynamiteâ
I had high hopes for director Kathryn Bigelowâs House of Dynamite, a new Netflix movie about U.S. nuclear command and control. Thereâs so much potential for cinema to unpack the dilemmas and tragedies of living under a nuclear sword of Damocles, and my initial reaction was disappointment at the ways this fails to be that movie. But for all its shortcomings, the film also serves as a sobering reminder of the profound peril nuclear weapons entail.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/11/nuclear-apocalypse-now-reflections-on-the-movie-house-of-dynamite.html
8 months ago
0
3
1
6+1 Questions About âThe Social Construction of Christian Persecution through Quantification in International Religious Freedom Advocacyâ What is the name of the journal article (or book) and what are its coordinates? Miray Philips. 2025. âThe Social Construction of Christian Persecution throughâŠ
loading . . .
6+1 Questions About âThe Social Construction of Christian Persecution through Quantification in International Religious Freedom Advocacyâ
What is the name of the journal article (or book) and what are its coordinates? Miray Philips. 2025. âThe Social Construction of Christian Persecution through Quantification in International Religious Freedom Advocacy.â Sociology of Religion. 2. Whatâs the argument? In Washington, DC, International Religious Freedom advocates mostly rely on data by the Pew Research Center on religious restrictions and Open Doors on Christian persecution.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/10/61-questions-about-the-social-construction-of-christian-persecution-through-quantification-in-international-religious-freedom-advocacy.html
8 months ago
0
1
0
Ceasefire NOW (but not *now*) After years of calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, a ceasefire was recently announced andâŠthose calling for the ceasefire are upset about it. There are some valid reasons to hold off on celebrating, but I worry this represents a deeper issue with how we conceive of peaceâŠ
loading . . .
Ceasefire NOW (but not *now*)
After years of calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, a ceasefire was recently announced andâŠthose calling for the ceasefire are upset about it. There are some valid reasons to hold off on celebrating, but I worry this represents a deeper issue with how we conceive of peace and how we study the Middle East. And this will only hurt the Palestinians these voices claim to champion.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/10/ceasefire-now-but-not-now.html
8 months ago
0
0
2
Antisemitism, Israel and the Problem with no Easy Solution Debates about Israel and Palestine have, as one scholar remarked to me, become the âthird railâ in British academia. That needs to change. The terror attack in Manchester makes clear that UK academics must engage in a public, thoughtful,âŠ
loading . . .
Antisemitism, Israel and the Problem with no Easy Solution
Debates about Israel and Palestine have, as one scholar remarked to me, become the âthird railâ in British academia. That needs to change. The terror attack in Manchester makes clear that UK academics must engage in a public, thoughtful, and careful discussion about Jews, Israel and Palestine. On October 2nd, 2025 â on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur â a Synagogue in Manchester was attacked in what has been officially labelled a…
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/10/antisemitism-israel-and-the-problem-with-no-easy-solution.html
8 months ago
0
0
0
The Mirage of Great-Power Competition Photo by Dave Photoz on Unsplash Back in March, I wrote a post at Lawyers, Guns and Money called âRemember âGreat Power Competition?â Lol.â As the âGrand Strategyâ of Trump 2.0 comes into focus, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit and update it. InâŠ
loading . . .
The Mirage of Great-Power Competition
Photo by Dave Photoz on Unsplash Back in March, I wrote a post at Lawyers, Guns and Money called âRemember âGreat Power Competition?â Lol.â As the âGrand Strategyâ of Trump 2.0 comes into focus, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit and update it. In brief, the normie national-security advisors who dominated the first Trump administration needed a way to make Trumpâs semi-coherent ramblings legible to the global foreign-policy community.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/10/the-mirage-of-great-power-competition.html
9 months ago
0
2
2
The State of the Union is Grim The Republic as we knew it is over. The fight now is whether the new one will be a fascistic, competitive authoritarian regime or a pluralist democracy that, one hopes, is better than what came before.
loading . . .
The State of the Union is Grim
The Republic as we knew it is over. The fight now is whether the new one will be a fascistic, competitive authoritarian regime or a pluralist democracy that, one hopes, is better than what came before.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/10/the-state-of-the-union-is-grim.html
9 months ago
0
2
2
6+1 Questions about American Conquest: The Northwest Indian War and the Making of US Foreign Policy Whatâs the name of the book, and where can we find it? American Conquest: The Northwest Indian War and the Making of US Foreign Policy (Stanford University Press, 2025). Whatâs the argument?âŠ
loading . . .
6+1 Questions about American Conquest: The Northwest Indian War and the Making of US Foreign Policy
Whatâs the name of the book, and where can we find it? American Conquest: The Northwest Indian War and the Making of US Foreign Policy (Stanford University Press, 2025). Whatâs the argument? Relations with Native American groups were constitutive of early U.S. foreign policy, and this should make us reconsider the notion that the United States was isolationist in this period.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/09/61-questions-about-american-conquest-the-northwest-indian-war-and-the-making-of-us-foreign-policy.html
9 months ago
0
4
3
Will the recognition of Palestine matter? What IR scholarship says The UN General Assembly meeting has seen a growing number of states recognizing a state of Palestine, including Western powers like France, the United Kingdom and Canada. Debate has swirled over why they are doing this: is it aâŠ
loading . . .
Will the recognition of Palestine matter? What IR scholarship says
The UN General Assembly meeting has seen a growing number of states recognizing a state of Palestine, including Western powers like France, the United Kingdom and Canada. Debate has swirled over why they are doing this: is it a principled stand, an attempt to gain international or domestic clout, etc.? But there's a bigger question over whether this matters and when it may matter: that is, at what point does the informal recognition of an entity as a state lead to actual changes in international relations?
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/09/will-the-recognition-of-palestine-matter-what-ir-scholarship-says.html
9 months ago
0
1
1
Trumpâs Foreign Policy and the Purpose of the MAGAÂ State How can we understand Tump 2.0 foreign policy? It's the product of the fusion of two different forces: Christian Nationalism and Personalist Rent-Extraction.
loading . . .
Trumpâs Foreign Policy and the Purpose of the MAGAÂ State
How can we understand Tump 2.0 foreign policy? It's the product of the fusion of two different forces: Christian Nationalism and Personalist Rent-Extraction.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/09/trumps-foreign-policy-and-the-purpose-of-the-maga-state.html
9 months ago
1
6
4
How do we think about 9/11 in 2025? I used to feel compelled to write something on 9/11. Some of this was just to participate in the discourse, some out of fear that failure to do so would mean moving on and forgetting. In 2009--back when I provided free labor for The Huffington Post--I wrote thisâŠ
loading . . .
How do we think about 9/11 in 2025?
I used to feel compelled to write something on 9/11. Some of this was just to participate in the discourse, some out of fear that failure to do so would mean moving on and forgetting. In 2009--back when I provided free labor for The Huffington Post--I wrote this on the shadowy but still serious threat posed by al-Qaeda. More recently, I wrote this on the failure of security studies to…
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/09/how-do-we-think-about-9-11-in-2025.html
9 months ago
0
2
0
Benjamin de Carvalho Dr. Benjamin de Carvalho joins the Hayseed Scholar podcast. Ben was born in Switzerland to a mother from Norway and a father from Brazil. Ben talks about how that transpired, growing up in Norway, and how a Fulbright brought him to the United States in the late 90's. BenâŠ
loading . . .
Benjamin de Carvalho
Dr. Benjamin de Carvalho joins the Hayseed Scholar podcast. Ben was born in Switzerland to a mother from Norway and a father from Brazil. Ben talks about how that transpired, growing up in Norway, and how a Fulbright brought him to the United States in the late 90's. Ben recounts his time at the New School for his first Master's, moving to Cambridge for his M.Phil and PhD, and ending back in Norway at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, or NUPI, where he remains gainfully and happily employed, and thriving, to this day.Â
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/09/benjamin-de-carvalho.html
10 months ago
0
1
0
Who wants AI in the classroom? I get emails. Sometimes they find me well; sometimes they try to convince me that I need to bring artificial intelligence (âAIâ) into the classroom. âAI is going to revolutionize higher education!â âPrepare your students for the AI-driven job market!â "Resistance isâŠ
loading . . .
Who wants AI in the classroom?
I get emails. Sometimes they find me well; sometimes they try to convince me that I need to bring artificial intelligence (âAIâ) into the classroom. âAI is going to revolutionize higher education!â âPrepare your students for the AI-driven job market!â "Resistance is futile!" âSign up for our workshop!â Despite being bombarded with such messages hyping âAIâ (around which I will keep using scare quotes), it remains unclear to me that there is much to gain from bringing âAIâ into my Political Science classrooms.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/08/who-wants-ai-in-the-classroom.html
10 months ago
0
1
0
6+1 Questions about âThe U.S.: A (Mostly) Hands-Off Superpowerâ Drew Hogan answers 6+1 questions about how the United States does, and does not, support its overseas citizens.
loading . . .
6+1 Questions about âThe U.S.: A (Mostly) Hands-Off Superpowerâ
Drew Hogan answers 6+1 questions about how the United States does, and does not, support its overseas citizens.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/08/61-questions-about-the-u-s-a-mostly-hands-off-superpower.html
10 months ago
0
2
1
Is there a strategy behind Rubioâs State Department cuts? The foreign policy world is still making sense of the Trump Administration's massive cuts to the US State Department last week. Under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, nearly 1500 employees--most of them civil servants--lose their jobs. InâŠ
loading . . .
Is there a strategy behind Rubioâs State Department cuts?
The foreign policy world is still making sense of the Trump Administration's massive cuts to the US State Department last week. Under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, nearly 1500 employees--most of them civil servants--lose their jobs. In some ways, this isn't surprising, as Trump began his second term with a massive, Elon Musk-led, gutting of the federal workforce. But it's still catching some by surprise, given Rubio's reported…
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/07/is-there-a-strategy-behind-rubios-state-department-cuts.html
11 months ago
0
1
1
After Anarchy? On Hierarchy, Heterarchy, and Multiplicity Kenneth Waltz famously claimed that anarchyâi.e., the absence of a global sovereignâis the ordering principle of world politics, and much International Relations (IR) scholarship since then has aimed to debunk the claim that anarchy definesâŠ
loading . . .
After Anarchy? On Hierarchy, Heterarchy, and Multiplicity
Kenneth Waltz famously claimed that anarchyâi.e., the absence of a global sovereignâis the ordering principle of world politics, and much International Relations (IR) scholarship since then has aimed to debunk the claim that anarchy defines IR as a subject. Today, some aim to do so by offering new conceptual foundations for IR. This post is not a relitigation of the â
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/06/after-anarchy-on-hierarchy-heterarchy-and-multiplicity.html
about 1 year ago
0
6
4
Why have so many Muslim communities embraced radicalism? Over two decades have passed since the horrifying 9/11 attacks. Do we have a consensus understanding of the radicalization process in communities that supported or filled the ranks of jihadist groups, including the likes of al-Qaeda, theâŠ
loading . . .
Why have so many Muslim communities embraced radicalism?
Over two decades have passed since the horrifying 9/11 attacks. Do we have a consensus understanding of the radicalization process in communities that supported or filled the ranks of jihadist groups, including the likes of al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, Hamas, and the Taliban? The answer (see also here) is a resounding no! As more political science scholars conduct terrorism research than scholars from any other discipline, they have a vested interest in getting this phenomenon right and helping to frame policies that effectively address the threats.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/06/why-have-so-many-muslim-communities-embraced-radicalism.html
about 1 year ago
0
2
1
Whatâs the Matter with Soft Power? I dislike the term âsoft power.â We owe the term to the late, great Joseph Nye. He popularized it in his 1990 book, Bound to Lead. Nyeâs book was, first and foremost, an intervention in the âdeclinismâ debates of the later 1980s. Japan was at the peak of itsâŠ
loading . . .
Whatâs the Matter with Soft Power?
I dislike the term âsoft power.â We owe the term to the late, great Joseph Nye. He popularized it in his 1990 book, Bound to Lead. Nyeâs book was, first and foremost, an intervention in the âdeclinismâ debates of the later 1980s. Japan was at the peak of its influence; some projected that its economy would overtake that of the United States by the early 2000s.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/06/whats-the-matter-with-soft-power.html
about 1 year ago
0
2
0
Resisting a narrative on Israel and antisemitism I've had four potential posts on Israel, anti-Israel actions and antisemitism this week. As new events occur, the old post falls to the wayside. I was stuck on whether I should pick one, or try to weave the events together into some kind ofâŠ
loading . . .
Resisting a narrative on Israel and antisemitism
I've had four potential posts on Israel, anti-Israel actions and antisemitism this week. As new events occur, the old post falls to the wayside. I was stuck on whether I should pick one, or try to weave the events together into some kind of narrative and draw conclusions. I've decided I can't, or don't want to, do either. And I wonder how much of the morass Israel-Palestine discourse feels stuck in is due to our compulsion to create such a narrative.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/05/resisting-a-narrative-on-israel-and-antisemitism.html
about 1 year ago
0
0
1
Probiotic disinformation âJust when I thought I was out, they pull me back inâ is something I would say at the risk of alienating the younger readership of this blog, but given that most of us are old here, it should be fine. I have been busy working on Russian Neo-Nazis, so I almost forgot thatâŠ
loading . . .
Probiotic disinformation
âJust when I thought I was out, they pull me back inâ is something I would say at the risk of alienating the younger readership of this blog, but given that most of us are old here, it should be fine. I have been busy working on Russian Neo-Nazis, so I almost forgot that back in the simpler times I was also interested in how…
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/05/probiotic-disinformation.html
about 1 year ago
0
1
1
The Vaticanâs Quiet Intelligence Legacy and Why It Matters Now On Easter Monday, Pope Francis died at the age of 88. His passing marked the end of a 12-year papacy characterized by a commitment to the poor, an insistence on peace over posturing, and an often-controversial emphasis on mercy overâŠ
loading . . .
The Vaticanâs Quiet Intelligence Legacy and Why It Matters Now
On Easter Monday, Pope Francis died at the age of 88. His passing marked the end of a 12-year papacy characterized by a commitment to the poor, an insistence on peace over posturing, and an often-controversial emphasis on mercy over rules. As white smoke issues from the Vatican--indicating a new pope has been chosen--most commentary has focused on familiar terrain: his views on women, LGBTQ+ rights, his political moderation, his Latin American identity, or his climate advocacy.
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2025/05/the-vaticans-quiet-intelligence-legacy-and-why-it-matters-now.html
about 1 year ago
0
7
2
Load more
feeds!
log in
