Power Problems

James Goldgeier The Americans Deborah D. Avant, The Market for Force: The Consequences of Privatizing Security Nick Bostrom, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies Steve Coll, Directorate S: The CIA, and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan Roger Fisher, William L. Ury, and Bruce Patton, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In Paul Holden, Indefensible: Seven Myths that Sustain the Global Arms Trade Robert Jervis, Perception and Misconception in International Politics Arthur Koestler, Darkness at Noon Hans Morgethau, Politics Among Nations Occupied Steven Pinker, The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century Ben Rhodes, The World as It Is: A Memoir of the Obama White House Joe Sacco, Palestine Elizabeth Saunders, Leaders at War: How Presidents Shape Military Interventions Brent Steele, Ontological Security in International Relations: Self-Identity and the IR State Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel Kenneth N. Waltz, Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis Earl Weaver, Winning! Jack Goldstone, Political Demography: How Population Changes Are Reshaping International Security and National Politics Justin Vaïsse, Zbigniew Brzezinski: America's Grand Strategist Kori Schake, Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony Margaret Maron Charlene Harris

Julie Chernov Hwang from Goucher College joins Trevor Thrall and Sahar Khan to discuss why Indonesian jihadists leave militancy in her new book, Why Terrorists Quit. Julie Chernov Hwang’s bio Why Terrorists Quit: The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists Julie Chernov Hwang, “The Unintended Consequences of Amending Indonesia’s Anti-Terrorism Law,” Lawfare Blog, October 1, 2017 Anita Rachman and Ben Otto, “Families with Bombs: Islamic State inspires new wave of Indonesian Terrorism,” Wall Street Journal, May 14, 2018 Sidney Jones, “How ISIS has changed terrorism in Indonesia,” New York Times, May 22, 2018

Bruce Jentleson from Duke University joins Trevor Thrall and Sahar Khan to discuss the importance of statesmanship and his new book, The Peacemakers. Show notes: Guest Bio: Bruce Jentleson The Peacemakers

Show description: In a special 2-part episode, Emma Ashford, Trevor Thrall, and new co-host, Sahar Kahn, discuss North Korea and the prospects for a nuclear summit with Cato Policy Analyst Eric Gomez. Guest bio: Eric Gomez Power Problems Episode #4, September 19, 2017: Kim Jong Trump Eric Gomez, “Not Quite Back to the Drawing Board with North Korea” Eric Gomez, “Keep Calm and Summit On"

Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall shift from military affairs this week to talk about humanitarian aid with American University’s Jessica Trisko Darden. Guest bio: Jessica Trisko Darden Humanitarian Aid and War Is Humanitarian Aid a Waste?

Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall are joined by David Edelstein of Georgetown University to discuss how great powers respond to rising challengers. Guest Bio: David Edelstein Over the Horizon: Time, Uncertainty, and the Rise of Great Powers

Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall are joined by Cato’s own Caroline Dorminey to discuss U.S. arms sales in the Trump era. Guest bio: Caroline Dorminey Caroline Dorminey and Trevor Thrall. "Risky Business: the Role of Arms Sales in U.S. Foreign Policy" Paul Holden (ed.) Indefensible: Seven Myths That Sustain the Global Arms TradeM Jonathan Caverley. "America’s Arms Sales Policy: Security Abroad, Not Jobs at Home" Amnesty International. "Iraq: Taking Stock of Arming the Islamic State"

Today Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall discuss the expansion of the U.S. war on terror into Africa with Bronwyn Bruton from the Atlantic Council. Guest Bio: Bronwyn Bruton Bronwyn Bruton, “Ethiopia: In the Eye of the Storm” U.S. News and World Report, “Where in the World Is the U.S. Military? Everywhere”

Vladimir Putin won re-election handily, but the future of U.S.-Russia relations is a tougher question. We chat with Matthew Rojanksy of the Woodrow Wilson Center. Guest Bio: Matthew Rojansky “U.S. Russia Policy” in Our Foreign Policy Choices “Why New Russia Sanctions Won’t Change Moscow’s Behavior” in Foreign Affairs The Legacy of George Kennan Conference

We discuss the ongoing war in Yemen and U.S. involvement with Kate Kizer from Win Without War. Guest bio: Kate Kizer Council on Foreign Relations Yemen Backgrounder Cato’s John Glaser on Yemen What the President Should Do in Yemen

Hans Kristensen from the Federation of American Scientists joins us today to discuss the Trump administration’s Nuclear Posture Review. Hans Kristensen bio 2018 Nuclear Posture Review Federation of American Scientists Nuclear Posture Review Resource Texas National Security Review Policy Roundtable on the NPR

Kathleen Hicks from CSIS and Hal Brands from Johns Hopkins SAIS join us to talk about Trump’s foreign policy at the one year mark. Guest bio: Kathleen Hicks Guest bio: Hal Brands National Security Strategy Summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy

Show Notes: Guest Bio: Nate Olson 2017 National Security Strategy Nate Olson, "How Donald Trump Can Avoid a Trade War with China" Pew Research, “Support for Free Trade Rebounds.”

Show Notes: A Dangerous World? edited by Christopher A. Preble and John Mueller American Foreign Policy and the Politics of Fear edited by A. Trevor Thrall and Jane K. Cramer Curiosity: How Will the World End?

In a special live recording of the podcast, we explore the President's relationship with the military, the defense budget, and what the Pentagon wants for Christmas with our guest Aaron Mehta. Show Notes Guest Bio: Aaron Mehta Aaron Mehta, "One hand tied behind your back: Why DoD's empty policy chair matters."  Aaron Mehta, "America's Nuclear Weapons will cost $1.2 Trillion Over the next 30 Years." Chris Preble, "Senate Passes a Pentagon Budget, but a BCA Trainwreck Looms."