The Security Studies Podcast: Recent Episodes
Georgetown University Center for Security Studies
Discussing the most pressing and complex international security issues of today with scholars from Georgetown University's Security Studies Program (SSP) of the Walsh School of Foreign Service. As part of the oldest and most respected master’s degree program in international affairs, SSP is dedicated to fostering a new generation of analysts, policymakers, and scholars fully knowledgeable about the range of international and national security problems and foreign policy issues of the 21st Century. Produced by Jeffrey D. Palmer.
For Episode 42 I met with Professor Christine Fair to discuss her new course offering, “Irregular Warfare in Film.” We open up with an overview of the course and what inspired professor Fair to create it. We then go into how professor fair teaches students how to read film and begin developing key media literacy skills. For example, Professor Fair leverages Rodesiler’s MAPS protocol - Mode, Audience, Purpose, and Situation - to help her student view a film critically. We then take The Deer Hunter - a film featured in her course - discuss some its content and the lessons that we can gain from it. Lastly, we discuss Racism and Allegory in the 2000s film, District 9 - about aliens stranded over Johannesburg become earthly refugees.
For Episode 41 I had my fourth annual discussion with Professor Bruce Hoffman on the Islamic State and al Qaeda in 2019 and Beyond.
We open up reviewing 2018 to frame the discussion before going into some significant events of 2019. We talk about the deaths of al-Baghdadi and Hamza bin Laden, the impact their deaths may have on their respective organizations, and the pros and cons of a decapitation strategy.
We talk about IS’ inability to re-establish a presence in Sirte, Libya, three years after its expulsion from its North African enclave. Going digital, we also covered the notion of “deplatforming” IS from social media platforms and the outlook on its propaganda machine.
While IS/AQ suffered some significant setbacks in 2019, I asked Professor Hoffman about their successes over the year. We covered: - their continued ability to conduct hundreds of simple and sophisticated attacks across the region; - the prison breaks occurring in Northern Syria as US military withdraws from the area - allowing other actors such as Russia and Turkey to create more chaos upon which terrorist organizations thrive; - and their spread deeper into new areas of the sub-Saharan African region; and - Turkey has begun deporting foreign fighters back to their home countries…and the international community doesn’t seem sure what to do about it.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
For Episode 40 of the Security Studies Podcast I met with Professor Ben Buchanan to discuss Cyber Operations and AI.
We start covering Prof. Buchanan’s background before diving into Cyber Operations. We discuss the many types of offensive ops - including a quick case study of the Ukrainian power grid hack - and talk defensive ops and the challenges therein.
We then discussed the Center for Security and Emerging Technology - a major center for AI research and innovation at Georgetown University, which Prof. Buchanan has helped create. That dovetailed nicely into our discussion on AI and National Security. We covered the basics of AI before going over its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in a national security context.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
For Episode 39, I met with professor Rebecca Patterson to discuss her course, the US, the UN, and Peacekeeping.
We open discussing the history and mission of the UN Peacekeeping enterprise, its constituent parts like the difference between a Special Political Mission and Special Representatives of the Secretary General, and just how it all works over at the UN.
We then move onto the US’ role in UN Peacekeeping missions - both in the organization and domestically.
Lastly, we cover a case study of the UN Peacekeeping mission in South Sudan and discuss the many structural challenges in UN Peacekeeping missions.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
Professor Sebastian Bae discusses his new course offering at SSP, Basics of Wargaming. Professor Bae discusses exactly what wargaming is, what he hopes students will gain from the course, and how it is leveraged within the intelligence and military communities. We also go over a few examples of the steps and considerations one ought to take when building their own game.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode I met with SSP alumnus Major Chris Mercado to discuss his nonprofit organization, Objective Zero. The Objective Zero Foundation seeks to combat suicide within the military community by enhancing social connectedness and access to wellness resources. In the episode, we talk Chris’ background, why he created Objective Zero, and how it works. We conclude by discussing his time at SSP.
See more at https://www.objectivezero.org/
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode, I met with Professor Syed Mohammad Ali to discuss his course Human Security. He opens defining "human security" as a term, why it is important, and how it first took root. We then discuss theoretical concepts including human security versus that provided by the state and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). We then go over applied concepts of human security,focusing on extremism, insurgencies, climate change, and refugees.
The Security Studies Podcast is also excited to introduce a new podcast from Alistair Sommerville at Georgetown's BMW Center for German and European Studies called “The Europe Desk."
iTunes link to The Europe Desk: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-europe-desk/id1474443374
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode, Professor Gina Bennett discusses her course, Ethics in Intelligence and National Security. We open up discussing Professor Bennett’s background as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where she reflects on the proudest moments of her career. We then go into her course, opening up with theory - specifically four ethical frameworks that guide the course. Then, we cover the ethical underpinnings in the founding of the United States of America and where they arise in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Finally, professor Bennett reveals the dilemma paradigms that arise from the ethical frameworks.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this special episode featuring SSP alumnus Maggie Feldman-Piltch, we discuss NatSecGirlSquad, an organization she founded to promote competent diversity in national security and defense. In this episode we discuss Maggie’s background, how she became interested in national security, her proudest moments as founder of NatSecGirlSquad, and her favorite courses at SSP. Enjoy this episode featuring Maggie Feldman-Pilch.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode, Professor Sandra Grady discusses her course, African Security Challenges. Anyone in security knows that trying to cover the continent in one semester is ambitious, to say the least. However, Professor Grady does a great job dividing the course into digestible bits by region and topic. In our conversation, we discuss why African security issues are important to the US, intra- and inter-state dynamics on the continent, trends in democratic vs autocratic governance, and foreign investment opportunities and challenges.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
For episode 32, I met with Dr. Rebecca Katz to discuss her course, Global Health Security. Professor Katz opens up with her background and why we consider global health as a security issue. We then discuss the collaborative global frameworks, infrastructure, and governance that - in theory - would provide first alert and mitigation strategies for a disease outbreak. It is in this context that the professor conducts a semester-long simulation where teams represent different institutions during an outbreak. We also covered a case study of an influenza outbreak and took a critical look at the global response. Lastly, the professor highlighted some fascinating biosurvellance techniques that are used to identify new outbreaks.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
Professor Sean McFate discusses his course, The Art of War, and new book, The New Rules of War: Victory in an Age of Durable Disorder. Professor McFate opens the episode up sharing his background and how he came to teach at Georgetown's Security Studies Program. We then discuss his course and teachings from the master’s of war, including, Clausewitz, Jomini, Sun Tzu, Kautilya, TE Lawrence, Mao and Galula. We then turned to his book, The New Rules of War, and go over the 10 rules for what it will take to win future wars.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
For Episode 30, I set my annual interview with Professor Bruce Hoffman to discuss ISIS and al-Qaeda in 2018 and beyond. We open up with current events, like ISIS’ loss of it’s last stronghold of Hajin, Syria, and the Strausburg Christmas market attack. We then turned to al-Qaeda, it’s status, and rebranding as a form of "moderate extremism." We also discussed AQ's organizational structure, Zawahiri, and the outlook for the global Salafi jihadi movement. We concluded by discussing challenges of censorship of jihadist propaganda in democratic countries.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode, Professor Steve Levine discusses his course, “Energy and Security.” To set the stage, Prof. Levine shares some background on his career and how his experience as a journalist shaped his views in the geopolitics of energy. After that, he covers the role oil played in the collapse of the USSR, the rise of OPEC as a global supply controller, and theories involving changing global oil supply and demand dynamics. Looking forward, Prof. Levine covers disruptive energy opportunities amid the growing efficiency of lithium-ion batteries. Lastly, he provides insight on how analysts can conduct better forecasting.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode, Jacob Zenn discusses his fall course “Violent Non-State Actors in World Politics," or VNSAs. We open the conversation defining terms, providing a taxonomy for VNSAs, and going over a case study of VNSAs operating in Nigeria. Then, in light of recent domestic politically-motivated terrorism, we switched topics to what I called “Extreme-Wing Political Violence” in the US and the conditions that have contributed to the apparent uptick of incidents. We lastly covered the practical application of countering VNSAs as a profession and the toolkits that analysts rely upon.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
This episode features Toni Gidwani to discuss her springtime course, “Cybersecurity Strategy.” Our conversation focuses in on three broad topics: dynamics in cyber security between the government, the private sector, and the citizenry; cyber operations and a case study of the Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee leading up to US elections; and lastly, the great debate of individual privacy online.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
For this episode I met with Professor Paula Doyle to discuss her course, Turkey and the Levant. Our conversation roughly followed Prof. Doyle’s syllabus, starting with the role of the Ottoman Empire in the region and its collapse; the ascent of Turkey as a Western-oriented secular state under Mostafa Kamel Ataturk; Turkey’s peculiar civil-military dynamic and the penchant for military coups; and current conditions under President Erdogan. We also discussed important Turkish geo-political issues like Armenia, Cyprus, Turkey's prospective entry into the EU, and its continued efforts in containing the conflict along its border with Syria.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode, Professor John Gordon and I discuss his course, Advanced Modern Conventional Military Operations. Our conversation goes chronologically, covering military advancements from the onset of World War One through Afghanistan, and beyond.
Part 2 focuses on tactical, operational, and strategic military advancements in the modern hybrid war fighting era from the Vietnam War through our ongoing war in Afghanistan, and beyond. In this episode, we discuss how asymmetric warfare and insurgent adversaries impacted US war-waging and how it can fight a small enemy while maintaining readiness for a large one.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode, Professor John Gordon and I discuss his course, Advanced Modern Conventional Military Operations. Our conversation goes chronologically, covering military advancements from the onset of World War One through Afghanistan, and beyond.
Part 1 focuses on tactical, operational, and strategic military advancements in the modern conventional era from just before World War One through the Korean War, which Prof. Gordon calls America’s "last truly conventional war." In this episode, we discuss how the advent of new technologies throughout the era forever changed the theater of war.
In this episode Professor Harold shares his story of how he came to teach at the Security Studies Program. We then discussed hard security issues involving the Koreas, focusing on the ongoing negotiations with DPRK; Prime Minister Abe of Japan’s reaction to developments in the region; China as a great power both economically and militarily; and the U.S.’ role in the region. Professor Harold teaches Security in East Asia over summer and Research Seminar in the fall.
For this episode with Prof. Bill Brown, we focus on Korean economies. We cover both South and North Korean economic systems and the different paths the Koreas took following the establishment of the 38th parallel in 1945. We have an introductory discussion on those economic systems and their performance all the way up to 2018.
We then dug a bit deeper into South Korea - one of the world’s poorest nations in the 1950s and 60s - and it’s miraculous ability to flourish in decades later despite no real strategic resource advantages over the North.
We then discussed DPRK’s socialist command economy system and how it was able to maintain a tightly controlled domestic economic policy amid a liberalizing global economy. Moving toward current day economic policy, we discussed Kim Jong Un’s ascent to power in 2011 and his 2013 callback to the “Byungjin” Line - effectively merging DPRK’s nuclear and economic policy into one. We discussed how and why North Korea is finally coming to the table for discussions.
With a cautious optimism, Professor Brown and I discussed the fictional economic future of Korean integration and reunification - what might peace and collaboration between the Koreas look like? And what does Professor Brown expect from the planned meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
For this episode I met with Professor Olof Kronvall to discuss his course on Conflict Termination.
We open up discussing Professor Kronvall’s professional background and story for how he ended up teaching at SSP.
We then cover his course, which we divided in two sections: theory and practice of conflict termination. For the theory aspect, we drew from historical cases seeking lessons for the future: we go over what went well in European reconstruction following World War II and discuss lessons that Clausewitz and Dominic Tierney provide.
Applying those theoretical lessons to the practice of conflict termination, we turn to the case of Afghanistan, where Coalition forces have struggled to complete nation building objectives, remaining in the country since 2001. I asked questions like what went well and what went poorly in Afghanistan; what terminating that conflict might look like; and how he interprets the Taliban’s recent letter to the American public calling for peace talks.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In Part Two of this episode featuring Professor Mark Kelton we discuss Counterintelligence in the Age of Terror and focus on the practice of counterintelligence against non-state adversaries like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities arise against a less structured enemy.
We then cover non-state actors that are not terrorist organizations, such as Wikileaks, and the very real challenges the US government faces in countering them. Along those same lines, we talked about whistleblowing protections in the context of Snowden and Manning leaks.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In Part One of this two-part episode featuring Professor Mark Kelton, we discuss counterintelligence or “CI”, the role it plays in the intelligence community, and the difference between offensive and defensive CI. Prof. Kelton then outlines a historical case of a famous American CI failure: the successful Soviet penetration of The Manhattan Project, dubbed “ Operation Enormous.” We then discussed American spies and leakers - from Hanssen to Manning - and how those cases have evolved over time.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
For Episode 20 I met with Prof. Meredith Burkart to discuss her course, Intel in the Cyber Domain.
We covered a slew of topics, including a case study of a convicted Russian cyber criminal Evgeniy Bogachev; the use and implications of cryptocurrencies for investigators; the importance of operational security; and briefly cover where members of the hacktivist group Anonymous went.
We also cover attribution and the methods investigators use to attribute attacks to cyber actors. In the same vein, we discuss the extent to which actors can conduct false flag operations in the cyber domain.
With attribution covered, we moved on to appropriate responses to cyber attacks and in what instances a kinetic response might be justified.
For this episode I met with SSP’s outgoing Director, Professor Bruce Hoffman, to talk about ISIS in 2017 and beyond.
I open up the conversation by asking where ISIS stands today compared to when we last met for episode one of the podcast in April 2016. Hint: just four days after we recorded our conversation, Iraq’s prime minister declared victory over the Islamic State. But it begs the question: if ISIS can’t hold territory, where do its fighters go?
We also touch on the changing media environment - with US media focusing on the presidency and social media platforms clamping down on violent extremist messaging - and how or whether that is impacting ISIS’ propaganda campaigns.
We talk at length about al-Qaeda, where it stands as an organization, and what its aging leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is doing to ensure its survival, to include fostering a leader for the terrorist group in Hamza bin Laden.
We discuss the U.S. and Coalition's strategy in the fight against ISIS and the President’s decision to give Secretary of Defense Mattis greater autonomy.
Last but not least, we cover Professor Hoffman. I ask him to reflect on some of his most memorable moments in the program and his next steps.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
Episode 18 features Professor Oriana Mastro, where we discuss “China and its Military.”
We open up discussing China’s Grand Strategy under its President Xi Jinping, starting with “What does China want?”
We then go over China’s Military Modernization - from bolstering their defense industrial complex to professionalizing their air force - and to what end China is taking on this endeavor.
Lastly, we discuss a few contemporary security challenges including Chinese-North Korean relations; Chinese ambitions in space; regional security matters involving Japan and South Korea; and China’s corporate espionage.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode I met with Professor Andrew Herr to discuss his high-demand course, “Hands-on Unconventional Tech.”
We started with Professor Herr’s story going from an SSP graduate to professor, bringing to the program a much-needed applied approach to understanding security.
We went over the modules and labs to give listeners an idea of his course offering. We also covered emerging and future technologies, focusing on human performance and additive manufacturing - which he explains in the episode.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
For this episode I met with Professor Kier Lieber - a member of SSP’s core faculty - to discuss Nuclear Weapons, Deterrence, and Strategy.
We started out by discussing current events surrounding North Korean ICBM testing and really stuck to that theme throughout our conversation.
We then touched on some of the mechanics behind nuclear weapons, including the difference between fission and fusion; the cost/benefit of uranium and plutonium; and covered different nuclear delivery systems.
Lastly, we covered deterrence, international relations, and strategy in a world with nine nuclear powers.
Now we weren’t alerted until after, but North Korea actually fired a missile over Japan during our interview. We don’t have the details, but when I asked whether this was an alarming development Professor Lieber said that while they’ve done it before, “this is pretty provocative.”
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
For this episode of the Security Studies Podcast I met with Professor Kim Roberts to discuss the influence of multinational corporations - or MNCs.
Our conversation was broken up into about four parts: First, we discussed the historical significance of multinational corporations and went over the case of United Fruit and the consequences of its foreign interests aligning with the US against Guatemala.
We then moved on to Private Military Companies and the role they play in U.S. National Security. Unquestionably important, but at what point do Private Military Companies become more a liability than an asset? We covered both sides.
With Eric Prince in mind, we moved on to lobbyists both inside and outside the government and the role they play in influencing foreign policy. Pew Research says Trump’s cabinet will be one of the most business-heavy in U.S. history - what are the implications?
Lastly, we cover Silicon Valley, Social Media, and Big Data and their increasing influence on the global order - look at the Arab Spring for example. And in despotic regimes, what responsibilities do tech companies have to securing their users’ private information? How does Facebook weigh its business interests with the surveillance “needs” of a host country?
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode I follow up on Hacking4Defense with Professor Matt Zais and two of his students to discuss the semester. I open with Professor Zais to discuss the four teams that worked to develop various technologies throughout the 13-week course. I then bring in Chloe Krawczyk and Jordan Bramble of team Spyglass to talk about their experience. Team Spyglass successfully developed a social media alert tool using facial recognition for soldiers on deployment.
Links: http://www.hacking4defensegu.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Hacking4DefenseGeorgetown/ https://twitter.com/H4DGUSSP
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com
In this episode with Professor Colin Kahl, we discuss US Foreign Policy under the Obama Administration. We briefly discussed the French elections before covering the accomplishments, difficult decisions, and criticisms of Obama’s foreign policy - giving particular attention to the Iran Nuclear Deal, the “Red Line” situation with Syria, America's longest war in Afghanistan, and the drone strikes controversy. Professor Kahl finishes the episode out with advice for SSP students who are entering the field.
Professor Kahl served as the Deputy Assistant to President Obama and National Security Advisor to Vice President Biden from 2014 to 2017. He previously served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East at the Pentagon. Professor Kahl teaches “AMERICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND GRAND STRATEGY IN THE POST-9/11 ERA” at SSP.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode featuring Professor David Fahrenkrug, we discuss Cyber Warfare. We begin by asking what is and isn’t cyberspace and how does that relate to warfare? With that, we talk about what a theory of cyber warfare might look like; why we need it; and whether a theory could hold up to the rate of change within cyberspace.
We also cover debates such as the Balkanization of the Internet; the prospects of a “Cyber Pearl Harbor” as SecDef Panetta described it in 2012; what AI and IoT may hold for our future; and Operation Orchard - a cyber warfare case study that Professor Fahrenkrug found to be particularly interesting.
Professor Fahrenkrug has taught a Cyber Warfare course at SSP for four years now. He is the Director of Strategic Planning at Northrop Grumman’s Analysis Center and served in the US Air Force for 26 years - piloting F-15s for a number of years before gaining his PhD in Political Science at the University of Chicago. In his last tour of active duty, Professor Fahrenkrug served as a Senior Military Advisor to the Director of the Office of Net Assessment at the Pentagon, Andrew Marshall.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In part two, Professor C. Christine Fair shares her thoughts on the US' use and utility of drone strikes in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)starting in 2004. We then move on to global strategic interests and discuss the US relationship with India and Pakistan’s alignment with China. Here, Dr. Fair hones in on an insightful discussion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Finally, Dr. Fair shares her personal story of why she left the field of Chemistry for International Security and the trials she faced throughout.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In Part 1, Professor C. Christine Fair explains the complexities surrounding the Partition of India and its lasting security implications, particularly in regards to Pakistan and the Kashmir conflict. We then turn to the Soviet-Afghan War and US policy during that time of accommodating Pakistan’s then-nascent nuclear program in order to focus on empowering the mujahideen to resist the occupation. Lastly, we covered India’s and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and the implications for US policy. In 2017, Prof. Fair was named Provost's Distinguished Associate Professors for her service at SSP.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode featuring General Jim Dubik, we discuss Just War Reconsidered - a new framework for waging just wars. We begin with a brief overview of Michael Walzer’s enduring Just War theory as it involves jus ad bellum, jus in bello, and jus post bellum. In his book, Dubik uses Walzer’s Just War theory as its foundation, but argues that Walzer’s terms for jus in bello are incomplete; that a full practical morality must recognize the moral responsibilities of senior political and military leaders. As such, we discuss everything from civil-military relations, Clausewitz and Sun Tzu, the ethics of drone strikes, when and where just cyberattacks come into play, Dubik’s position on metaethics, and more. We conclude with Dubik's final addendum to Walzer's jus in bello, where he lays out Five War-Waging Principles.
General Dubik is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for the Study of War and a member of Georgetown SSP’s core faculty. Gen. Dubik’s new book titled, Just War Reconsidered: Strategy, Ethics, and Theory can be found on Amazon and other major retailers.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In Part 2 of this episode featuring Professor Tom McNaugher, we discuss East Asian Security Issues in the context of three primary international relations theories: Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism. We discuss the possible implications of the U.S. withdrawal from Trans Pacific-Partnership negotiations, China’s rising economy, and other regional players such as the Philippines. Professor McNaugher also shares his personal story and provides some valuable advice for those entering the field.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In Part 1 of this two-part episode featuring Professor Tom McNaugher we discuss U.S. Defense Budgeting. We cover challenges the Trump administration may face in passing a new defense budget, especially as it pertains to Congress, tax reform, and closing the deficit. Professor McNaugher then reminds us how crucial it is for practitioners to understand how the budget works in the context of domestic politics. We also discuss the acquisitions process and whether it can keep up with the pace of new and emerging technologies. Professor McNaugher is the Director of Studies and former Interim Director at SSP.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
Episode 8 of the Security Studies podcast features Chris Taylor - a defense industry CEO and entrepreneur. As an adjunct professor at SSP, Chris Taylor teaches The Business of National Security and Hacking for Defense. We discuss the Hacking for Defense course methodology, its national security-related problem sets, and what students are expected (or hoped) to achieve. We also discuss innovation in the public sector, its growing reliance on private sector speed, the US government acquisitions process, and share our hopes for what the future national security innovative landscape brings.
Chris Taylor and co-instructor Matt Zais have brought Hacking for Defense to any and all graduate students at Georgetown University to help solve national security problems. Students will present to stakeholders every single week. To follow the course, which is fully open-source and set to begin in early January, visit www.hacking4defensegu.com.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
Episode 7 of the Security Studies Podcast features Col. David Maxwell (Ret.), Associate Director of Georgetown’s Security Studies Program, to discuss unconventional warfare (UW), the “gray zone,” and strategy. We define and conceptualize these terms, cover current examples of the use of UW, discuss the need for the U.S. to develop counter-UW capabilities, and talk about his inspiration to do strategy. Col. Maxwell also shares stories of how his blog came to be (www.maxoki161.blogspot.com) and of a special memento in his office.
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode featuring Professor Daniel Byman, we discuss and compare the threat of foreign fighters returning to their countries of origin versus that of so-called “home-grown” terrorist actors. We cover not just the threats that each group presents but also the mitigating factors - or why the perceived threat may be exaggerated. We also discuss Prof. Byman’s MOOC on Terrorism and Counterterrorism - a free, virtual classroom featuring many of SSP’s most distinguished faculty members - hosted on edx.org. Here's a link to Prof. Byman's introductory and full-length courses: https://www.edx.org/course?search_query=terrorism
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode featuring Professor Elizabeth Stanley, we unpack a program she developed called Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training (MMFT). Tested through several neuroscience research studies with the U.S. military, MMFT (“M-Fit”) helps individuals make decisions in stressful environments and become more resilient. We cover the ins-and-outs of MMFT, including its conceptual framework, the practice itself, along with its applications along different levels.
Sign up for Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training: A Trauma-sensitive Online Course to Build Resilience and Thrive During Stress at https://product.soundstrue.com/mmft/
Access a free webinar on How to Heal Past Trauma and Thrive in Stressful Times at https://product.soundstrue.com/mmft/webinar-register/
The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode featuring Professor Ariane Tabatabai, we discuss the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as The Iran Nuclear Deal. We discuss the basics of the deal, the role of the individual in reaching the agreement, and how things are going for the U.S. and Iran a year on. Finally, we discuss the impact of the JCPOA on the Saudi-Iran-U.S. dynamic. The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In Part 2 of this episode featuring Professor Elizabeth Grimm Arsenault, we discuss torture. We specifically cover the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program, which began shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. We focus on CIA's Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EITs), used in the hopes of extracting actionable intelligence from suspected terrorists in U.S. custody - techniques which some are calling to reinstate as part of our counter-terrorism interrogation program. In reflecting on the use of EITs, Arsenault covers how and why it came to that point, and what steps the U.S. has taken to avoid falling in the pit again.
The podcast is produced by Jeffrey D. Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In Part 1 of this two-part episode featuring Professor Elizabeth Grimm Arsenault, we reflect on the Orlando attack and discuss the challenges intelligence agencies face in preventing “lone wolf” attacks. She then takes us through the basics of Intelligence: What is it? What are the various types and disciplines? How do we do it effectively? -We also discuss the so-called “liberty vs. security” debate. We also spent time talking about Professor Arsenault’s teaching philosophy, from the value of fiction in international relations to the way she connects with her students.
The podcast is produced by Jeffrey D. Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode featuring Professor Richard English, we discuss terrorist innovations - covering three historic examples of the Black September group, the LTTE, and the Taliban - before discussing today's innovations. We also engaged in the encryption debate, talked about the Islamic State's so-called "Cyber Caliphate" and articulated the challenges in contemporary scholarship.
Prof. English is the Director of the Handa Center for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) at the University of St. Andrews, with which Georgetown's Security Studies Program shares an exchange program.
Richard English is the author of Armed Struggle: This History of the IRA (2004), Terrorism: How to Respond (2010), Modern War: A Very Short Introduction (2013), and many other fantastic works.
The podcast is produced by Jeffrey D. Palmer. Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
In this episode featuring Dr. Bruce Hoffman, we discuss the current status of the Islamic State, the foreign fighter phenomenon, Western states' response to the threat, the implications of a CBRN attack, and the prospects for a merger between AQ and IS. We discuss the evolution of terrorism as a phenomenon (hint: it's getting worse). We conclude by getting to know Dr. Hoffman a little better as he explains what piqued his interest in terrorism and shares a few stories behind the many mementos in his office. Bruce Hoffman is the author of Inside Terrorism (1998, 2006) and Anonymous Soldiers (2015).
The podcast is produced by Jeffrey D. Palmer. Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music