Former career diplomat Elizabeth Shackelford recounts how her experiences working for the State Department caused her to grow disillusioned with U.S. diplomatic policy. She emphasizes the advantages of adopting a more diplomatic rather than militarized foreign policy and offers policy prescriptions to help make that transition. Show Notes Elizabeth Shackelford bioElizabeth Shackelford, The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age, (New York City: Hachette Book Group, 2020). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why has international war become more uncommon and unpopular since World War II? Sure some states still meddle in others’ civil wars or launch cyber offensives, but overall the world is experiencing an unprecedented era of peace. Some international relations experts claim that U.S. adventurist foreign policy has held off international war. This week’s guest, Ohio State University political scientist and Cato’s own John Mueller, argues against that premise in his new book The Stupidity of War: American Foreign Policy and the Case for Complacency. He says that after two world wars, most people have realized that there are better solutions to disagreements than international war. Show NotesJohn Mueller bio:https://www.cato.org/people/john-mueller  John Mueller, The Stupidity of War: American Foreign Policy and the Case for Complacency, (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2021).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Geopolitical changes in East Asia call for new ideas to inform much needed policy reforms. Jessica J. Lee from the Quincy Institute joins John Glaser to discuss how policymakers can approach a rising China, traditional East Asian allies, and a nuclear North Korea.Show NotesJessica J. Lee bioMichael D. Swain, Jessica J. Lee and Rachel Esplin Odell, “Toward an Inclusive & Balanced Order: A New U.S. Strategy in East Asia,” Quincy Institute Paper No. 5, January 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the future of conservative foreign policy? The Republican Party is divided on many issues of national security as it searches for a new direction in the post-Trump age. The American Conservative senior editor Daniel Larison joins the show.Show NotesDaniel Larison bio: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/author/daniel-larison/Daniel Larison, “Where Do Conservatives Go On Foreign Policy,” The American Conservative, December 16, 2020.John Glaser, “Was Trump a Realist or a Wrecking Ball?” Empire Has No Clothes, podcast audio, January 24, 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the United States on course for a new Cold War with China? Campbell Craig tells John Glaser that there may be a chance to cooperate and ease tensions with Beijing. They discuss how changes in the U.S. military budget, threat perception, nuclear posturing, alliances, and domestic politics can help the two superpowers avoid a potential standoff.ShowNotes Campbell Craig bio:https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/542163-craig-campbell Campbell Craig and Fredrik Logevall, America’s Cold War: The Politics of Insecurity, (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2009). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did Russia commit a cyber attack or cyber espionage? What is the difference and how does it affect the U.S. response and future of cybersecurity? Cato Institute’s own Brandon Valeriano and Atlantic Council’s Erica Borghard join host John Glaser to discuss the severity of the SolarWinds hack and its implications for the broader cybersecurity political landscape.1.  Brandon Valeriano bio: https://www.cato.org/people/brandon-valerianoErica Borghard bio: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/erica-borghard/   2.  Sean Lawson and Brandon Valeriano, “The Russian ‘Cyber Peral Harbor’ That Wasn’t,” The American Conservative, December 18, 2020.Benjamin Jensen, Brandon Valeriano, and Mark Montgomery, “The Strategic Implications of SolarWinds,” Lawfare Blog, December 18, 2020. 3.  Erica D. Borghard, “The SolarWinds Compromise and the Strategic Challenge of Information and Communications Technology Supply Chain,” Council on Foreign Relations, December 22, 2020.Erica Borghard and Jacquelyn Schneider, “Russia’s Hack Wasn’t Cyberwarfare. That Complicates US Strategy,” Wired, December 17, 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Beinart and host John Glaser discuss the problems of "global leadership" in U.S. foreign policy, why Washington over-spends on the wrong threats, the implications of President-elect Biden's incoming national security team, and how America should approach an increasingly influential China.   1. Peter Beinart bio: https://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/Academics-Research-Centers-Initiatives/Doctoral-Programs/Political-Science/Faculty-Bios/Peter-Beinart   2. Peter Beinart, Biden Wants America to Leader the World. It Shouldn’t., New York Times, December 2, 2020. 3. Peter Beinart, How I Changed My Mind, The Beinart Notebook, December 7, 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After four years of an unpredictable commander-in-chief, it’s time to think about the future of U.S. foreign policy. John and David Hendrickson discuss the Trump to Biden transition, the illiberal nature of the "liberal order," and the impact of domestic politics on foreign policy, among other issues. 1.       David C. Hendrickson bio: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/academics/dept/politicalscience/people/profile.html?person=hendrickson_david 2. David C. Hendrickson, Republic in Peril: American Empire and the Liberal Tradition, (New York City: Oxford University Press, 2017). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Donald Trump has shown excitement about the newly created Space Force division of the military. Is it worth the hype? According to Robert Farley, there is still too much unknown to make that call. 1.Robert M. Farley bio: https://www.uky.edu/~rmfarl2/ 2. There is no link yet to his Cato paper referenced as it has yet to be published. It’s a PA titled: Space Force: Ahead of Its Time, or Dreadfully Premature? Also mentioned:Robert M. Farley and Davida H. Issacs, Patents for Power: Intellectual Property Law and the Diffusion of Military Technology (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2020). Robert M. Farley, Grounded: The Case for Abolishing the United States Air Force (Louisville, KY: University of Kentucky Press, 2014). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 How will President-elect Biden change US foreign policy? John Glaser talks to Emma Ashford of the Atlantic Council about the transition from Trump to Biden, and from host Emma to host John.   Emma Ashford Bio https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/emma-ashford/https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/joe-biden-just-won-the-presidency-what-does-that-mean-for-americas-role-in-the-world/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.