Last weekend our National Defense Fellows concluded their fellowship by attending the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California. The forum was attended by members from all aspects of the national security industry; from think tanks and Congress to the military and defense contractors. Panels discussed topics such as combating America’s dwindling military recruitment numbers, strengthening cooperation and...
Currently, Brazil is undergoing a rocky transition to a new government following the election on October 31st. President Jair Bolsonaro, the incumbent, lost a close election to President-Elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the former president of Brazil from 2003-2010. The Brazilian election was followed closely by the international community, as Bolsonaro’s populist government was...
Iran has been gripped by a month of protesting following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in September in police custody after allegedly wearing “unsuitable attire.” Amini’s death sparked widespread protests across Iran, strikingly featuring women cutting their hair and burning their hijabs in protest of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s strict religious laws. The government has...
Last week, the Biden Administration released the much-anticipated National Security Strategy (NSS). The administration had faced heavy criticism for not producing the NSS sooner, as the document is meant to make clear the U.S, strategic priorities clear to the American public, Congress, and our allies. The newly released NSS has received mixed reviews. On the...
This Sunday, October 16, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will host its 20th National Congress. The National Congress occurs once every five years, and many scholars are anticipating this congress to be particularly historic. Xi Jinping, now head of the party for 10 years, is expected to utilize this congress to solidify his prospects for an...
Last weekend, we hosted our Peace Through Strength Boot Camp for our National Defense Fellows. During the opening dinner our guest speaker, former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, posed a serious question to the cohort: is the United States prepared for an armed conflict with China? While various speakers addressed specific issues, ranging from civil-military relations to...
On September 25th, Italy will hold a historic election. In a country where machismo has long dominated the political climate, an unlikely character is poised to be appointed as prime minister: a middle-aged single mother. While many would expect this to be a widely celebrated occurrence, some within the European Union and the international community...
On Wednesday, August 31, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, released her report on the human rights atrocities in the Xinjiang region of the People’s Republic of China. The report outlined the extent of the systemic internment of the Uyghur Muslims and other minority populations. This report had long been anticipated since...
One year has passed since the chaotic withdrawal of the American military and the collapse of the Afghan government. During this time, the Taliban has proven they were much more apt to conquer the country than govern it, as economic collapse and food shortages have brought yet another chapter of hardship and suffering for the...
Once at the forefront of global attention, the Syrian civil war now rarely registers comment. What more is there to observe, beyond dashed dreams, widespread desolation, and the ruthless will of despots? Yet Syria today is an expanding crisis, pitting the United States and its partners against Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime, with consequences...
