Shows
The Sosh PodcastEp27- Counterterrorism in the Age of Great Power Competition, ft. Javed Ali and Audrey Alexander.For this episode, MAJ Haz Yano interviews Javed Ali and Audrey Alexander to talk about the relevance of counterterrorism in the age of great power competition. What is the evolving security landscape in the 2022? Is counterterrorism outdated and irrelevant in today’s environment? Is the US adapting appropriately to meet the current emerging threats? What are some of the consequences of a US shift from Counterterrorism to great power competition? These questions, and more!
This episode was originally recorded in March of 2022, just a few weeks after the Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.
...2022-06-0731 minThe Sosh PodcastEp26- Autonomy without Authority: Japanese Civil-Military Relations ft. Prof. Stephen SaidemanFor this episode of the Sosh Podcast, MAJ Haz Yano interviews Professor Stephen Saideman from Carleton University to talk about the state of civil-military relations in Japan. They discuss Japan’s increasingly perilous security situation, whether Japan’s defense structure is well-suited to meet new emerging threats, and how the focus on Article 9 leads to a concerning lack of civilian oversight on the Self Defense Forces.
Please send any comments, questions, and suggestions to SoshResearchLab@westpoint.edu.
Prof. Stephen Saideman holds the Paterson Chair in International Affairs at Carleton University’...2022-04-1434 minThe Sosh PodcastEp25- The Honorable John Tien, Deputy Secretary of DHSFor this episode of the Sosh Podcast, MAJ Haz Yano and Dr. Scott Limbocker interview the Honorable John Tien, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. The hosts spoke with him about the history of the Department of Homeland Security, the challenges of managing a complex bureaucracy with a diverse mission set, and working in the interagency both as a member of the military, and now as a leader in the Department of Homeland Security.
Please send any comments, questions, and suggestions to SoshResearchLab@westpoint.edu.
The Honorable John Tien is the current Deputy...2022-03-2331 minThe Sosh PodcastEp 24- Dr. Jason Lyall on Divided ArmiesOn this episode, CPT Charlene Hoadwonic interviews Dr. Jason Lyall from Dartmouth College to talk about his book, Divided Armies. How does a state’s pre-war levels of equity and inclusion impact a military’s battlefield performance? Does diversity in a military matter? What implications are there for civil-military relations? They talk about these questions and more.
Dr. Jason Lyall is the James Wright Chair of Transnational Studies and associate professor of government at Dartmouth. His recently published book, Divided Armies, was awarded the 2021 Peter Katzenstein Book Prize, the 2020 Joseph Lepgold Prize, and was named a "Be...2022-01-1128 minThe Sosh PodcastEp. 23- Craig Whiteside, Daniel Milton, and Audrey Alexander on the al-Mawla Interrogation Reports: Deconstructing the Islamic State LeaderFor this edition of the Sosh Pod, Audrey Alexander moderates a discussion between Dr. Daniel Milton, Director of the USMA Combatting Terrorism Center (CTC), and Dr. Craig Whiteside, Associate Professor of National Security Affairs at the US Naval War College. The three scholars discuss the recent project by the CTC to deconstruct the insurgent and terrorist organization known as the Islamic State in Iraq in Syria.
For more information on the CTC’s report on Amir Muhamma Sa’id Abdal-Rahman al-Mawla, the current leader of the Islamic State, check out this link here: https://ctc.usma.ed...2021-12-1424 minThe Sosh PodcastEp. 22: Doug Livermore from No One Left Behind (NOLB) and Saving the Afghan InterpretersFor this edition of the Sosh Podcast, MAJ Sam Wilkins and MAJ Kyle Atwell interview Doug Livermore from No One Left Behind (NOLB), a nonprofit dedicated to assisting wartime interpreters who have worked for the United States during the Global War on Terror. They talked about NOLB’s efforts in recent years to help these interpreters gain Special Immigrant Visas, the hurdles they’ve had to overcome, and the humanitarian crisis that has followed the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
This interview was recorded on August 24th, 2021, two days prior to the terrorist attack that struck Hamid...2021-08-3150 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 21- Ali Wyne on the US-China Relationship: Competition, Collaboration, and CompartmentalizationFor this edition of the Sosh Pod, CPT Tony Palocaren interviews Ali Wyne from the Eurasia Group’s Global Macro Project about the US-China Relationship – how the competition between the two nations has evolved over the past decade, the role that diplomacy and compartmentalization plays, and what the US can do to support Taiwan.
Ali Wyne is a senior analyst with Eurasia Group’s Global Macro practice and a nonresident fellow at USMA’s Modern War Institute. His focus areas include US-China relations and great power competition. Ali co-authored “Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master’s Insights on C...2021-08-2755 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 20: Summer Reading with ADM (Ret) James StavridisFor Episode 20 of the SOSH Podcast, we interview Retired ADM James Stavridis to talk about his recent book, 2034: A Novel of the Next World War. MAJ Tom Fox makes a return to the podcast to speak with ADM Stavridis about writing a fiction book as a military veteran, his thoughts on why there is no such thing as an end to history, and why a nonpartisan military is more important than ever.
Please email us at SOSHresearchlab@westpoint.edu with any comments, critiques, and questions. We are always looking to hear from our listeners, SOSH F...2021-07-2926 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 19: LTG (Ret) Sean MacFarland on the Use of Mechanized Forces in CounterinsurgencyFor Episode 19 of the SOSH Podcast, we interview the former Commander of III Corps, LTG (Ret.) Sean MacFarland. In a conversation with the SOSH Department’s MAJ Ryan Van Wie, LTG MacFarland reflected on his time as Brigade Commander of the “Ready First” Brigade during the 2006 Battle of Ramadi and how that experience differed from his time leading the Counter-ISIL campaign of 2015-2016 in Syria and Iraq. He also shares his views on the decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, why mechanized forces are essential for counterinsurgencies, and perhaps most controversially, why the US should get rid of its Ai...2021-06-1738 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 18: Cadet Theses in American PoliticsFor this episode of the Sosh Podcast, MAJ AJ Glubzinski interviews three (former) cadets from the Class of 2021 who completed senior thesis projects in American Politics. Their paper topics covered a broad range of topics, such as measuring the economic impacts of expanding the interstate highway system, analyzing the emergence of interstate compacts to combat COVID-19, and how Congress exercises its oversight powers over the military. If you are interested in receiving a copy of their papers or to learn more, please email us at SOSHResearchLab@westpoint.edu .
This episode was originally recorded on May 6t...2021-06-0128 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 17: Addressing the Challenge of Extremism and the MilitaryOn this episode, Sosh faculty members Audrey Alexander and Mike Robinson talk about the emerging concerns over extremism in the military, how the portrayal of this threat is sometimes distorted, and what the military, government, and the public should do to respond.
Audrey Alexander is a researcher and instructor from the Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point. She holds a master’s degree in Terrorism, Security & Society from the War Studies Department at King’s College London, and was a senior research fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism prior to coming to West Point.
...2021-05-1035 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 16: Ambassador Nicholas Burns on NATO, Democracies, and ChinaFollowing up on Episode 15 where we talked about NATO with LTC Seth Johnston, we continue our deep dive into NATO by sitting down for a conversation with Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Former US Ambassador to NATO. Ambassador Burns spoke with CPT Tony Palocaren about NATO’s expanding scope in the 21st Century, addressing democratic backsliding in Europe, what role NATO has in confronting a rising China, and the emerging challenge of climate change.
Bios
Ambassador Nicholas Burns is currently the Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at...2021-04-0535 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 15: Why NATO Matters, featuring Dr. Seth JohnstonIn this edition of the podcast, SOSH Faculty Alumni Dr. Seth Johnston sits down to talk with us about the history and future of NATO: How did an organization originally intended as a defense alliance against Germany and the Soviet Union morph into a major player in Afghanistan? How has it evolved over time to remain relevant and important in international affairs? In what ways must NATO continue to adapt in order to counteract emerging threats in new domains such as cyberspace? We ask these questions and more.
Dr. Seth Johnston is an adjunct assistant p...2021-03-1535 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 14: Restoring Thucydides and the Classics, featuring Dr. Jay ParkerOn this episode of the SOSH Podcast, COL (Ret.) Jay Parker and Dr. Scott Silverstone sit down to talk about Dr. Parker’s latest book, “Restoring Thucydides: Testing Familiar Lessons and Deriving New Ones.” The two discussed topics such as why Thucydides is so frequently misunderstood, whether the Melian Dialogue really was a validation of Realism as is commonly believed, and what the real lessons are that we should be drawing from classical scholars like Thucydides, Machiavelli, and Sun Tzu.
COL (Ret.) Jay Parker is an alumni of the USMA Social Sciences Department, having served as a Pr...2021-02-2539 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 13: The Foreign Policy ToolkitIn this episode, we sit down with Dr. Anne Bennett and MAJ Thomas Dyrenforth to discuss the dynamics of civil-military cooperation and implementing foreign policy at U.S. diplomatic missions around the world. Dr. Bennett talks about her experience as a State Department Foreign Service Officer in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Additionally, MAJ Dyrenforth discusses his service as an Army Foreign Area Officer and military attaché in Africa.
Dr. Anne Bennett is a Foreign Service Officer from the Department of State and is a Visiting Faculty member in International Relations at the United St...2021-02-1133 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 12: West Point Cadets on Why They Chose SOSHOn this episode, we talk to four cadets from the Class of 2021 on why they chose to major in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point. CDT Maxwell Myers (International Affairs Major and Grand Strategy Minor) moderates a panel featuring CDT Mikayla Bergin (American Politics Major and Terrorism Studies Minor), CDT Denton Knight (International Affairs Major and Grand Strategy Minor), and CDT Maggie Shi (Economics Major). They talk about what inspired each of them to choose to major in SOSH, what academic opportunities they’ve been able to pursue, and how their coursework and experiences prepare them for th...2021-02-0233 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 11: Dr. Risa Brooks, MAJ Michael Robinson, and Dr. Heidi Urben on the Socialization of Civil Military Norms and Non-PartisanshipOn this edition of the SOSH podcast, we sit down with Risa Brooks, Michael Robinson, and Heidi Urben to discuss their upcoming paper on the socialization of civil-military norms for West Point cadets. How do cadets interpret the concept of civilian control and military subordination? Are Huntingtonian norms of separated spheres and apoliticism the correct framework to be teaching cadets? What’s the difference between an apolitical military versus a non-partisan military? We explore these questions and more.
This episode was originally recorded on the morning of January 22nd, 2021, before the confirmation of GEN Lloyd Austin as th...2021-01-2846 minThe Sosh PodcastEpisode 10: Dr. Michael Warner and LTC John Childress on "The Use of Force for State Power"For this episode of the SOSH Podcast, Dr. Michael Warner and LTC John Childress talk about their new book, “The Use of Force for State Power: History and Future.” They discuss their model of analyzing how leaders can apply force against adversaries, both internally and domestically, and what that means for global trends today. How can we apply lessons from writers like Aristotle and Sun Tzu to modern cyber operations? How has the internet and big data damaged authoritarian regimes while also empowering them to better understand and manipulate their people? Are we in a new Cold War with Chin...2021-01-1424 minThe Sosh PodcastThe Sosh Podcast: Episode 9, Talking Afghanistan with AMB Lute, Part 2During this second part of MAJ Glubzinski’s interview with AMB Lute, they dive into development assistance and security force assistance in Afghanistan. They assess successes and failures, reflect on what we’ve accomplished over 19 years, and discuss possible futures for Afghanistan and U.S. involvement there.
2020-11-1738 minThe Sosh PodcastThe Sosh Podcast: Episode 8, Talking Afghanistan with AMB Lute, Part 1MAJ AJ Glubzinski sits down with Ambassador Doug Lute to talk about Afghanistan. 19 years into American involvement there with so many twists, turns, and lessons learned along the way, they cover a lot of ground in this first part of their conversation focusing on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency.
2020-10-3029 minThe Sosh PodcastThe Sosh Podcast: Episode 7, The Dean’s Book Club and Claudia Rankine’s CitizenMAJ Brian Harris and BG Cindy Jebb sit down with CDTs Lauren Clark and Xavier Williams to discuss this semester’s Dean’s Book Club book, Citizen by Claudia Rankine. Her volume of poetry inspires a fascinating conversation about race in our society, the value of diverse ideas and perspectives, and how sharing individual experiences can help us better understand difficult issues.
2020-10-1544 minThe Sosh PodcastThe Sosh Podcast: Episode 6, Elections, Polling, and RealClearPolitics with Tom BevanMAJ Steve Taylor co-hosts with Dr. Scott Limbocker as they discuss the upcoming election and making sense of the polls with Tom Bevan, co-founder and president of RealClearPolitics. The cadet leaders of the Domestic Affairs Forum join in with questions from the Corps of Cadets. Recorded on 6 October 2020.
2020-10-0853 minThe Sosh PodcastThe Sosh Podcast: Episode 5, Command in the DMZ with LTC Sean MorrowLTC Sean Morrow, former commander of the battalion that secures the DMZ’s Joint Security Area, joins host MAJ Tom Fox to discuss building trust at the tactical level, the direct link between the tactical and strategic levels at the border in Korea, and how history shapes modern strategy. Show notes available at https://www.westpoint.edu/academics/academic-departments/social-sciences/sosh-research-lab/podcast.
2020-09-2129 minThe Sosh PodcastThe Sosh Podcast: Episode 4, Summer Reading with August ColeAugust Cole, co-author of Ghost Fleet and Burn In, joins host MAJ Tom Fox for a conversation about how fiction helps us explore the intersection of politics, economics, and technology. They discuss the new book Burn In, dystopian futures, and the social contract before finishing with some summer reading recommendations. Show notes here.
2020-07-2332 minThe Sosh PodcastThe Sosh Podcast: Episode 3, Race and Policing in AmericaMAJ Steve Taylor and CPT Brian Harris dive into a discussion on race and policing in America, continuing the conversation from a Domestic Affairs Forum event and interweaving their own personal experiences and academic expertise. Show notes here.
2020-07-0855 minThe Sosh PodcastThe Sosh Podcast: Episode 2, Tocqueville's Democracy in AmericaDr. Hugh Liebert welcomes MAJ Macks Colella to his course on Political Thought, and they have a far-ranging discussion on Alexis de Tocqueville's timeless study Democracy in America. Show notes here.
2020-06-3039 minThe Sosh PodcastThe Sosh Podcast: Episode 1, Elizabeth Economy on US-China relations and the CoronavirusElizabeth Economy of CFR joins us for our launch episode, and we dive into US-China relations, the battle for narratives, and the topic of the moment: the coronavirus pandemic. Show notes here.
2020-04-2929 min