By Clay Parham, Fall 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow More than 2,000 years ago, Greek historian Thucydides suggested that the “rising power of Athens and the fear it brought in Sparta” made the Peloponnesian War inevitable. Popularized by Graham Allison as “Thucydides’ Trap,” this theory of great power transition suggests that when one power rises, war […]
Category: News and Events
Blowback: Why Regime Change Catalyzes Anti-Americanism and Why It Won’t Work in a Multipolar World (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Thomas Cunningham, Fall 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow The actions the United States took during its unipolar moment inadvertently fostered a unified front of anti-Americanism in the Global South. The Cold War-era strategy of covertly intervening in non-aligned and allied countries catalyzed a shift towards multi-alignment and hedging strategies, contributing to the ascent of emerging […]
Beyond Embargo: Realigning US-Cuba Relations for a Multipolar World (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Jack McGrath, Fall 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow A decade after the Obama Administration embarked on a historic rapprochement with Cuba, relations between Washington and Havana have returned to an impasse. The trade embargo implemented in 1962 is still constricting Cuba’s economy more than sixty years later. The Trump Administration derailed the Obama Administration’s path […]
Managing US Involvement in Syria (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Sam Ryu, Fall 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow Statement of Scope: This paper will not cover the recent Hamas-Israel conflict, as much of the research for the paper was done before this conflict occurred. The ACLED data used throughout this paper does not cover incidents that occurred after September 15, 2023. The United States’ unconventional […]
Mineral Competition in Great Power Conflict: A Security-Focused Approach to Critical Mineral Policy (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Liam Martin, Fall 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow As America and China move towards “great power conflict,” American policymakers must prioritize reliable access to critical minerals. These minerals, including cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements (REEs), fill essential roles in technology, energy, and defense sectors as raw materials for microprocessors, magnets, batteries, superalloys, and […]
Fluid Diplomacy: Harnessing Water Security for U.S.-Latin America Engagement (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Sol Halle, Fall 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow Binary, zero-sum thinking has curtailed the ability of the United States to sustainably and comprehensively engage with Latin America. When American policymakers devote attention to the region, remnants of Cold War-era rhetoric have pushed Washington to pursue foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere that frames Latin American […]
Offshore Balancing: A Strategic Shift for US Policy in East Asia (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Nick Ayrton, Fall 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow As Asia emerges as a global economic powerhouse, the United States has intensified its strategic focus on the region. This involvement encompasses a robust economic relationship, substantial diplomatic initiatives (including significant foreign aid and healthcare support), and a strong security presence marked by substantial military assistance and […]
Our Fall 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellows
After a highly competitive selection process, the John Quincy Adams Society is pleased to announce its Fall 2023 cohort of Marcellus Policy Fellows. This is the Society’s seventh cohort of fellows. The Fellows will spend the next ten weeks learning from top experts on foreign policy as they develop a think tank style policy analysis […]
Kremlin Roulette: Preparing for the Post-Putin Russian Leadership (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Justin Mitchell, Spring 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow After a series of revisions to the country’s constitution and several decades of strategically consolidating power in the political system, Russian President Vladimir Putin has the potential to remain in power until at least 2036. President Putin’s departure from power could have serious implications for the stability […]
Warfare as the Illness of the State: Economic Dogma in Russia’s War on Ukraine (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Noah Schwartz, Spring 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow The dominant approach to economic statecraft vis-a-vis a post-conflict Ukraine has prioritized the role of the market in distributing resources and de-emphasized state involvement. In line with the U.S.-led policies of ‘shock therapy’ in former Eastern Bloc countries, this approach to state reconstruction has created a series […]