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 […]
Tag: Marcellus Policy Analysis
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 […]
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 […]
The Last Stake to the Palisade: How to Engage with North Korea (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Dylan Motin, Spring 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow The United States faces a worsening balance of power against China and should partner with North Korea (officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK) to address it. Washington succeeded in turning adversaries into partners to face a greater common threat together in the past and […]
The Case for a US Turkey Policy Reset (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Martin Makaryan, Spring 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow President Recep Tayip Erdogan’s overhaul of Turkey’s domestic and foreign affairs, coupled with changes in the international strategic environment, prompt a careful rethinking and restructuring of the long-standing policy towards a treaty ally with which U.S. foreign policy and national security interests are no longer aligned on […]
CHIP-ing Away: The CHIPS Act and US-China Tech War (Marcellus Policy Analysis)
By Benie Kwarteng, Spring 2023 Marcellus Policy Fellow The United States must change its strategy in its technology competition with China. At the core of the US-China tech war and geopolitical tensions are advanced semiconductor chips. Since the invention of integrated circuits (commonly known as semiconductors), the United States has been a global leader in […]