National Security

Remember Us? Islamic State Stays Active During Coronavirus Pandemic

While the world has been understandably consumed by the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), as it continues to devastate entire countries and regions, numerous terrorist and insurgent groups have exploited the uncertainty for their own gain. The coronavirus has provided a...

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The Dominance of the U.S. Dollar During the COVID-19 Pandemic

There have been few “winners” from the coronavirus crisis, but one stands out: the U.S. dollar. As investors realized earlier this year the size of the economic shock that COVID-19 would cause, they sold riskier assets like stocks and...

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Austerity and Defense: A Way Forward or Dead End?

Few people would dispute that the United States is now embroiled in a “great power” competition, but this unanimity does not extend to the size of the defense budget. Proponents for greater spending argue that current expenditures are still...

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Great Power Competition and the Scramble for Africa

From November 1884 to February 1885, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck convened 13 European powers and the United States to coordinate “commercial activity” in Africa and emerged with the General Act. Never explicitly stating colonialism, but connotating colonial principles,...

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The Effect of COVID-19 on Government Debt, Borrowing, and Spending

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought shortages of many things, from ventilators in hospitals to hand sanitizer on store shelves. Also in deficit is economic activity, as people are prevented from spending and working by stay-at-home orders. Tax revenue is...

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What Role Does the Intelligence Community Play in a Pandemic?

Many questions remain about the precise source of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), and yet there is one thing of which we can all be certain: there will soon be a collective rush to identify those responsible for our...

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Will COVID-19 Sink Globalization?

Watching the news, it is easy to think that the COVID-19 pandemic will sink globalization. The number of cargo ships setting off for the United States declined by 10% in March compared to the previous year, the seventh consecutive...

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The Growing Threat Posed by Accelerationism and Accelerationist Groups Worldwide

As the world is paralyzed by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), some violent non-state actors have welcomed the global pandemic as an opportunity to push their propaganda and ideology, and perhaps to strike at their perceived foes. White...

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The Impact of COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean

Few will escape the dramatic impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Latin America and the Caribbean are no exception. The crisis occurs at a time of relative, but fragile, stability in the region. As such, democracy, governance, and economic...

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Beyond COVID-19, Part 5: And Now For Something Completely Different

We’re entering the month of April and week three of social distancing and quarantine. The country has at least another month of abiding by the national guidelines to flatten the curve. Since April Fool’s Day was yesterday and people...

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