Good afternoon!

I hope the week formerly known as spring break is off to a good start, even if you are taking an exam instead of a flight.

Although it isn't nearly as exciting as a trip to, well, anywhere, the Center for Security Policy Studies does have some delightful news: We're (re) launching our Defense & Security Research Forum!

Originally created "way back" in 2017 (but dormant for the last few years, because I got a little busy and moved to Texas), this forum serves as a venue for Schar graduate students to learn from--and to exchange ideas with--junior faculty and other up and coming security scholars. Unlike traditional speaker events, we keep the audience small and the presentations short. This way everyone can benefit from a collegial exchange of ideas. It's a terrific way for up-and-coming scholars to "beta-test" their new work. And it's an invaluable opportunity for graduate students to de-mystify academic research, see where the field is moving, and (it goes without saying) to practice networking! To that end we used to wrap each of these sessions up with a happy hour in Clarendon... but that will have to wait until next year.

Even if we are stuck in the "virtual" world for right now, I can't think of a better way to kick things off (again) than to welcome Dr. Alexander Lanoszka from 2:00-3:30 pm on Thursday, March 18th. A rising star in the field of alliance politics, Dr. Lanoszka will be presenting his new work on non-aggression pacts.

Please email Joe Petrucelli at [log in to unmask] to RSVP. We're capping the event at 25 to ensure that we can facilitate an actual conversation and discussion, so first come first served.

I hope to "see" you there!

Best,

Mike

Alexander Lanoszka is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and in the Balsillie School of International Affairs at the University of Waterloo in Canada. He was previously a Lecturer in the Department of International Politics at City, University of London, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College, and a Stanton Nuclear Security Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT's Security Studies Program. In May 2014, he completed my doctorate in the Department of Politics at Princeton University. He has published in numerous outlets and has a book - Atomic Assurance: The Alliance Politics of Nuclear Proliferation - published by Cornell University Press.


Michael Hunzeker, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Associate Director, Center for Security Policy Studies
Schar School of Policy and Government
George Mason University

Twitter: @michaelhunzeker
Email:  [log in to unmask]
Website: csps.gmu.edu