The Institute of World Politics

Prof. Chris Harmon, who teaches terrorism and counterterrorism at IWP, appeared on the Federal Drive radio show with hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on February 5, 2014. A description of the segment appears below.

From: http://www.federalnewsradio.com/85/3556666/Federal-Drive-Show-Blog---February-5-2014

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper says the United States faces more global threats now than at any time in his half-century career. How effective are U.S. counterterrorism efforts, and what are some of the big obstacles?

For answers, Tom and Emily turned to Chris Harmon. He holds the Matthew Horner Chair at Marine Corps University Foundation and is author of a new book, "The Citizens Guide to Terrorism and Counterterrorism."

Prof. Chris Harmon, who teaches terrorism and counterterrorism at IWP, appeared on the Federal Drive radio show with hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on February 5, 2014. A description of the segment appears below.

From: http://www.federalnewsradio.com/85/3556666/Federal-Drive-Show-Blog---February-5-2014

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper says the United States faces more global threats now than at any time in his half-century career. How effective are U.S. counterterrorism efforts, and what are some of the big obstacles?

For answers, Tom and Emily turned to Chris Harmon. He holds the Matthew Horner Chair at Marine Corps University Foundation and is author of a new book, "The Citizens Guide to Terrorism and Counterterrorism."

Prof. Chris Harmon, who teaches terrorism and counterterrorism at IWP, appeared on the Federal Drive radio show with hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on February 5, 2014. A description of the segment appears below.

From: http://www.federalnewsradio.com/85/3556666/Federal-Drive-Show-Blog---February-5-2014

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper says the United States faces more global threats now than at any time in his half-century career. How effective are U.S. counterterrorism efforts, and what are some of the big obstacles?

For answers, Tom and Emily turned to Chris Harmon. He holds the Matthew Horner Chair at Marine Corps University Foundation and is author of a new book, "The Citizens Guide to Terrorism and Counterterrorism."

On October 29, 2013, Prof. Hashem Mekki gave a lecture on "The Prospect of Peace in Sudan" at The Institute of World Politics.

Professor Mekki began by explaining Sudanese history and the historic landmarks that led to the current Darfur and Abyei conflicts. He reminded the audience of the multicultural Sudanese context, pointing out that there are now over 500 tribes and roughly 130 languages.

He described the ongoing conflict in Darfur, noting that in the 2002 ceasefire and peace agreement, Darfur was completely left out of the table. It was not part of the negotiations. This lack of compromise led to major embitterment and hostilities in 2006, with the Sudanese government trying to cleanse the non-Arab community in the Western part of Sudan.

Professor Mekki then analyzed the causes of the Abyei conflict in which Sudan and South Sudan harshly fought (Abyei is a region on the border between the two countries). Despite the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, hostilities have not faded because of disputes linked to oil.

Professor Mekki described some of the geopolitical implications of the ongoing conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. He noted that the government of Sudan takes advantage of the pipeline that links Khartoum to the Red Sea. However, South Sudan is richer in oil. One side has the pipeline; the other has the oil wells. They need each other. Professor Mekki explained that the government of South Sudan (which gained independence in 2011) is trying to build refineries in Mumbasa, Kenya.

He concluded his lecture by dsecribing the importance of foreign intervention in Sudanese affairs, particularly Chinese participation in oil deals (70% of Sudanese oil is sold to the Chinese).

Prof. Mekki was born and rasied in Sudan, and fled to Egypt because of the civil war, where he lived for five years, working as an Arabic-English translator and interpreter. Professor Mekki graduated from the City College of New York in 2010 with a double major in Political Science and International Studies.

Lorenzo Vermigli,

Intern, Fall 2013

On October 29, 2013, Prof. Hashem Mekki gave a lecture on "The Prospect of Peace in Sudan" at The Institute of World Politics.

Professor Mekki began by explaining Sudanese history and the historic landmarks that led to the current Darfur and Abyei conflicts. He reminded the audience of the multicultural Sudanese context, pointing out that there are now over 500 tribes and roughly 130 languages.

He described the ongoing conflict in Darfur, noting that in the 2002 ceasefire and peace agreement, Darfur was completely left out of the table. It was not part of the negotiations. This lack of compromise led to major embitterment and hostilities in 2006, with the Sudanese government trying to cleanse the non-Arab community in the Western part of Sudan.

Professor Mekki then analyzed the causes of the Abyei conflict in which Sudan and South Sudan harshly fought (Abyei is a region on the border between the two countries). Despite the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, hostilities have not faded because of disputes linked to oil.

Professor Mekki described some of the geopolitical implications of the ongoing conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. He noted that the government of Sudan takes advantage of the pipeline that links Khartoum to the Red Sea. However, South Sudan is richer in oil. One side has the pipeline; the other has the oil wells. They need each other. Professor Mekki explained that the government of South Sudan (which gained independence in 2011) is trying to build refineries in Mumbasa, Kenya.

He concluded his lecture by dsecribing the importance of foreign intervention in Sudanese affairs, particularly Chinese participation in oil deals (70% of Sudanese oil is sold to the Chinese).

Prof. Mekki was born and rasied in Sudan, and fled to Egypt because of the civil war, where he lived for five years, working as an Arabic-English translator and interpreter. Professor Mekki graduated from the City College of New York in 2010 with a double major in Political Science and International Studies.

Lorenzo Vermigli,

Intern, Fall 2013

On October 29, 2013, Prof. Hashem Mekki gave a lecture on "The Prospect of Peace in Sudan" at The Institute of World Politics.

Professor Mekki began by explaining Sudanese history and the historic landmarks that led to the current Darfur and Abyei conflicts. He reminded the audience of the multicultural Sudanese context, pointing out that there are now over 500 tribes and roughly 130 languages.

He described the ongoing conflict in Darfur, noting that in the 2002 ceasefire and peace agreement, Darfur was completely left out of the table. It was not part of the negotiations. This lack of compromise led to major embitterment and hostilities in 2006, with the Sudanese government trying to cleanse the non-Arab community in the Western part of Sudan.

Professor Mekki then analyzed the causes of the Abyei conflict in which Sudan and South Sudan harshly fought (Abyei is a region on the border between the two countries). Despite the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, hostilities have not faded because of disputes linked to oil.

Professor Mekki described some of the geopolitical implications of the ongoing conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. He noted that the government of Sudan takes advantage of the pipeline that links Khartoum to the Red Sea. However, South Sudan is richer in oil. One side has the pipeline; the other has the oil wells. They need each other. Professor Mekki explained that the government of South Sudan (which gained independence in 2011) is trying to build refineries in Mumbasa, Kenya.

He concluded his lecture by dsecribing the importance of foreign intervention in Sudanese affairs, particularly Chinese participation in oil deals (70% of Sudanese oil is sold to the Chinese).

Prof. Mekki was born and rasied in Sudan, and fled to Egypt because of the civil war, where he lived for five years, working as an Arabic-English translator and interpreter. Professor Mekki graduated from the City College of New York in 2010 with a double major in Political Science and International Studies.

Lorenzo Vermigli,

Intern, Fall 2013

On October 23, 2013, Dr. Elizabeth Radziszewski, Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at Lehigh University, discussed "Social Networks and Public Support for the European Union" at The Institute of World Politics.

She explored the question of how unpopular political views arise through a case study she had done to explore why some villages in Poland voted against the EU Accession Referendum.

Through her field research, she discovered that much of the Euroskepticism in the region arose through the efforts of local community leaders. These leaders spread their views initially through personal interactions, where they used emotional arguments about preserving Poland's sovereignty, and helped convince people that others in the community also shared their Euroskeptic views. Once several people in the community were convinced, others began to follow suit.

Dr. Radziszewski noted that this case study illustrates the importance of social networks and community leaders in shaping how people think about the European Union.

To purcahse Dr. Radziszewski's book on this topic, please click here: http://www.amazon.com/Networks-European-Routledge-Advances-Politics/dp/0415643236

This lecture was sponsored by the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies.

On October 23, 2013, Dr. Elizabeth Radziszewski, Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at Lehigh University, discussed "Social Networks and Public Support for the European Union" at The Institute of World Politics.

She explored the question of how unpopular political views arise through a case study she had done to explore why some villages in Poland voted against the EU Accession Referendum.

Through her field research, she discovered that much of the Euroskepticism in the region arose through the efforts of local community leaders. These leaders spread their views initially through personal interactions, where they used emotional arguments about preserving Poland's sovereignty, and helped convince people that others in the community also shared their Euroskeptic views. Once several people in the community were convinced, others began to follow suit.

Dr. Radziszewski noted that this case study illustrates the importance of social networks and community leaders in shaping how people think about the European Union.

To purcahse Dr. Radziszewski's book on this topic, please click here: http://www.amazon.com/Networks-European-Routledge-Advances-Politics/dp/0415643236

This lecture was sponsored by the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies.

On October 23, 2013, Dr. Elizabeth Radziszewski, Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at Lehigh University, discussed "Social Networks and Public Support for the European Union" at The Institute of World Politics.

She explored the question of how unpopular political views arise through a case study she had done to explore why some villages in Poland voted against the EU Accession Referendum.

Through her field research, she discovered that much of the Euroskepticism in the region arose through the efforts of local community leaders. These leaders spread their views initially through personal interactions, where they used emotional arguments about preserving Poland's sovereignty, and helped convince people that others in the community also shared their Euroskeptic views. Once several people in the community were convinced, others began to follow suit.

Dr. Radziszewski noted that this case study illustrates the importance of social networks and community leaders in shaping how people think about the European Union.

To purcahse Dr. Radziszewski's book on this topic, please click here: http://www.amazon.com/Networks-European-Routledge-Advances-Politics/dp/0415643236

This lecture was sponsored by the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies.

On October 10, 2013, Luke Bencie, President of Security Management International, LLC, spoke at IWP about his new book, "Among Enemies: Counter-Espionage for Business Travelers."

He described the difference between counterespionage (which is more defensive) and counterintelligence (which can be defensive or offensive), as well as the difference between economic espionage (conducted primarily by a state sponsor) and industrial espionage (conducted by others in industry).

Although some may be naïve about the extent to which economic espionage occurs, Mr. Bencie noted that the FBI Strategic Plan found that, next to terrorism, economic espionage is the greatest threat from other countries. In fact, in FY12, US firms lost about $13 billion due to economic espionage.

He described what types of industrial information is most often stolen - from information about aeronautics to everyday products. He outlined some of China’s concerted economic espionage efforts, including its 863 Program and the story of Dongfan “Greg” Chung, who passed along information on the US space program.

He outlined two main rules for business travelers: First, always assume you are under surveillance, both physical and electronic. Second, think and act like a counterintelligence officer - for instance, don’t comb your room for cameras, or you may find yourself under even more surveillance.

Mr. Bencie told some stories about his own experiences traveling abroad, including a time when his hotel room was ransacked and the safe was opened. He reviewed several ways in which economic espionage is conducted, including at hotels, airports, internet cafés, trade shows, in the academic world, and in consulting agreements. Often, the person who has given up industrial secrets has no idea that any economic espionage has occurred.

To purchase Among Enemies: Counter-Espionage for Business Travelers, please click here: http://www.amazon.com/Among-Enemies-Counter-Espionage-Business-Traveler/dp/098859191X