News & Publications

Above: Soviet troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in 1986. This paper was written by Meg Cramer for IWP 649: Mass Murder Prevention. Meg is a first-year student at IWP studying Strategic Intelligence. Her interest lies in Afghanistan, past and present. Forty years ago, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan launched the country into violence that continues to…

The Western-oriented alliance has largely improved its position in 2020; avoiding war with Iran will be the main challenge of 2021. Ever since the final collapse of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the Middle East has become increasingly complex from the geopolitical standpoint, until very recently. It is still the playground of internal…

The Baltic countries are prosperous now and, ostensibly, safe as members of both the EU and NATO. Yet, they live with sordid memories of Soviet occupation, which lasted over 50 years. And the specter of a new Russian invasion never quite fades away. “What if” is a real consideration for the Balts and others in…

In case you need your national security, intelligence, and international affairs reading fix during winter break, IWP faculty members have shared their suggestions. From Dr. Anne Bradley, Former Economic Analyst for the CIA’s Office of Terrorism Analysis Factfulness, Hans Rosling with Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Ronnlund. Hans Rosling was a master at looking at…

Entering the final year of my undergraduate degree, I was seeking an opportunity to develop professional skills, build connections, and gain a clearer idea of my career goals. I previously applied for a summer internship with IWP but did not receive an offer. In actuality, this turned out for the best because I honed my…

Electricity is a top national security priority for most countries. Thus, access to an uninterrupted flow of low-priced and adequate energy supplies to fuel power generators and sustain the supply of electricity lies at the heart of their energy strategies. Read more at the Atlantic Council

Romania Mare, or Greater Romania, is a slogan of Romanian nationalists. That would be the union of the Republic of Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Both share a common Romanian language and border, but not recent history. Romania is in the EU and NATO, while Moldova is not. Read more at Newsmax

I knew interning with The Institute of World Politics would be a unique opportunity that would allow me to experience first-hand all its vast connections in the counterintelligence community. However, I did not expect the extent to which this internship has enhanced my knowledge and passion for national security or the incredible and accepting community…

As a senior at American University in Washington, D.C., I first learned about The Institute of World Politics (IWP) by attending their on-campus lectures and book talks as a guest. Needless to say, being able to intern on the Events and Communications team at IWP and helping to bring those talks to a new virtual…

As a recent graduate of George Mason University, I was feeling overwhelmed and unsure about where my future would take me. Given the COVID-19 impacts, my graduation and post-graduation plans were abruptly put on hold. I was extremely lucky to accept an internship with The Institute of World Politics, where I served as a research…