The conference explored the intent, the causes, and the consequences of restraint in foreign engagement in the course of American history.  Supported by both political parties, worldwide engagement has characterized American foreign policy for many decades. Debate has most often revolved around the nature and details of engagement strategies. But the presidency of Donald Trump […]

Watch the 2020 conference here.  Listen to the  featured podcast here.  The conference facilitated an organic and respectful dialogue on military service, the military experience, and the civil-military divide. The conference objectives: Educate the audience on the history of civil-military relations, particularly the legacies of leadership, cultural change, and policy shifts during wartime;  Present various […]

In June 2020, the Consortium convened a group of some of the best “thinkers” from academia and policy for its first event, a policy workshop that tackled issues of American internationalism through a series of four papers. The group also welcomed keynote speakers, Wyndee Parker (a Duke alumna), who is the National Security Advisor to […]

Merrill Center for Strategic Studies & Duke University’s Program in American Grand Strategy’s 2021 Conference on Civil-Military Relations will take place in February 2021. This conference will be held virtually (potentially over multiple days). 

15 April 2021 | 5:00-6:00pm Register here   Join AWC Ph.D. candidate Clay Katsky to welcome former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence Carmen Medina to discuss diversity in the intelligence community and its implications for national security Ms. Carmen Medina is a former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. She is coauthor of the book Rebels […]