Mershon Center for International Security Studies Annual Report 2007-2008

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2008

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Mershon Center for International Security Studies

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Abstract

Since 1967, the Mershon Center for International Security Studies has worked to fulfill the vision of Ralph D. Mershon. He gave his generous gift to The Ohio State University nearly 50 years ago to ensure that civilians would study military activities. The mission of the Mershon Center is to advance the understanding of national security in a global context. Rarely has that task seemed more urgent and complicated. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, and it has become increasingly clear that military force alone will not bring them to a close. There is a need for cultural, economic, and political expertise as well. As the security agenda has grown, the Mershon Center has complemented its focus on the use of force and diplomacy with equal attention to the cultures and ideas that underpin security, and to the institutions that manage conflict. Projects sponsored by the center aim to explore fundamental questions such as: • How can military force be used effectively to advance political aims? When and why will its use succeed on the battlefield but fail politically? • What role do national and religious identities play in conflict? Are they immutable or can we devise strategies to ameliorate the conflicts they generate? • What institutions have been successful in managing violent conflict? How can such institutions be built and sustained? The Mershon Center promotes collaborative research on these themes among colleagues from more than 15 departments across Ohio State. It does this by funding multidisciplinary faculty and student research and undergraduate study abroad scholarships. The center also hosts numerous seminars and conferences, enriching intellectual life on campus by bringing some of the world’s leading scholars and practitioners to Ohio State. The Mershon Center’s principal aim is to produce scholarship that has lasting value. This year we are especially proud of the recognition received by several of our colleagues for the work they have done. Allan Millett was awarded the 2008 Pritzker Military Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing. John Mueller received the Warren J. Mitofsky Award for Excellence in Public Opinion Research. Peter Shane was named executive director of The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy. The faculty members and the students they attract are the lifeblood of the Mershon Center and the main benefit of being its director. This year, I am particularly happy to welcome Dr. and Col. (ret.) Peter Mansoor as the Raymond E. Mason Jr. Chair in Military History. Peter is a highly decorated officer with more than 26 years of distinguished service. Prior to coming to Ohio State, he served as executive officer to Gen. David Petraeus in Baghdad. Peter holds a PhD in history and is author of The GI Offensive in Europe (Kansas, 1999). His most recent book is Baghdad at Sunrise: A Brigade Commander’s War in Iraq (Yale, 2008). More information about the Mershon Center, along with photos and videos from many talks given here, are available on our web site at mershoncenter.osu.edu. RICHARD K. HERRMANN DIRECTOR, MERSHON CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES PROFESSOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE

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The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.

Keywords

Mershon Center Annual Report 2007-2008, national security, security studies, faculty research, graduate students

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