In commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, an event which continues to impact us today, Elliott School faculty have contributed brief reflections on how that day shaped what we do in international affairs.
Diego Abente Brun, Visiting Professor of International Affairs and Director of the Latin American and Hemispheric Studies Program
“A commitment to democracy was approved unanimously in the midst of a terrorist attack. A stark contrast between the world we want and the dangers we face.” On 9/11 I was the Ambassador of Paraguay to the OAS having breakfast with my Minister of Foreign...
Contributed by Mona Atia, Associate Professor of Geography and International Affairs; Director, Institute for Middle East Studies and Shana Marshall, Assistant Research Professor of International Affairs
“For International Affairs theorists the post-9/11 forever war was primarily a theoretical and strategic issue whereas for MES scholars it was about seeing their sites of study transform into a permanent war zone.” The Middle East has long been a site for...
Contributed by Marlene Laruelle, Director, Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies; Director, Illiberalism Studies Program, and Director, Central Asia Program Co-Director, PONARS-Eurasia; Research Professor of International Affairs
“The events of 9/11, which occurred less than 18 months after Vladimir Putin was elected president, confirmed the view of the new Russian elite that terrorism constituted the main threat to developed nations and should be fought using the harshest means.”...
Contributed by Shirley Graham, Director of the Gender Equality Initiative in International Affairs, Associate Professor of Practice in International Affairs
“It is time now for ideas about women’s inclusion as a ‘soft’ security matter to be relegated to last century and for gender equality to be taken seriously, not only for the sake of women and girls somewhere, but for the sake of peace and security...
Contributed by Erwan Lagadec, Associate Research Professor of International Affairs
“The 9/11 Commission Report later estimated that the plot cost Al-Qaida no more than $500,000; while the cost of its impact, and of the U.S.’ response, is measured in trillions.” A government-centric understanding of the response to 9/11 would surely...
Contributed by Benjamin Hopkins, Professor of History and International Affairs; Director of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies; Co-Director of the East Asia National Resource Center
“9/11 propelled the United States into a war with no clear enemy, no clear objective, and no clear cost.” What is the meaning of 9/11? This is a question which will be much asked as we approach the 20th anniversary of the event. We must recognize that...
Contributed by Rollie Lal, Professor of International Affairs
“the last 20 years have shown that while we learned, we did not learn enough. We have yet to comprehend the connections between religion, nationalism, and radicalism.” On 9/10, policymakers were positive that conventional military might was the key to...
Contributed by Hope M. Harrison, Professor of History and International Affairs
“there is no way around the fact that while transitions of power are essential in a democracy, they also can leave the country vulnerable.” When the terrorist attacks occurred, I had just left a year-long position sponsored by the Council on Foreign...
Contributed by Marc Lynch, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs
“The ability to justify U.S. foreign policy decisions, align ideologically with the Bush administration, or to inform counterterrorism initiatives often outweighed language skills, regional expertise, or scholarship on themes unrelated to terrorism.” 9/11...
Contributed by Deepa M. Ollapally, Research Professor of International Affairs and the Associate Director of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies
“In the weeks and months after 9/11, I saw the way that the idea of extremism and terrorism in the western popular mind and within the security community worldview, became invariably linked to ethnic and religious factors.” 9/11 had a profound impact on my...
Contributed by David Shambaugh, Gaston Sigur Professor of Asian Studies, Political Science & International Affairs and Director of the China Policy Program
“it took Washington’s strategic focus off of Beijing and it bought nearly eight years of relatively smooth, stable, and constructive U.S.-China relations. The relationship has never been as stable or cooperative since.” 9/11 certainly did impact...
Contributed by Arturo C. Sotomayor, Associate Professor of International Affairs and Director of the Security Policy Studies Program
“The role of non-state actors in shaping insecurity, threat, and risk was taken much more seriously by the security sector after 2001.” The 9/11 attacks had a significant impact on security studies as a discipline. Terrorism was studied prior to September...
On September 11th, 2001, I was the Ambassador of Paraguay to the OAS having breakfast with my Minister of Foreign Relations and other members of our delegation in Lima, Peru. We were participating in the Extraordinary General Assembly to approve the Inter American Democratic Charter. Sitting two tables away from us, was U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell with his entourage.
Suddenly, we saw images of the horrific attack on the World Trade Center on the television screens at the restaurant. Secretary Powell took a phone call and abruptly rushed out of the restaurant.
Very quickly thereafter, the session to approve the Charter convened ahead of the originally scheduled time. Secretary Powell gave a powerful but brief presentation and left for the U.S. It was a moving moment. A commitment to democracy being approved unanimously in the midst of a terrorist attack- A stark contrast between the world we want and the dangers we face.
We remember. ¡Nunca más! LAHSPers are committed to the world we want and are preparingvthemselves in manifold ways to make their contributions to this noble objective.