Shifrinson Briefs Congressional Staffers on Power Politics
Joshua Shifrinson, Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, gave a briefing to a bipartisan group of Congressional staff members on January 16, 2019.
Speaking to about 70 staff members from the Senate and House, Shifrinson discussed United States strategy and the return of great power politics. His talk built upon his book Rising Titans, Falling Giants: How Great Powers Exploit Power Shifts (Cornell University Press, 2018) and covered how growing U.S. competition with the People’s Republic of China requires adjusting, where and how the U.S. engages in the world, shifts in defense spending and military plans, and cultivating new forms of diplomatic relationships. Shifrinson also met with several members of the House and their staffs one-on-one.
Had an amazing time briefing Congressional staffers on U.S. grand strategy and the return of great power politics. Terrific crowd and A+ questions, with real thoughtful engagement on all sides (real bipartisan consensus)! @BUPardeeSchool @BU_PSI @MIT_SSP pic.twitter.com/zth7DF4P30
— Josh Shifrinson (@shifrinson) January 17, 2019
Joshua R. Itzkowitz Shifrinson’s teaching and research interests focus on the intersection of international security and diplomatic history, particularly the rise and fall of great powers and the origins of grand strategy. He has special expertise in great power politics since 1945 and U.S. engagement in Europe and Asia. Shifrinson’s first book, Rising Titans, Falling Giants: How Great Powers Exploit Power Shifts (Cornell University Press, 2018) builds on extensive archival research focused on U.S. and Soviet foreign policy after 1945 to explain why some rising states challenge and prey upon declining great powers, while others seek to support and cooperate with declining states.