Ending War: History, Theory, and Lessons

If war is continuation of policies by other means, when is then the time, in the absence of decisive victory, to cash in or cut losses? Can a protracted war remain a “good” war? And when does armistice become an option worse than perpetuation of warfare?

Held at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy on May 6 and 7, 2024, this conference is a brain-storming event in which world-leading historians and scholars of international affairs and wars, to reassess select case studies from the past – with an eye on understanding how protracted and unwinnable wars were brought to conclusion.

The main mission of the conference is to discuss on how to marry diplomacy to longer-term strategic horizons, how to navigate the minefield of domestic and international politics, emotional and ethical indignation, and how to recognize economic and military limitations. The main objective of the discussion is to inform sound strategy.

This conference is cohosted by Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe, the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs and The Cold War Studies Project at the London School of Economics.

A link for public registration will be available at a later date.

 

On December 2^nd, 2023, students at Johns Hopkins SAIS participated in a half-day exercise that simulated a major US-Russia military crisis in the Arctic region. The event was organized by the Henry Kissinger Center for Global Affairs through Professors Hal Brands and visiting Professor Timothy Nichols from Duke.

Students served in numerous different advisory roles across government to resolve and deescalate the crisis. The simulation required students to immerse themselves in the military, legal, diplomatic, intelligence, and economic realms to diagnose the flash crisis and find a way to meet the President's guidance to de-escalate. They worked to address time-sensitive policy decisions, process and disseminate important information, and achieve interagency coordination. Throughout the exercise, students were exposed to some of the key dynamics that shape US policy in any crisis, such as dealing with imperfect information, cooperating within and across complex bureaucracies, handling escalation risks, and reconciling short-term actions with longer-term objectives.

The event was a successful - 40 graduate students willingly chose to come to school on a Saturday and engage thoughtfully and meaningfully with their colleagues and the Crisis Simulation Control to address the challenges. Students demonstrated their ability to work together effectively and make difficult decisions under pressure. By assuming advisory roles in various government agencies, students gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of national security policymaking. They also had the opportunity to work alongside their peers and develop their leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. Overall, the simulation provided a valuable learning experience for all participants and highlighted the importance of interagency cooperation and effective crisis management in the realm of national security.

We are grateful to Professors Hal Brands and Timothy Nichols for organizing such an engaging and educational event, and we look forward to future opportunities to engage in similar exercises.