Four political science stars came together Wednesday to discuss how the United States' role in the world has changed since the attacks a year earlier.
Associate Professor of Political Science Peter Feaver, Director of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy Bruce Jentleson and James B. Duke Professor of Political Science Robert Keohane headed a 50-minute panel discussion for the political science department and quickly discussed a variety of points--from the root causes of the events to possible future policy decisions to what this means now.
"The world hasn't changed," said Feaver, who was on sabbatical in London last year during the attacks. "The United States has just joined the world for the first time."
Keohane, an authority on international security, said that the attacks were the product of an increasingly globalized world, where countries interact with one another without a centralized governing power, and that the potential for terrorism was likely to remain in today's world.
"The attack on 9/11 was an example of globalization of informal violence, though it is often not seen that way," Keohane said. "Nine-eleven helps us recognize the multi-faceted nature of globalism, and that globalism is what we as human beings make of it."
True to his public policy background, Jentleson argued for increased U.S. involvement overseas, both militarily and otherwise. The United States needs to tend to both its "Sept. 11 agenda," which includes the taming of terrorism, and its "Sept. 10 agenda," which he said was those international goals on the docket before the attacks.
"We have won the battles in Afghanistan, but we have not yet won the war," he said. "We will not win the war unless we win peace."
Feaver said the Bush administration had reacted to the attacks well so far, as it has responded both defensively and offensively. He added, however, that it needed to improve its relations with other countries and groups.
Michael Gillespie, professor of political science, opened the panel discussion with his memories of Peter Ortale, Trinity '87, who died in the south tower last year. Gillespie said the former lacrosse player was one of his most memorable students.
"What distinguished Peter from almost all other students I have had was his utter dedication to learning and his complete indifference to grades," Gillespie said. "Peter took great joy in helping others, and Osama bin Laden and his associates took great joy in killing him.... I think the good Peter and others give in life will ultimately outshine the evil of those who killed him."
The forum, "The Impact of 9/11 on America's Role in the War," took the place of Feaver's scheduled international relations class, Political Science 93, in the White Lecture Hall at 1:10 p.m. Feaver required the class to attend and advocated that others in the 200-plus person crowd also pursue an education in political science.
"Since I teach international relations, I could probably be sued for malpractice if I ignored [Sept. 11]," Feaver said. "In class, I give them the analytical tools for examining current events and international relations, and this gives them an opportunity to apply them."
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