How to fake a scholarly argument — Abrahms in The Atlantic

March 8, 2023 This article caught my eye because its author, Max Abrahms, charges that there is "frequent disconnect between international-relations scholarship and common espoused views in Western media about the war." Now, I do not know why common views should reflect IR scholarship necessarily, but I do have an issue with the claim that … Continue reading How to fake a scholarly argument — Abrahms in The Atlantic

How not to reason about the war — Allison in The Washington Post

February 28, 2023 Graham Allison, one of the most cited political scientists and respected analyst, has published an op-ed in the Washington Post that has one scratching one's head in bewilderment. It is a mashup of unexplained and unsupportable assumptions presented as fact, and sloppy reasoning that hides its shortcomings behind rhetorical flourishes. I am … Continue reading How not to reason about the war — Allison in The Washington Post

The Gerasimov Offensive isn’t “coming” — it’s here

January 30, 2023 (This entry collects, and expands upon, several FB posts I made over the past few days.) Ever since the news about the appointment of Gerasimov, the Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, to command the Russian forces in Ukraine, everybody has been expecting a large offensive by VSRF. I do … Continue reading The Gerasimov Offensive isn’t “coming” — it’s here