Building a Social Mandate for Climate Action: Lessons from COVID-19

The COVID-19 imposed lockdown has led to a number of temporary environmental side effects (reduced global emissions, cleaner air, less noise), that the climate community has aspired to achieve over a number of decades. However, these benefits have been achieved at a massive cost to welfare and the economy. This commentary draws lessons from the COVID-19 crisis for climate change. It discusses whether there are more sustainable ways of achieving these benefits, as part of a more desirable, low carbon resilient future, in a more planned, inclusive and less disruptive way. In order to achieve this, we argue for a clearer social contract between citizens and the state. We discuss how COVID-19 has demonstrated that behaviours can change abruptly, that these changes come at a cost, that we need a ‘social mandate’ to ensure these changes remain in the long-term, and that science plays an important role in informing this process. We suggest that deliberative engagement mechanisms, such as citizens’ assemblies and juries, could be a powerful way to build a social mandate for climate action post-COVID-19. This would enable behaviour changes to become more accepted, embedded and bearable in the long-term and provide the basis for future climate action

VENEZUELA: ILLUMINATING A VULNERABLE STATE

Academics, journalists, and researchers have conducted extensive qualitative research on the causality of the socialist-leftist movement in Venezuela; however, little quantitative research has been conducted on how and why opposition reform efforts have been largely ineffective. By using exploratory methods in the fields of social network analysis, social movement theory, and statistical analysis, this work develops an alternative quantitative model and applies it to traditional qualitative methods of analysis in these fields. Using temporal social network analysis, this thesis illuminates changes in the relationships of political parties, alliances, and ideology during the Chávez-Maduro era. Additionally, using temporal protest data and key events, it analyses the ebb and flow of social movements in relation to political opportunity. Finally, it analyzes the effects of the country’s destabilization factors and opposition’s protests on voting patterns at the municipal level to determine if social movements in Venezuela are affecting opposition reform efforts. This thesis contributes to the ongoing research on the destabilization in the region and supports the formulation of a strategy in the SOCSOUTH Area of Responsibility.http://archive.org/details/venezuelaillumin1094561210Major, United States ArmyMajor, United States ArmyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Directed Study in Support of SOJTF-A: The Future Utilization of SOF in Afghanistan

Defense Analysis PosterWhat we were asked to do: Develop a set of considerations to support future SOJTF-A planning; A narrative that explains the justice of the shared US-Afghan cause and undermines the Taliban's narrative; develop creative concepts for the future utilization of SOF in AfghanistanSpecial Operations Joint Task Force –Afghanistan (SOJTF-A

Framing the Post-2020 Afghan Environment: Thoughts and Recommendations

This research aims to augment the reader’s strategic appreciation for the post-2020 environment in Afghanistan. As such, the authors consider this a “thought piece” versus a policy prescriptive decision briefing or white paper. The near-term goal is to inform the NATO Special Operations Component Command – Afghanistan/Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan (NSOCC-A/SOJTF-A) Commander and his staff on crucial variables that may prove consequential in the forthcoming development of a campaign design for the future utilization of Special Operations Forces (SOF) in Afghanistan, while also providing a collection of ‘creative options’ that could be injected into future SOF campaign plans in order to influence the aforementioned variables. For this analysis, the authors consciously present a holistic look at Afghanistan, accounting for variables and circumstances beyond SOJTF-A’s authorities or sphere of influence. The expanded scope was purposefully chosen to present a comprehensive understanding of the environment in which SOJTF-A leadership employs the SOF enterprise.Commander, NSOCC-A/SOJTF-ACommander, NSOCC-A/SOJTF-