International Affairs and the Public Sphere

Most social scientists would like to believe that their profession contributes to solving pressing global problems. There is today no shortage of global problems that social scientists should study in depth: ethnic and religious conflict within and between states, the challenge of economic development, terrorism, the management of a fragile world economy, climate change and other forms of environmental degradation, the origins and impact of great power rivalries, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, just to mention a few. In this complex and contentious world, one might think that academic expertise about global affairs would be a highly valued commodity. One might also expect scholars of international relations to play a prominent role in public debates about foreign policy, along with government officials, business interests, representatives of special interest groups, and other concerned citizens. Yet the precise role that academic scholars of international affairs should play is not easy to specify. Indeed, there appear to be two conflicting ways of thinking about this matter. On the one hand, there is a widespread sense that academic research on global affairs is of declining practical value, either as a guide to policymakers or as part of broader public discourse about world affairs. On the other hand, closer engagement with the policy world and more explicit efforts at public outreach are not without their own pitfalls. Scholars who enter government service or participate in policy debates may believe that they are "speaking truth to power," but they run the risk of being corrupted or co-opted in subtle and not-so-subtle ways by the same individuals and institutions that they initially hoped to sway. The remainder of this essay explores these themes in greater detail.

The Global Response to American Primacy

Streaming audio requires RealPlayer.The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.Stephen M. Walt is a recognized leader in the field of international security. A former winner of the Mershon Center’s Furniss Book Award for his first book, Origins of Alliances, he is also the author of numerous articles and books like Revolution and War. At present, he is Academic Dean and Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard University.Ohio State University. Mershon Center for International Security Studiesweb page announcement, streaming audio, phot

International Affairs and the Public Sphere

Most social scientists would like to believe that their profession contributes to solving pressing global problems. There is today no shortage of global problems that social scientists should study in depth: ethnic and religious conflict within and between states, the challenge of economic development, terrorism, the management of a fragile world economy, climate change and other forms of environmental degradation, the origins and impact of great power rivalries, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, just to mention a few. In this complex and contentious world, one might think that academic expertise about global affairs would be a highly valued commodity. One might also expect scholars of international relations to play a prominent role in public debates about foreign policy, along with government officials, business interests, representatives of special interest groups, and other concerned citizens. Yet the precise role that academic scholars of international affairs should play is not easy to specify. Indeed, there appear to be two conflicting ways of thinking about this matter. On the one hand, there is a widespread sense that academic research on global affairs is of declining practical value, either as a guide to policymakers or as part of broader public discourse about world affairs. On the other hand, closer engagement with the policy world and more explicit efforts at public outreach are not without their own pitfalls. Scholars who enter government service or participate in policy debates may believe that they are "speaking truth to power," but they run the risk of being corrupted or co-opted in subtle and not-so-subtle ways by the same individuals and institutions that they initially hoped to sway. The remainder of this essay explores these themes in greater detail

The Ballpark Podcast Extra Innings: Why American foreign policy since the Cold War has been a failure with Stephen Walt

Your host Chris Gilson of the LSE US Centre is joined on this Extra Inning of the Ballpark by Professor Stephen Walt. In this interview, Chris and Professor Walt discuss the differences in US foreign policy between Presidents Trump and Obama. They also discuss Professor Walt's new book, The Hell of Good Intentions, and why he thinks American foreign policy since the Cold War has been a failure

An investigation into the practical application of the radioimmunoassay (RIA) test of milk progesterone to improve artificial insemination (AI) management in diary cattle

ThesisReproductive performance is one of the most important factors determining profitability in dairy herds (Lamming & Darwash, 1998). Current intercalving intervals (an indicator of reproductive performance) are generally too long for optimal milk production and the number of progeny born per year. These long intercalving intervals may be associated with managerial influences, such as breeding policy or the detection of oestrus or fertility problems, such as acyclia or "repeat breeders" i.e. the problem cow syndrome. Esslemont and Kossaibati (1998) suggested repeat breeding to be caused by an inadequate supply of the hormone progesterone, during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle and Erb eta/. (1976) found that unsuccessful inseminations were often accompanied by asynchronies in the hormonal profiles. Levels of and patterns of especially progesterone secretion could thus be one of the underlying causes of repeat breeding in problem cows. The hormone progesterone is produced by a transient organ, which develops in the ovary, after ovulation, called the corpus luteum (CL). The CL functions for a specific period of time (19-22 days after AI) and, if conception does not occur, undergoes regression. If conception does occur, however, the CL continues to function and secrete progesterone throughout the gestation period. Thus the concentration of progesterone in the body flu ids can vary according to the reproductive status of the animal (Ball & McEwen, 1998) and the measurement of progesterone levels in plasma is a specific indicator f . IERSfN 0 luteal functton (Becket a/., 1996). The presence of progesterone in cow milk was first Williams (1991) and Bloomfield eta/. (1986). Laing and Heap (1971) realised that, if progesterone levels in milk were closely correlated wi h those in the plasma, · great benefits would accrue to physiology, because of the relative ease of collecting milk rather than blood samples. Progesterone in milk was positively identified by Heap eta/. (1973) and high correlations (r = 0.91) with progesterone levels in milk and plasma were recorded by Hoffman et a/. (1976) and Peters (1984). This led to the development of sophisticated techniques to measure milk progesterone levels by Cox eta/. (1978) and identify the physiological status of the animal. As a result milk progesterone profiles and individual milk sample measurements can now be used to monitor the luteal and hence ovarian activity of pregnant cows (Pursley eta/., 1997b). Milk progesterone analysis may thus been seen as a most convenient method of monitoring ovarian activity in dairy cows and the possibility to use this technique as a routine procedure for pregnancy diagnosis service to commercial dairy producers may be possible. The objective of this study was to: a) test the accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis with the aid of a milk progesterone concentration assay b) use the milk progesterone assay to evaluate the progesterone profiles of cows classified as problem (low fertile) cows and c) determine a strategy to solve the incidence of problem low fertile cows, relating to information acquired from the milk progesterone assay

Developing and evaluating a method for multi-ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) in the bison (bison bison)

ThesisThe idea of domesticating bison is a goal for some cattlemen, who believe in utilizing the hardiness, long life, foraging habits and feed conversion abilities of the bison in the production of animal protein. It was not until the population of millions of bison, that once roamed the USA ranges, had been reduced to only a few hundred head, that anybody seriously took an active interest in restoring the numbers of these unique animals. Reproductive studies on the bison have shown that anatomically and physiologically they are very similar to domestic cattle. One notable difference is the apparent seasonality (Table 2.1) of the bison. Bison breeders indicate that bison are seasonally polyestrous, having a cycling season during the late summer and continuous into late autumn. Other bison breeders consider the breeding season to be shorter, ranging from summer to autumn. This observed shorter duration may be partly due to the fact that increased breeding activity is observed only during the early part of the season. Cows that do not conceive early in the season, often do not become pregnant as they are subjected to the stress of winter and the consequent decrease in the quality and quantity of nutrition. Anatomically, bison have small ovaries and reproductive tracts, which could be compared to that of first-calf beef heifers. Consequently, follicles and CL's are smaller and more difficult to identify by rectal palpation. Problems associated with the use of reproductive techniques, such as superovulation and embryo transfer in the bison, are not the technologies as such, but the handling and management of the animals. Most bison are not amenable to domestication and are managed as wild animals. The bison therefore responds accordingly and are often dangerous when handled. The stress encountered during these procedures on the animal is also a factor that could affect the response of the bison to superstimulation. A compounding problem with the few animals still left in the early 1900's, hints that the bison can experience a serious inbreeding problem. This problem has led to early abortions and birth defects in many cases. A need has therefore arisen to increase the number of bison in order to create various bloodlines. One of the more economical and feasible ways to increase the bison numbers and achieve this goal is by making use of reproductive technologies such as embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination (AI). Embryo transfer has the advantage of accelerating the rate of genetic progress and increasing the number of offspring produced. This study thus looks at the possibility of using accelerated breeding techniques generally implemented in domestic cattle to help increase the bison numbers and potential meat production

An Overview of Highway Funding In Missouri

http://www.truman.missouri.edu/ipp/publications/index.asp?ViewBy=DateEstablished in 1913, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is responsible for all modes of transportation including air, rail, water, and mass transit, as well as highway transportation. Unlike most other Missouri departments, the director of MoDOT is not appointed by the Governor. Rather, a group of six commissioners, appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate, hire the director. The director then manages the day to day operations of the more than 6,650 full-time-equivalent employees. This report focuses on highway transportation, the largest, most controversial and most important of the department's transportation functions. The report provides a historical context for highway development and maintenance, an overview of the issues currently facing MoDOT and of the current funding mechanisms, a brief comparison of Missouri's highway funding rates with those of other states, and a description of the ways the revenues are distributed.Includes bibliographical referece