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Paul D. Williams

@pdwilliamsgwu

Professor of International Affairs.

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18.11.2023
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Latest posts by Paul D. Williams @pdwilliamsgwu

Private contractors are part of almost all peace operations. It depends what tasks/services/activities he's talking about in particular.

31.01.2025 13:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Peacekeeping armies: what are they, why do African states build them and what impact do they have? Poorer states, like Rwanda and Burundi, have economic incentives for maintaining peacekeeping armies.

#Peacekeeping armies: what are they, why do African states build them and what impact do they have?

I write with @pdwilliamsgwu.bsky.social for @theconversation.com about #Africa & peacekeeping armies

theconversation.com/peacekeeping...

16.01.2025 14:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 12 ๐Ÿ” 6 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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It's a helpful paper: the UN๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ณ needs to change the way its
peace operations are planned, budgeted and staffed. โœ…
And you hit the nail on the head with this paragraph...๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ‘

30.11.2024 15:09 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Commissioned by the UN๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ณDepartment of Peace Operations, our new study analyzes models for UN peacekeeping to address evolving global threats. It aims to shape discussions for the 2025 Berlin Peacekeeping Ministerial, focused on "The Future of Peacekeeping."
peacekeeping.un.org/en/study-on-...

18.11.2024 15:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 19 ๐Ÿ” 9 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Security studies: The George Washington Universityโ€™s Elliott School of International Affairs and Department of Political Science invite applications for a full-time, tenured faculty position in securi...

โญJob Alert โญ
GW's Elliott School & Political Science Dept are hiring a full-time, tenured Assoc/Full Prof. in security studies beginning Fall 2025. Seeking a strong track record of research, teaching & policy engagement in the field of security studies, broadly defined.
www.gwu.jobs/postings/116...

22.11.2024 21:35 ๐Ÿ‘ 37 ๐Ÿ” 33 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Myanmar - ACLED Coding decisions on key armed actors, anti-coup demonstrations, violence in Rakhine state, and more Published on: |ย Last updated:ย  Background Coding political violence in Myanmar poses several methodo...

Info-nugget๐Ÿ˜ฎ
The conflict landscape in Myanmar๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฒ has become the most fragmented in the world. ACLED records over 2,600 new non-state actors participating in Myanmarโ€™s conflict since April 2021, accounting for 21% of total active non-state armed groups worldwide.
acleddata.com/knowledge-ba...

19.11.2024 13:10 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Commissioned by the UN๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ณDepartment of Peace Operations, our new study analyzes models for UN peacekeeping to address evolving global threats. It aims to shape discussions for the 2025 Berlin Peacekeeping Ministerial, focused on "The Future of Peacekeeping."
peacekeeping.un.org/en/study-on-...

18.11.2024 15:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 19 ๐Ÿ” 9 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Today seems like a good day to share this Scientific American story on how vaccines have saved more lives throughout history than any other intervention

www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-...

07.11.2024 01:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 2677 ๐Ÿ” 1300 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 51 ๐Ÿ“Œ 35
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Endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States โ€” National Security Leaders for America Kamala Harris will make an excellent Commander-in-Chief, while Mr. Trump has proven he is not up to the job. Effective leadership requires in-depth knowledge, careful deliberation, understanding of ...

741 former national security leaders including fifteen 4-star generals and admirals, along with 230 former flag officers endorse Kamala Harris for President. They write, "Our endorsement of Vice President Harris is an endorsement of freedom and an act of patriotism."
www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

22.09.2024 23:41 ๐Ÿ‘ 48 ๐Ÿ” 22 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

04.08.2024 10:59 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This is an appalling and horrifying story about the attacks researchers like @katestarbird.bsky.social undergo by those determined to silence any who call out their disinformation and other underhanded tactics. Very similar to what climate scientists experience but with even MORE vitriol.

05.07.2024 16:50 ๐Ÿ‘ 109 ๐Ÿ” 48 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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What were the top causes & categories of deaths of U.S. Army active duty soldiers, 2014-2019?
Ans:
1) Suicide (GSW or asphyxiation)
2) Accidents (mainly motor vehicles but quite a lot of drug overdose)ย 
3) Natural causes
4) Combatย 
5) Homicide
Source: www.health.mil/Reference-Ce...

11.06.2024 12:27 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

the very worst shit online is always generated by a small, obsessed cult and SUPRISE, when you ban that small group you have mostly solved the problem

06.06.2024 14:35 ๐Ÿ‘ 1260 ๐Ÿ” 356 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 10 ๐Ÿ“Œ 8
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Just recording the idiocy for posterity...

24.05.2024 12:33 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

All us researchers need to be aware of the โ€œbullshit industrial complex.โ€

24.05.2024 11:03 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The Somali National Army Versus al-Shabaab: A Net Assessment โ€“ Combating Terrorism Center at West Point Abstact: An important question for the future of Somalia is if the African Union withdraws the remainder of its forces from the country by December 31, 2024, would the Somali National Army (SNA) or al...

Inspired by @jjschroden.bsky.social work on the war in Afghanistan๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ซ, Iโ€™ve written a net assessment of the Somali๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ด National Army versus al-Shabaab in the event of a withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers.
My assessment? Well, itโ€™s not good newsโ€ฆ ctc.westpoint.edu/the-somali-n...

30.04.2024 11:41 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Russian๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ equipment losses in its war vs Ukraine๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ are estimated at c.8,800 since Feb 2022. Nevertheless, the IISS assesses that Russia will be able to sustain its assault on Ukraine๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ at current attrition rates for another 2โ€“3 years, and maybe even longer.
www.iiss.org/online-analy...

23.04.2024 10:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Researchers find lower grades given to students with surnames that come later in alphabetical order Knowing your ABCs is essential to academic success, but having a last name starting with A, B or C might also help make the grade.

An analysis by University of Michigan researchers of more than 30 million grading records from U-M finds students with alphabetically lower-ranked names receive lower grades. This is due to sequential grading biases and the default order of students' submissions in Canvas. #AcademicSky #EduSky #Bias

17.04.2024 20:55 ๐Ÿ‘ 167 ๐Ÿ” 97 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 8 ๐Ÿ“Œ 30

And here's the IDF's response to The Guardian's article www.idf.il/189654

08.04.2024 17:31 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This is such an interesting article for thinking about different dimensions of AI military applications. "โ€˜The machine did it coldlyโ€™: Israel used AI to identify 37,000 Hamas targets."
www.theguardian.com/world/2024/a...

04.04.2024 14:54 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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The Biden administration continued its effort to extend student debt relief, erasing an additional $5.8 billion in federal loans for nearly 78,000 borrowers, including teachers, firefighters and others who largely work in the public sector. nyti.ms/4a0QODv

21.03.2024 14:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 267 ๐Ÿ” 104 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6 ๐Ÿ“Œ 21
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I'm looking to hire a TA to work with me on two MA-level international security courses during AY24/25 at GW's Elliott School. The TA will run 2 in-person discussion sections (capped at 20 students each) in the Fall 24 and Spring 25 semesters. Compensation is c.$20,000. Details ๐Ÿ‘‡

16.03.2024 22:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Interesting. New CRS report has this figure: โ€œU.S. intelligence agencies reportedly estimated in December 2023 that the Russian๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ military had suffered 315,000 killed and injured.โ€ crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/...

09.03.2024 21:58 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

"๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธSpace Force: We need a hotline to China๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ."
Surely a good idea. www.defenseone.com/threats/2024...

21.02.2024 01:31 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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This is a really useful report on the use of drones in the Ukraine๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ war. Via @cnas.bsky.social
www.cnas.org/publications...

20.02.2024 18:55 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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On security assistance to Ukraine๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

20.02.2024 13:38 ๐Ÿ‘ 13 ๐Ÿ” 6 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

โ€œIn 2023, the UN collected 82.3% of the yearโ€™s assessment, the lowest in the last 5 years. Only 142 Member States paid their dues in full โ€“ again, the lowest in the last 5 years. As a result, year-end arrears climbed to $859 million, up from $330 million in 2022.โ€ www.ipsnews.net/2024/02/uns-...

20.02.2024 11:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

โ€œPeacekeepers and Political Stability in Somalia.โ€ My short essay on the ongoing transition of the African Union force in Somalia๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ด for the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs gjia.georgetown.edu/2024/02/12/p...

12.02.2024 16:40 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The stellar โญ ๐Ÿš€ team at GWโ€™s Space Policy Institute ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿš€ ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿš€ ๐Ÿ›ฐ ๐ŸŒ’ is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Researcher in Space Policy to join their academic and interdisciplinary team.ย It's a full-time, 2-year position. Details ๐Ÿ‘‡
www.gwu.jobs/postings/108...

01.02.2024 20:41 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1