Welcome to Elephants in the War Room

Monica Duffy Toft
18 September 2017

Welcome to the Fletcher Center for Strategic Studies Blog: Elephants in the War Room

As Director of the Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) at the Fletcher School, I’m delighted to announce the launch of the new blog “Elephants in the War Room.” As the title of our blog indicates we are looking at crucial aspects of US strategic, foreign and defense policy that are often ignored despite the fact that they are large and obvious problems or risks that should be central to the discussion; yet no one wants to discuss them (except us!). Elephants in the War Room also connects us with Tufts University’s revered mascot, Jumbo the Elephant.

This outlet is designed as a platform to provide insight and inform the Fletcher community, our network of partners, and the broader academic and policy communities of our events and work; as well as a venue for the timely publication of writings about strategy, diplomacy, and war by CSS staff, fellows and faculty.

The blog will be run by our PhD Fellows and feature contributions by them and CSS post-doctoral researchers, visiting scholars, and our faculty. From time to time we may also publish blogposts by other students and scholars within the broader Fletcher community.

Fletcher CSS is a new research center established in the autumn of 2017 at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Under the direction of Professor Monica Duffy Toft, it will provide a focal point for academic work on strategic studies at the school. CSS’s priorities include alternative strategies for securing America; complexities of international conflict including territoriality, legitimacy, and ethnic, cultural, and religious dimensions; and the costs of military intervention and its long-term consequences.

We hope you will check in periodically to learn more about our research and activities and our take on all things strategic, diplomatic and war-related happening around the globe.

In addition to the blog, you can follow us on Twitter @cssfletcher. We look forward to your feedback in person and by email (cssfletcher@tufts.com).