Episode 10 | Translating Scholarship Into Statecraft

How can political science scholarship effectively inform real-world foreign policy during moments of global crisis?In this episode of Shifting Ground, co-hosts Larry Rubin and Rachel Whitlark sit down with Dr. Tamara Cofman Wittes, President of the National Democratic Institute. Drawing on her distinguished career spanning academia, think tanks, and high-level government service—including roles as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs during the Arab uprisings and Director of Foreign Assistance at the US Department of State—Wittes offers unique insights on bridging the gap between scholarship and practice, navigating Middle East policy, and the ongoing struggles facing global democracy.The discussion explores:Applied Political Science: Applying academic methods to practical statecraft and navigating careers for PhDs.Managing Regional Upheaval: Direct insights from the US State Department during the 2011 Arab uprisings.Democratic Resilience: Examining global polarization, economic scarcity, and oligarchic influence.