1. Real World Policy Projects in International Relations
Krista E. Wiegand
University of tennessee

2. The Gap
How significant is the gap between academic IR and foreign policy? 85% see a gap
Should there be more effort to bridge the gap?
How can academics address the gap?

3. Academics vs. Policy
Scholars work toward achieving tenure and/or strong evaluations in their departments Scholars increasingly use quantitative methods to test theories Policy relevance not given priority in academic research Policy makers don’t understand or care about academic methodology or literature reviews Policy makers want brief pieces of informative assessment, in timely manner

4. Bridging the Gap
Gap between scholars/academics and foreign policy world
Grant funded programs at American University to help bridge the gap for faculty and graduate students
Engaging with think tanks like Council for Relations can help bridge the gap
Objective is to encourage research & teaching that addresses policy challenges
Identify areas where foreign policy debates overlap with academic research/teaching

5. Bridging the Gap Policy relevant research should be:
1) Diagnostic – policy makers need to assess nature of the problems they face, warning signs, and trends they are seeing – IR academics can help with this
2) Prescriptive – academics figuring out the best strategies for policy makers to pursue, providing declarative advice, recommendations
3) Lesson drawing – academics studying failed policies of the past

6. What policy makers want - poll
Policy challenges are “real time, in the moment, situational.”
Policymakers do follow social scientific research on national security
BUT academic scholarship does NOT trickle down to policy world
Policymakers prefer qualitative research, do not understand quantitative methods as much
Quantitative work in conflict resolution considered “a complete waste”
BUT public opinion polling analysis was seen as useful
Policy makers do not want academics IN policymaking roles, but as advisors, thinkers of new knowledge
Most useful writing is done by practitioners and journalists
Most academic IR work looks at recent history, NOT current events/issues
Policy makers do NOT want to know what happens “most of the time”

7. Teaching IR & Foreign Policy
Teaching international studies courses involves choices about how theoretical or how policy relevant the focus should be
Theories of realism, liberal institutionalism, rational choice, domestic politics, constructivism – is this the best approach?
Intro to IR textbooks use variety of approaches, some including foreign policy more than others
Graduate programs in particular vary widely – should emphasis be academic or about foreign policy?
Avey & Desch Table 9 – comparison of academic and policymaker rankings of IR programs
Study of IR provides “intellectual background”

8. Questions
Is it the responsibility of academics to engage in policy challenges?
How do we balance academic scholarship with policy relevant work and teaching?
How do we stay out of “politics” while teaching about real world events and politics?
Does it help our students learn about IR more effectively to engage in policy issues?

9. Diplomacy Lab Sponsored by U.S. Department of State
University-State partnership
Objective – to bridge academic research and foreign policy making
Provides policy makers with free outsourced research/assessment/analysis on particular topics
Multidisciplinary focus of topics
Provides professors and students with opportunity to directly engage in policy challenges and with policymakers themselves – video conferences
Each semester – new list of topics to address
Selected universities involved – universities can apply
Can use Diplomacy Lab model in classroom even without partnership

10. Success of US mediation in civil wars
Semester long project
Quantitative analysis of datasets about mediation in civil wars
Each class period spent some time on project
Students formed groups with specific tasks
A lot of time spent on what research has already been done, what is missing, what factors could explain success of mediation, which datasets were the best to use, how to conduct analysis, etc.
Students learned how academic research can be utilized and practical for policy makers

11. In the classroom
Come up with actionable points/recommendations that policy makers can pursue
Students can read IR blogs: Monkey Cage, Political Violence at a Glance
Diplomacy Lab type class project (semester long or part of the semester)
Use National Security Archives – George Washington University
Teach students how to write policy briefs – use think tanks
Use Model Diplomacy and other resources from Council on Foreign Relations Campus
Invite Congressional aides from Congressmen on Foreign Relations committee to come visit campus/conference call to class

12. Questions & Discussion