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Good Authority

Good Authority

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Good Authority’s mission is to bring insights from political science to a broader audience. Here, political scientists draw on their expertise to provide in-depth analysis, illuminate the news, and inform the political conversation.This work is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Political Science Politics & Government Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Chalkboard Politics: Can Civil-Military Norms Survive a Polarized America?

    Chalkboard Politics: Can Civil-Military Norms Survive a Polarized America?
    May 11 2026
    In this episode of Chalkboard Politics, the team examines the growing pressures facing civil-military relations in the United States amid rising polarization, institutional distrust, and debates over executive authority in war and security policy. The conversation explores how democratic systems manage the relationship between civilian leaders and military institutions, particularly during moments of political crisis and heightened conflict. Our guest is Peter Feaver, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at Duke University and one of the leading scholars of civil-military relations, civilian control, and national security decision-making. Drawing on both academic research and government experience, Feaver discusses the norms, institutions, and constitutional tensions that shape the American civil-military system. The episode begins by examining the “ideal” relationship between civilian leaders and the military within the American constitutional framework. Feaver explains how the Constitution intentionally creates “shared” civilian control across branches of government, producing what he describes as an “invitation for struggle” that is designed to prevent concentrated power while still maintaining democratic accountability. The discussion then turns to the increasing politicization of the military in an era of polarization and social media. Feaver distinguishes between military institutions becoming genuinely partisan and civilian political actors using the military symbolically within partisan conflict. The conversation explores how public trust in the military, partisan rhetoric, and media ecosystems can complicate norms of military professionalism and democratic legitimacy. The episode further addresses debates surrounding leaks, resignations, legality, and dissent within the military chain of command. Feaver reflects on when military officials should “speak up but not out,” how legal authority is interpreted inside the executive branch, and the tensions between professional obligation, constitutional restraint, and political pressure. Finally, the conversation considers broader democratic implications, including Congress’s oversight role, nuclear decision-making procedures, and whether American institutions remain resilient under mounting stress. Throughout the episode, Feaver warns against treating constitutional guardrails as permanent or indestructible. Altogether, this episode explores how democracies preserve civilian control of the military while navigating polarization, war powers, and institutional distrust, as well as what is at stake when those norms begin to erode. Episode’s Main Themes: Civilian Control and Constitutional Tension: Feaver argues that the United States cannot achieve a perfectly frictionless civil-military relationship because the Constitution deliberately disperses civilian authority across institutions. Rather than eliminating conflict, the system depends on trust, self-restraint, and negotiation between civilian leaders and military actors. Key terms: civilian control, checks and balances, constitutional design, institutional trust Polarization and the Politicization of the Military: The discussion distinguishes between an inherently partisan military and civilian political leaders drawing the military into partisan conflict. Social media, polarization, and symbolic political performances increasingly risk turning the military into a participant in broader culture wars, threatening norms of nonpartisanship and public trust. Key terms: politicization, polarization, nonpartisan military, culture wars Professionalism, Resignation, and Institutional Norms: Feaver reflects on expectations surrounding military resignation, dissent, and professionalism. Senior military officials are expected to reinforce civilian control by avoiding public confrontation unless extraordinary circumstances demand otherwise. The conversation considers how highly publicized firings, resignations, and leaks can undermine institutional legitimacy and blur civil-military boundaries. Key terms: professionalism, quiet resignation, institutional legitimacy, leaks Legality, War Powers, and Executive Authority: The episode examines who determines whether military action is lawful and how legal advice functions within the executive branch. Feaver explains how lawyers, military officials, the Department of Justice, and the courts each play roles in interpreting legality, particularly in contested areas such as military strikes and executive war powers. Key terms: legality, executive power, Office of Legal Counsel, constitutional authority Military Advice, Obedience, and the Chain of Command: A central tension explored in the episode is the obligation of military officers to advise civilian leaders honestly while ultimately remaining subordinate to civilian authority. Feaver emphasizes that military professionals are trained not to carry out illegal orders and cannot simply...
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    45 mins
  • Chalkboard Politics: How Did the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict Change Global Politics?

    Chalkboard Politics: How Did the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict Change Global Politics?
    Apr 8 2026
    In this episode of Chalkboard Politics, the team examines the causes, escalation, and aftermath of the 2025 India-Pakistan crisis, as well as its broader implications for regional and global politics. The discussion also highlights Pakistan’s unexpected role on the world stage as the main mediator of diplomatic negotiations between Iran and the United States in their 2026 war. Our guests are Professor Niloufer Siddiqui, Associate Professor of Political Science at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, SUNY Albany, whose research focuses on political violence, religion, and electoral politics, and Professor Sushant Singh, lecturer in South Asian Studies at Yale University’s MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies and a journalist with extensive experience covering the region’s political and military dynamics. The episode begins by revisiting the Pahalgam attack and the rapid escalation that followed, including India’s retaliatory strikes and the unprecedented nature of the conflict between the two nuclear-armed states. Both guests reflect on how nationalism, domestic political incentives, and competing narratives shaped the trajectory of the crisis and heightened fears of wider war. The discussion then turns to the unexpected ceasefire, which emerged quickly despite high tensions and expectations of prolonged conflict. Niloufer Siddiqui and Sushant Singh explore how the “fog of war,” media environments, and external actors—including the Trump administration—contributed to both escalation and the eventual ceasefire. The episode then considers the broader geopolitical consequences of the conflict, including India’s doctrine of strategic autonomy, shifting U.S.-India and U.S.-Pakistan relations, and Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role in the region, particularly in mediation efforts related to the U.S.-Iran war. The conversation also addresses key flashpoints such as the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan’s relationship with Saudi Arabia, and the current conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Altogether, this episode analyzes whether the 2025 crisis reflects a continuation of long-standing patterns in India-Pakistan relations or a turning point in regional order—and what it reveals about escalation risks in a nuclearized and increasingly unstable geopolitical environment. Episode’s Main Themes: Escalation, Narratives, and Domestic Incentives: Both guests emphasize how quickly narratives formed after the initial attack, shaping public perception and political response. Competing claims about responsibility, combined with nationalism and “rally around the flag” effects, created strong domestic incentives for leaders in both India and Pakistan to escalate. Key terms: nationalism, narrative framing, domestic politics, “rally around the flag effect” Crossing Red Lines and Escalation Dynamics: The 2025 conflict was particularly dangerous due to strikes on densely populated areas, aerial losses, and the expansion of targets. These developments raised concerns about shifting military and diplomatic thresholds and the weakening of established red lines. Key terms: red lines, escalation dynamics, deterrence The Ceasefire and the “Fog of War”: Despite expectations of prolonged conflict, a ceasefire emerged quickly and unexpectedly. Siddiqui and Singh highlight how misinformation and heightened rhetoric communicated through social media and domestic news sources fueled expectations of continued escalation. However, these same mediums were also useful in facilitating the ceasefire by enabling both countries to control the narrative and portray themselves as “winners” as they exited the conflict. Key terms: fog of war, crisis management, mediation Strategic Autonomy and Shifting Global Alignments: India’s strategy of maintaining flexible relationships with major powers is increasingly under strain, potentially leaving it without reliable allies in moments of crisis. At the same time, shifting U.S. relations with both India and Pakistan reflect broader changes in global alignment and influence. Key terms: strategic autonomy, alliances, geopolitical positioning Pakistan’s New Roles on the World Stage: Pakistan has emerged as a more active diplomatic and strategic player, positioning itself as a mediator in regional conflicts. We analyze Pakistan’s defense pact with Saudi Arabia and its unexpected role in the diplomatic negotiations for a ceasefire in the Iran war. These developments reflect both strategic opportunism and longer-standing ideological ambitions. Key terms: mediation, regional leadership, Islamic world Structural Flashpoints and Future Risks: Ongoing tensions over issues like the Indus Waters Treaty highlight deeper structural risks, particularly around resource competition. Combined with the absence of clear guardrails, new military technologies, and heightened nationalism, these dynamics increase the risk of rapid and potentially ...
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Chalkboard Politics: Are International Organizations Losing Authority?

    Chalkboard Politics: Are International Organizations Losing Authority?
    Mar 10 2026
    In this episode of Chalkboard Politics, the team explores the evolving challenges facing international institutions in a period of populist backlash and shifting global power. In the first conversation, professors Allison Carnegie and Richard Clark discuss how international organizations – from the European Union to the IMF and WTO – navigate growing populist resistance, funding withdrawals, and declining hegemonic support. They explain how institutions respond strategically, sometimes appeasing critics, sometimes quietly working around them, while increasingly seeking new coalitions and sources of legitimacy. The episode then turns to an interview with Professor Anjali Dayal, who examines the changing role of the United Nations in peacekeeping, humanitarian coordination, and global governance. Dayal traces how U.N. peacekeeping missions have evolved from neutral observers between countries to complex operations dealing with civil wars, counterterrorism, and regime stabilization. The conversation also explores the consequences of declining U.S. commitment to international institutions, Security Council gridlock, and growing tensions around international law. Together, this podcast episode considers whether international institutions can adapt to populist pressure and declining hegemonic leadership, or whether the global order is entering a more fragmented and uncertain era. Episode’s Main Themes: Populism and Institutional Pushback: Populist leaders increasingly challenge international organizations through funding withdrawals, rhetorical attacks, and institutional obstruction. Carnegie and Clark emphasize that these pressures are not entirely new, but they are reshaping how institutions operate and defend their legitimacy. Key terms: populism, institutional legitimacy, multilateralism How International Organizations Adapt: International institutions are strategic actors that can respond to political pressure by appeasing critics, working around populist leaders, or finding alternative funding sources. Examples include states creating alternative dispute mechanisms like the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) to preserve WTO dispute resolution functions. Key terms: institutional adaptation, strategic behavior, dispute resolution Shifts in Global Leadership: Declining U.S. support for multilateralism raises questions about whether middle powers or rising states can fill leadership gaps in global governance. Countries like Canada and China have increased contributions in certain areas, though institutional rules and consensus requirements often limit collective action. Key terms: hegemonic decline, middle powers, global governance The Changing Role of UN Peacekeeping: UN peacekeeping has evolved from monitoring ceasefires between states to complex missions that include civilian protection and state stabilization. While peacekeeping operations often help reduce violence, their success depends heavily on whether underlying political conflicts have been resolved. Key terms: peacekeeping, civil wars, civilian protection The Human Stakes of Multilateral Withdrawal: When major powers reduce funding or political support for international institutions, vulnerable populations—such as refugees and those dependent on humanitarian assistance—often bear the greatest costs. Funding cuts can disrupt health programs, food aid, and long-standing humanitarian partnerships. Key terms: humanitarian aid, development assistance, global health The Future of Multilateral Order: Growing Security Council gridlock and declining respect for international law raise concerns about the durability of the post-1945 international system. Dayal suggests that coalitions of smaller and middle powers may play an increasingly important role in sustaining multilateral institutions. Key terms: international law, Security Council veto, multilateralism Suggested Reading: Carnegie, Allison, and Richard Clark. Global Governance Under Fire: How International Organizations Resist the Populist Wave. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2026.Carnegie, Allison and Austin Carson. Secrets in Global Governance: Disclosure Dilemmas and the Challenge of International Cooperation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020.Clark, Richard. Cooperative Complexity: The Next Level of Global Economic Governance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2025. Dayal, Anjali V. Incredible Commitments: How UN Peacekeeping Failures Shape Peace Processes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021.Dayal, Anjali K., and Natalie Samarasinghe. “Can the United Nations Prevent Wars?” Doha Debates Podcast, hosted by Joshua Johnson. Season 1, Episode 18. January 9, 2024. Doha Debates and FP Studios. Follow the Chalkboard Politics Podcast: This episode of Chalkboard Politics comes to you via the Good Authority podcast feed. Listen, rate, and subscribe to the Good Authority Podcast. The Good Authority podcast is available on Apple ...
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    46 mins
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