What's the mood of the experts?

Posted By Daniel W. Drezner Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 3:36 PM Share

If it's August, then it's time for the Center for American Progress to release its state-of-expert-opinion annual Terrorism Index. The quick summary:

Signs of progress in Iraq have left America’s top foreign-policy experts experiencing a rare sensation: optimism. For the first time, the national security establishment appears more positive about the war in Iraq, U.S. efforts in fighting global terrorist networks, and the security of the United States and its people. But these experts are increasingly critical of the U.S. government's approach to the world—from Iran and Pakistan to U.S. energy policy and addressing failed states.

Well, you didn't expect optimism about everything, did you? Click here to access all of the data. Be forewarned, however -- like Groucho Marx, I don't completely trust any group of experts that includes me as a member.

EXPLORE:U.S. FOREIGN POLICY, EXPERT OPINION

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ANTHONY

3:49 PM ET

August 19, 2008

David Frum is a terrorism

David Frum is a terrorism expert? Really?

Really?

Let's put it this way, Dan. It may be that it's best never to trust a panel of experts that's prepared to count you among their number, but if I was going to fill in the blank in "I'm sceptical of any survey that counts *insert name here* as a notable expert on terrorism trends" from that list of experts, your name wouldn't be my first choice. Or second, third or fourth choice, for the matter.

After that, all bets are off. ;)

USELESS SAM GRANT

7:32 PM ET

August 19, 2008

Not to disparage IR

Not to disparage IR "experts," but what do they know about terrorism? I thought IR types dealt with gov'ts, diplomacy, policies, trade, that sort of thing. Since when is terrorism part of the IR sphere? Other than the fact that most terrorists are from another country than the US, there really is no connection, is there? That's like saying historians like me are experts on gov't because there have historically been governments.

ANTHONY

10:22 AM ET

August 20, 2008

It depends. Lots of IR

It depends. Lots of IR scholars don't know anything about terrorism and the high level, abstract stuff doesn't have much to do with understanding it. However, at least in the UK, the formal study of terrorism tends to be based out of Politics & IR departments, where it's emerging as a subcategory of security or strategic studies.