Leading Security Strategist to Speak on 'Fighting Identity'

From: Public Affairs

November 6, 2007

HARRISONBURG — Dr. Michael Vlahos, a member of the senior staff at the National Security Analysis Department of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, will speak at James Madison University as a guest of the Guardian Lecture Series.

Vlahos' lecture will draw from his current work on a new book manuscript, "Fighting Identity," on non-state actors and today's transformation of war.

DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007
TIME: 7 p.m.
LOCATION: Room 159, ISAT/CS Building

The free public presentation is sponsored by the Nelson Institute for International and Public Affairs.

About Michael Vlahos:


  • Served as director of the Security Studies Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies from 1981 to 1988 and developed new courses designed to break away from narrow approaches to defense policy by introducing anthropology and sociology to defense thinking
  • Served as director of the Center for the Study of Foreign Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1988 to 1991 in a non-political appointment with the rank of deputy assistant secretary and the mandate to lead a group to think broadly about world change for the whole department
  • Has written hundreds of books and essays, including "Terror's Mask: Insurgency Within Islam," "Culture's Mask: War and Change After Iraq" and "Two Enemies: Non-State Actors and Change in the Muslim World"
  • Served as a foreign affairs and national security commentator with CNN
  • Earned doctorate from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

Dr. J. Peter Pham, director of the Nelson Institute, said: "At a time when the rapidly changing character and, unfortunately, increasing levels of armed conflict around the globe defy conventional thinking, we are very fortunate to have a wide-ranging strategic thinker like Dr. Vlahos share his reflections with us, previewing his forthcoming book. I expect that, true to his form, it will be a very thought-provoking presentation."

JMU Public Affairs contact: Janet Smith, 540-568-8008, smithjl@jmu.edu.

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