Afghanopoly
Recently, I came across Afghanopoly, a blog from Northwestern University dedicated to the study of Afghanistan and COIN. This led to a friendly email exchange with the moderator and professor.
Many of you can recall just a few short years ago, COIN was an esoteric subject even within the US Army and now it is a subject of undergraduate (!) study at one of America’s top tier universities. At a time when academics are roundly criticized for their irrelevance to real-world policy, here’s an example of jumping into the deep end of the pool. Highly commendable. If only this were commonplace.
I rarely ask anything of the readers here, but many of you have a wonkish interest in COIN, US foreign policy, strategic studies or Afghanistan. Or are military and USG personnel with firsthand, “in-country” experience there. The ZP audience also ranges from Right to center-Left which is a much more representative balance than at most blogs.
If you could take a moment and take a look at Afghanopoly, and offer a constructive comment on some of the posts if you feel so inclined. You’ll find that these NU students are tackling hard issues that are wrestled with daily at SWJ, Kings of War, Registan and other first rate blogs.
October 26th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Good find! Bravo Zulu!
October 26th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Good find indeed.
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Many positive aspects, but one in particular stands out: practice. Practice makes perfect or something like that. By writing your thoughts down and arguing online, you learn a lot. From your commenters, from those that link to you, from having to order your thoughts in some way.
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Very nice example of a blog as a personal educational tool
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– Madhu
October 26th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
A "bleg" for the educators around here. Any review papers on the use of tools such as Twitter or blogs in medical or science education you might like to share, or think are particularly useful? Just doing a little digging for a project….
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– Madhu
October 26th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Doc Madhu,
October 26th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Zenpundit, Thank you for your post on the blog. And thanks bloggers for your nice comments. We welcome anyone willing to discuss these issues with us. Best, Afghanopoly
October 27th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Thanks for the suggestions, zen!
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– Madhu