Introduction to the Symposium on National Security and Social Science

Abstract

This Symposium on the role of social science in security policy responds to Michael Desch’s 2019 book Cult of the Irrelevant: The Waning Influence of Social Science on National Security. Four articles consider Desch’s position that the social sciences are becoming increasingly irrelevant in security policy. Yagil Levy and Peter Feaver challenge Desch’s perspective. Alan Okros and Rebecca Jensen largely concur with Desch’s perspective. Rebecca Schiff asserts that Desch’s analysis fell short by overlooking the divisive role of university activism and political narratives in his discourse.