Patrick Rhamey
@patrickrhamey.bsky.social
Professor of International Studies and Political Science at VMI
Major Powers, Power Transition, Comparative Regionalism, and College Football
Board Member, TransResearch Consortium
Recovering Local Politician
Major Powers, Power Transition, Comparative Regionalism, and College Football
Board Member, TransResearch Consortium
Recovering Local Politician
2025 State of World Liberty Rankings:
1. Switzerland
2. New Zealand & Ireland
4. Denmark, Luxembourg, Finland, & Norway
1. Switzerland
2. New Zealand & Ireland
4. Denmark, Luxembourg, Finland, & Norway
2025 State of World Liberty Index — J. Patrick Rhamey Jr.
Disclaimer: data sources used rank freedoms at a 1-2 year lag, so recent political developments are not captured. I also missed 2024 - got busy with other projects. The State of World Liberty Index ...
patrickrhamey.com
August 15, 2025 at 1:13 PM
2025 State of World Liberty Rankings:
1. Switzerland
2. New Zealand & Ireland
4. Denmark, Luxembourg, Finland, & Norway
1. Switzerland
2. New Zealand & Ireland
4. Denmark, Luxembourg, Finland, & Norway
Dropping my daughter off at camp today was difficult in a way it never has been before.
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...
Essay | The Tragedy in Texas Broke the Implicit Promise of Summer Camp
American sleep-away camps began as a way to protect children from the threats of the world. Parents continue to see them that way.
www.wsj.com
July 13, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Dropping my daughter off at camp today was difficult in a way it never has been before.
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...
Some longer form thoughts about the tragedy happening in a place so dear to my childhood - and people trying to point fingers. I want to thank @texasinafrica.bsky.social and some of her posts/responses for inspiring/motivating me to sit down and get these thoughts on digital paper.
The Texas Flood — J. Patrick Rhamey Jr.
I've gotten questions from people about how this terrible flooding was even possible, and I've seen some despicable finger-pointing and misinformation on social media by those who have no familiarity ...
patrickrhamey.com
July 6, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Some longer form thoughts about the tragedy happening in a place so dear to my childhood - and people trying to point fingers. I want to thank @texasinafrica.bsky.social and some of her posts/responses for inspiring/motivating me to sit down and get these thoughts on digital paper.
Reposted by Patrick Rhamey
When you live somewhere and disaster strikes, it makes no sense to pretend it isn’t personal. For me, there’s no other way to process terrible things than to make journalism. To my friends from home who went to Camp Mystic and Heart O' the Hills — this is for you.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/07/05/c...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/07/05/c...
‘Goodnight, Camp Mystic. We Love You.’: A 100-Year-Old Community Honors Its Missing & Dead Girls
Fifteen children are dead and 27 girls are still missing amid devastating floods in Texas. “I’m holding onto the love and light that Mystic gave us, even in the darkest night,” one former camper said....
thebarbedwire.com
July 5, 2025 at 11:58 PM
When you live somewhere and disaster strikes, it makes no sense to pretend it isn’t personal. For me, there’s no other way to process terrible things than to make journalism. To my friends from home who went to Camp Mystic and Heart O' the Hills — this is for you.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/07/05/c...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/07/05/c...
I spent a lot of time growing up on the Guadalupe. I was married on its shores just half a mile from Camp Mystic. It’s a wonderful place, with wonderful people, who have suffered an unimaginable tragedy. Please do what you can.
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country is collecting donations to support the Central Texas flood response. This is a great way to help support community-based recovery efforts by reputable organizations.
/erp/donate/create/fund
cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.com
July 6, 2025 at 11:15 AM
I spent a lot of time growing up on the Guadalupe. I was married on its shores just half a mile from Camp Mystic. It’s a wonderful place, with wonderful people, who have suffered an unimaginable tragedy. Please do what you can.
Reposted by Patrick Rhamey
It’s a cruel irony that I wrote about the death of American soft power just before the passing of Joe Nye. danieldrezner.substack.com/p/joseph-nye...
Joseph Nye, R.I.P.
Nye developed the concept of "soft power" -- but he did so much more.
danieldrezner.substack.com
May 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
It’s a cruel irony that I wrote about the death of American soft power just before the passing of Joe Nye. danieldrezner.substack.com/p/joseph-nye...
Tonight my kids decided to play congress.
To avoid bedtime, my five year old spoke for 58 minutes. Thanks, @corybooker.com, thanks.
To avoid bedtime, my five year old spoke for 58 minutes. Thanks, @corybooker.com, thanks.
April 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Tonight my kids decided to play congress.
To avoid bedtime, my five year old spoke for 58 minutes. Thanks, @corybooker.com, thanks.
To avoid bedtime, my five year old spoke for 58 minutes. Thanks, @corybooker.com, thanks.
While I appreciate my students simply referring to me as "legend", I get the distinct feeling they're being painfully sarcastic...
April 10, 2025 at 12:59 AM
While I appreciate my students simply referring to me as "legend", I get the distinct feeling they're being painfully sarcastic...
Farewell to Brandon Valeriano. Just taught his work on cyber today. Going to conferences just won’t be the same.
March 28, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Farewell to Brandon Valeriano. Just taught his work on cyber today. Going to conferences just won’t be the same.
UN General Assembly vote on A/79/L.54: Declaring July 12 the International Day of Hope to "enhance peace, tolerance and social stability, respect for diversity and mutual respect, and create...an environment conducive to well-being, peace and mutual understanding."
March 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM
UN General Assembly vote on A/79/L.54: Declaring July 12 the International Day of Hope to "enhance peace, tolerance and social stability, respect for diversity and mutual respect, and create...an environment conducive to well-being, peace and mutual understanding."
One of the more perplexing things I find about neorealists is that despite their complete reliance on power as a causal variable, they are often rendered totally incapacitated if you ask them how to measure it.
March 6, 2025 at 10:34 PM
One of the more perplexing things I find about neorealists is that despite their complete reliance on power as a causal variable, they are often rendered totally incapacitated if you ask them how to measure it.
Reposted by Patrick Rhamey
Hegemonic suicide strategy
We’re witnessing a Brexit-level instance of completely unnecessary economic destruction. A country that’s not hit by any shock, but simply chooses policy self-harm.
JFC. The US Economic Policy Uncertainty Index is at its highest level since 2000, higher than during the Financial Crisis, higher than during COVID
March 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Hegemonic suicide strategy
Farewell ISA - so great to see old friends, particularly given all the current things, and experience well-deserved distinguished scholar panels for Birol Yesilada, Jacek Kugler, and Pat James!
March 4, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Farewell ISA - so great to see old friends, particularly given all the current things, and experience well-deserved distinguished scholar panels for Birol Yesilada, Jacek Kugler, and Pat James!
As I said, he played it beautifully.
To the neorealists criticizing Zelenskyy: I know Mearsheimer made neorealism synonymous with Putinism in the popular consciousness, but that doesn't mean the rest of you neorealist think tankers have to become tankies.
To the neorealists criticizing Zelenskyy: I know Mearsheimer made neorealism synonymous with Putinism in the popular consciousness, but that doesn't mean the rest of you neorealist think tankers have to become tankies.
Western allies rally around Zelensky after Trump spat deepens rift with Europe | CNN
Western leaders came out to back Ukraine after Friday’s acrimonious meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky deepened the already yawning fault lines between Washington and many of its key ...
www.cnn.com
March 1, 2025 at 9:17 PM
As I said, he played it beautifully.
To the neorealists criticizing Zelenskyy: I know Mearsheimer made neorealism synonymous with Putinism in the popular consciousness, but that doesn't mean the rest of you neorealist think tankers have to become tankies.
To the neorealists criticizing Zelenskyy: I know Mearsheimer made neorealism synonymous with Putinism in the popular consciousness, but that doesn't mean the rest of you neorealist think tankers have to become tankies.
Watching the neorealists attack Zelenskyy for yesterday is shocking.
Z handled it beautifully. It was an obvious ambush, and Trump has no intention of helping Ukr. Standing up to the pathetic attempt at bullying gained him enormous cred with those who will actually continue to come to his aid.
Z handled it beautifully. It was an obvious ambush, and Trump has no intention of helping Ukr. Standing up to the pathetic attempt at bullying gained him enormous cred with those who will actually continue to come to his aid.
March 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Watching the neorealists attack Zelenskyy for yesterday is shocking.
Z handled it beautifully. It was an obvious ambush, and Trump has no intention of helping Ukr. Standing up to the pathetic attempt at bullying gained him enormous cred with those who will actually continue to come to his aid.
Z handled it beautifully. It was an obvious ambush, and Trump has no intention of helping Ukr. Standing up to the pathetic attempt at bullying gained him enormous cred with those who will actually continue to come to his aid.
Coyne argues Ukraine is a more reliable ally than the US because of ideas, not that it is stronger. What good is strength if the ally doesn't come to your aid? But why is the US unreliable? Because ideas peddled by "neorealist" scholars have leaked into the Trump administration. Not power.
February 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Coyne argues Ukraine is a more reliable ally than the US because of ideas, not that it is stronger. What good is strength if the ally doesn't come to your aid? But why is the US unreliable? Because ideas peddled by "neorealist" scholars have leaked into the Trump administration. Not power.
Illustration of yesterday's UN resolution on a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
93 In Favour
18 Against
65 Abstain
93 In Favour
18 Against
65 Abstain
February 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Illustration of yesterday's UN resolution on a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
93 In Favour
18 Against
65 Abstain
93 In Favour
18 Against
65 Abstain
Reposted by Patrick Rhamey
Great powers capitulating to declining powers is certainly new one.
Seems pretty clear that the Trump administration's strategic orientation ain't gonna be "great-power competition."
February 24, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Great powers capitulating to declining powers is certainly new one.
I would really prefer not to have to keep posting this.
The Invasion of Ukraine is Russia’s Fault
For Mearsheimer “freedom” and “prosperity” are simply weapons of great power politics rather than aspirations sought by the Ukrainian people.
www.duckofminerva.com
February 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I would really prefer not to have to keep posting this.
Oh come on. I was a city council member of a 5k population town, and I got death threats. Grow a spine, you’re a United States Senator.
Gillibrand on WNYC today said one reason they're all falling in line is that they get death threats.
cassidy changing his tune after what he said on the senate floor is what has upgraded my position from "they are being bribed" or "they are worried about primary challenges" to "they are worried about being murdered"
February 10, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Oh come on. I was a city council member of a 5k population town, and I got death threats. Grow a spine, you’re a United States Senator.
Inspiring talk tonight by @avalaina.bsky.social! “Unpunished evil grows.”
February 4, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Inspiring talk tonight by @avalaina.bsky.social! “Unpunished evil grows.”
Academic friends outside the US: what are the main job posting sources for positions in your country? I like to keep an eye on apsa and chronicle, but non-US postings there are usually limited to only the largest research universities.
February 3, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Academic friends outside the US: what are the main job posting sources for positions in your country? I like to keep an eye on apsa and chronicle, but non-US postings there are usually limited to only the largest research universities.
Very excited to announce that Oleksandra Matviichuk, whose organization the Center for Civil Liberties was awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, will be speaking at VMI next week! Details below:
www.vmi.edu/news/headlin...
www.vmi.edu/news/headlin...
2024-2025: Nobel Laureate Speaks at VMI - VMI News
Virginia Military Institute welcomes Oleksandra Matviichuk, Ukrainian lawyer and global human rights defender, Monday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. in Gillis Theater. The event is free and open to the public.
www.vmi.edu
January 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Very excited to announce that Oleksandra Matviichuk, whose organization the Center for Civil Liberties was awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, will be speaking at VMI next week! Details below:
www.vmi.edu/news/headlin...
www.vmi.edu/news/headlin...
I talk extensively about this both in the conclusion to Kugler and I’s textbook and my new edited volume with Bakich.
Tl;dr - offshore balancing is a disaster.
Tl;dr - offshore balancing is a disaster.
"Offshore Balancing's" record of success includes:
• The Seven Years' War
• The Napoleonic Wars
• World War I
• World War II
Remind me again why this is supposed to be such a great "grand strategy."
• The Seven Years' War
• The Napoleonic Wars
• World War I
• World War II
Remind me again why this is supposed to be such a great "grand strategy."
December 18, 2024 at 1:10 AM
I talk extensively about this both in the conclusion to Kugler and I’s textbook and my new edited volume with Bakich.
Tl;dr - offshore balancing is a disaster.
Tl;dr - offshore balancing is a disaster.