Vasabjit Banerjee
@vasabjit.bsky.social
Comparative civil-military relations, defense manufacturing, political violence, electoral politics, and foreign policy. Regional foci on South Asia and Latin America, but also the "global south."
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Vasabjit Banerjee
@vasabjit.bsky.social
· Jan 26
Don't make your U.S. foreign policy contingent on the average American's ability to tolerate material deprivation. That's been a losing proposition since the 1960s, despite all the rhetoric to the contrary.
What the U.S. may face in Venezuela is truly the opposite of Iraq. It's like Saddam Hussein was toppled, then Chemical Ali took over, and all the Baathists carried on as before, but the sanctions were removed and American oil companies restarted operations. This China 1979 model was by U.S. design.
January 28, 2026 at 1:25 PM
What the U.S. may face in Venezuela is truly the opposite of Iraq. It's like Saddam Hussein was toppled, then Chemical Ali took over, and all the Baathists carried on as before, but the sanctions were removed and American oil companies restarted operations. This China 1979 model was by U.S. design.
Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee
Well, this makes the Chavista regime either imperialist collaborators, or snakes eating each other for the sake of retaining power. This makes really difficult the mental gymnastics for people who still wants to support the Bolivarian Revolution.
This just dropped. The U.S. may have been played by a set of Venezuelan political elites who gave up Maduro to retain the Chavista regime and their power.
Yet, even now, there's been no opening to the minister of defense Padrino Lopez and the army who are key.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Yet, even now, there's been no opening to the minister of defense Padrino Lopez and the army who are key.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
January 28, 2026 at 4:03 AM
Well, this makes the Chavista regime either imperialist collaborators, or snakes eating each other for the sake of retaining power. This makes really difficult the mental gymnastics for people who still wants to support the Bolivarian Revolution.
This just dropped. The U.S. may have been played by a set of Venezuelan political elites who gave up Maduro to retain the Chavista regime and their power.
Yet, even now, there's been no opening to the minister of defense Padrino Lopez and the army who are key.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Yet, even now, there's been no opening to the minister of defense Padrino Lopez and the army who are key.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
January 28, 2026 at 3:54 AM
This just dropped. The U.S. may have been played by a set of Venezuelan political elites who gave up Maduro to retain the Chavista regime and their power.
Yet, even now, there's been no opening to the minister of defense Padrino Lopez and the army who are key.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Yet, even now, there's been no opening to the minister of defense Padrino Lopez and the army who are key.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez said, Venezuela has had enough of U.S. interference. Sec. of State Marco Rubio says, the U.S. retains the option to use force to get the Venezuelan regime's acquiescence. Maybe Rodriguez is allaying hardcore Chavistas in Venezuela.
January 28, 2026 at 3:39 AM
Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez said, Venezuela has had enough of U.S. interference. Sec. of State Marco Rubio says, the U.S. retains the option to use force to get the Venezuelan regime's acquiescence. Maybe Rodriguez is allaying hardcore Chavistas in Venezuela.
What International Relations theory underlies the current National Defense Policy of the U.S.?
It's Sam Huntington's "unimultipolarity", which is a 1999 rendition of the 19th Century British concept of "offshore balancing".
cse.buffalo.edu/~bina/music/...
It's Sam Huntington's "unimultipolarity", which is a 1999 rendition of the 19th Century British concept of "offshore balancing".
cse.buffalo.edu/~bina/music/...
cse.buffalo.edu
January 27, 2026 at 7:18 PM
What International Relations theory underlies the current National Defense Policy of the U.S.?
It's Sam Huntington's "unimultipolarity", which is a 1999 rendition of the 19th Century British concept of "offshore balancing".
cse.buffalo.edu/~bina/music/...
It's Sam Huntington's "unimultipolarity", which is a 1999 rendition of the 19th Century British concept of "offshore balancing".
cse.buffalo.edu/~bina/music/...
Facing a crowd of protestors, my man didn't realize "riding shotgun" was an automobile related reference taken from stagecoaches.
a man in a suit and tie is making a funny face and saying `` loud noises '' .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is making a funny face and saying `` loud noises '' .
media.tenor.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Facing a crowd of protestors, my man didn't realize "riding shotgun" was an automobile related reference taken from stagecoaches.
Hi civ-mil Folks, when/where is IUS taking conference submissions for 2026?
I am guessing, it's in Ottawa this year.
I am guessing, it's in Ottawa this year.
January 26, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Hi civ-mil Folks, when/where is IUS taking conference submissions for 2026?
I am guessing, it's in Ottawa this year.
I am guessing, it's in Ottawa this year.
Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee
DEADLINE TODAY! If you are interested in debating European (and/or) security studies, join us in beautiful Stockholm in June. Submissions of panel/paper abstracts due in the coming hours
🚨DEADLINE TODAY! Submit your paper, panel, or poster proposal for the European Security Studies Conference, taking place on 11–12 June 2026 at @stockholm-uni.bsky.social ! 🔗 eiss-europa.com/2026.html
January 26, 2026 at 12:24 PM
DEADLINE TODAY! If you are interested in debating European (and/or) security studies, join us in beautiful Stockholm in June. Submissions of panel/paper abstracts due in the coming hours
The National Guard is a part-time, citizen-based constitutionally mandated security force that defends us in war and supports civilian authorities during emergencies, be they law and order or natural. Federal paramilitaries divert resources and elide the constitution. Support if not join The Guard!
January 26, 2026 at 12:42 PM
The National Guard is a part-time, citizen-based constitutionally mandated security force that defends us in war and supports civilian authorities during emergencies, be they law and order or natural. Federal paramilitaries divert resources and elide the constitution. Support if not join The Guard!
The term "No Go Zone" was created by Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War 1965-1979 (really, 1972-1979) for areas controlled by ZANLA, ZIPRA, and ZIPA guerrillas.
January 26, 2026 at 4:06 AM
The term "No Go Zone" was created by Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War 1965-1979 (really, 1972-1979) for areas controlled by ZANLA, ZIPRA, and ZIPA guerrillas.
Ask most folks in DC, and they'll tell you that with excellent leadership and calm political, law and order, and national security waters, the DHS is an absolute horror show to manage: multiple agencies with overlapping jurisdictions and contradictory goals. Now, take away those preconditions.
January 26, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Ask most folks in DC, and they'll tell you that with excellent leadership and calm political, law and order, and national security waters, the DHS is an absolute horror show to manage: multiple agencies with overlapping jurisdictions and contradictory goals. Now, take away those preconditions.
Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee
5 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 out of 5 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ.
January 26, 2026 at 1:56 AM
5 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 out of 5 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ.
China has had a purge of top military leaders. Most expect this to hobble Chinese preparations to invade Taiwan. However, I think it also increases the chances that the civilian political leadership wants a more ideologically committed military to do exactly that; perhaps with higher casualties.
January 25, 2026 at 11:22 PM
China has had a purge of top military leaders. Most expect this to hobble Chinese preparations to invade Taiwan. However, I think it also increases the chances that the civilian political leadership wants a more ideologically committed military to do exactly that; perhaps with higher casualties.
Iranian regime watching American domestic political crisis, right now.
a man wearing a striped shirt and tie is sleeping
ALT: a man wearing a striped shirt and tie is sleeping
media.tenor.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Iranian regime watching American domestic political crisis, right now.
Imagine LIP naming a watch Annapurna after French mountaineers climbing the eponymous mountain, the highest man has ever climbed. Only to be beaten by a British mountaineer climbing Everest the next year wearing Rolex Explorer watches. lol
January 25, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Imagine LIP naming a watch Annapurna after French mountaineers climbing the eponymous mountain, the highest man has ever climbed. Only to be beaten by a British mountaineer climbing Everest the next year wearing Rolex Explorer watches. lol
The 2A is written in the context of forming militias in America, which in turn goes back to the feudal English levies. But the font of power in America changes from the Crown to The People.
Founding Father and associate justice on the first SCOTUS bench James Wilson of PA made a legal leap when he argued sovereignty rests with The People who decide how much power to grant to Governors, state legislatures, Congress, and the President. This is pertinent to understanding 2A. 1/3
January 25, 2026 at 3:47 PM
The 2A is written in the context of forming militias in America, which in turn goes back to the feudal English levies. But the font of power in America changes from the Crown to The People.
Founding Father and associate justice on the first SCOTUS bench James Wilson of PA made a legal leap when he argued sovereignty rests with The People who decide how much power to grant to Governors, state legislatures, Congress, and the President. This is pertinent to understanding 2A. 1/3
January 25, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Founding Father and associate justice on the first SCOTUS bench James Wilson of PA made a legal leap when he argued sovereignty rests with The People who decide how much power to grant to Governors, state legislatures, Congress, and the President. This is pertinent to understanding 2A. 1/3
Good Morning! The only proper watch that can satisfy a man keen on heavy artillery, art, and architecture is Junghans.
January 25, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Good Morning! The only proper watch that can satisfy a man keen on heavy artillery, art, and architecture is Junghans.
Guns don't kill people. People kill people. Except these 6 guns because they have technical issues. lol
January 25, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Guns don't kill people. People kill people. Except these 6 guns because they have technical issues. lol
One of the strangest hilarious things in the U.S. now is people from BFE Indiana or Mississippi expressing how horrible cities in the northeast or pacific coast are. I mean, Bro, you live in a rural town that'd make Harlem in the 1970s-90s look like a thriving hub of culture and economy.
January 24, 2026 at 8:54 PM
One of the strangest hilarious things in the U.S. now is people from BFE Indiana or Mississippi expressing how horrible cities in the northeast or pacific coast are. I mean, Bro, you live in a rural town that'd make Harlem in the 1970s-90s look like a thriving hub of culture and economy.
The emergence of EU as a Super Power as a result of security and economic pressures from the U.S. and China may be the next "Soviet collapse" for the field of International Relations (and Comparative Politics).
January 24, 2026 at 12:53 AM
The emergence of EU as a Super Power as a result of security and economic pressures from the U.S. and China may be the next "Soviet collapse" for the field of International Relations (and Comparative Politics).
Top Snow Boarder Caught Smuggling Snow
January 23, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Top Snow Boarder Caught Smuggling Snow
Not a fan of the Shahzada and I have no dog in this fight, but such problems have allegedly abounded in VOA for years. Met a VOA chap who was so neck deep in conspiracy theories, I was shocked! It takes a lot to do that to a guy who works on South Asia and Latin America.
thehill.com/policy/inter...
thehill.com/policy/inter...
thehill.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Not a fan of the Shahzada and I have no dog in this fight, but such problems have allegedly abounded in VOA for years. Met a VOA chap who was so neck deep in conspiracy theories, I was shocked! It takes a lot to do that to a guy who works on South Asia and Latin America.
thehill.com/policy/inter...
thehill.com/policy/inter...
Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee
🇻🇪 Las perspectivas esperanzadoras sobre la economía en la Venezuela sin Maduro están atadas a reformas legales que el chavismo emprende con rapidez. El proyecto de reforma de ley de hidrocarburos ha entrado en discusión en la Asamblea
El chavismo se abre a la privatización del petróleo con la reforma de ley de hidrocarburos
La propuesta fue aprobada en la Asamblea en la primera de las dos discusiones correspondientes. La oposición reclamó la falta de debate
dozz.es
January 23, 2026 at 1:32 AM
🇻🇪 Las perspectivas esperanzadoras sobre la economía en la Venezuela sin Maduro están atadas a reformas legales que el chavismo emprende con rapidez. El proyecto de reforma de ley de hidrocarburos ha entrado en discusión en la Asamblea
Middle Power diplomacy needs polyster suits, ABBA and BeeGees background music, and fondue and edible table decorations at meals. Conference halls must have shag carpeting and Swedish furniture.
January 22, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Middle Power diplomacy needs polyster suits, ABBA and BeeGees background music, and fondue and edible table decorations at meals. Conference halls must have shag carpeting and Swedish furniture.