Blogs

The survival of free states has never depended solely on professional armies or foreign alliances. At the heart of republican resilience lies a deeper principle: the willingness of ordinary citizens to take up arms in defense of liberty. This tradition, articulated by Niccolò Machiavelli in the Renaissance and tested in countless struggles since, remains vital today.

Norwich’s Cavalry Troop blends historic tradition with hands-on horsemanship and leadership, where cadets learn to ride, care for horses, and grow as citizen-leaders at Cedar Ridge Farm under expert trainer Kim Bisson.

For the purpose of accustoming the cadets to hardship and fatigue, and also for the purpose of instructing them more perfectly in the practical duties of the soldier, they will perform at least one march as a military corps, each year. – Captain Alden Partridge, Prospectus, 1825

The flashpoint where the U.S. and PRC are most likely to clash is Taiwan. Preventing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from taking control of Taiwan has been a cornerstone of U.S. Asia policy since the 1950s, but Washington has declined to endorse the island’s independence outright.

At the center of all of this is the inescapable imprint of the United States — entangled with every state and nonstate actor mentioned above, its role more complex and omnipresent than ever, even as Washington’s rhetoric insists on a desire to disengage from the Middle East.

Iran’s foreign policy toward Israel combines harsh anti-Zionist rhetoric with strategic ambiguity. While officials like Deputy Foreign Minister Araghchi claim Iran doesn’t seek Israel’s destruction, the regime continues to fund and arm militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This contradiction reflects the use of Taqiyya and Ketman — strategic deception rooted in Shi’a theology — to mask true intentions. Despite diplomatic reassurances, Iran’s actions reveal an ongoing commitment to challenging Israel’s existence.

This article examines the growing disconnect between the European Union and the United States, particularly under Donald Trump’s second term, marked by aggressive rhetoric, ideological divergence and unpredictability in foreign policy. Trump’s actions — ranging from insulting allies to threatening annexations — have undermined international law and the global order the U.S. helped build. The EU faces a dilemma: while Trump’s erratic behavior may not last, deeper ideological divides over societal values persist, especially regarding immigration and social conservatism. In response, the EU is accelerating its efforts toward strategic autonomy, strengthening defense cooperation and preparing for scenarios where U.S. support may falter. However, the article argues that rather than abandoning NATO, Europe should reinforce its own security mechanisms while maintaining NATO as the primary defense framework, ensuring complementarity between the two.

This article explores the nuanced tension between religious freedom — the right to believe — and religious liberty — the right to act on those beliefs — highlighting how these concepts can conflict in pluralistic societies. It examines how governments, particularly in the U.S., have historically navigated and sometimes blurred these boundaries, especially when religious beliefs influence public policy or marginalize minority groups. Pinna advocates for clearer distinctions, stronger safeguards, and mutual respect to ensure that religious diversity is upheld without infringing on others’ rights.

Norwich University, founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge, has been recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark for its role as the first private U.S. college to offer formal civil engineering instruction and its lasting impact on the profession worldwide.

The troubling shift towards transactional and performative foreign policy in 2025 has effectively disarmed this strategic advantage, fragmenting U.S. deterrence and sowing doubt among allies. Unless reversed, America's credibility and leadership face irreversible erosion, emboldening adversaries and creating dangerous uncertainty in global security.