THE FP SURVEY: the ivory tower A Safer America IR scholars believe that the United States is a safer place than in the recent past. A 60 percent majority of academics surveyed believe that terrorists’ ability to strike the U.S. homeland is lower than it was prior to Sept. 11, 2001, and only 2 percent of respondents believe it is greater. By Paul C. Avey, Michael C. Desch, James D. Long, Daniel Maliniak, Susan Peterson, and Michael J. Tierney The worldA is:Sa ferLess Americ dangerous thana during the Cold War 45% IR scholars believe that the United States is a safer place than in theMore recent dangerous past. than A 60during percent the Cold majority War of academics surveyed believe 31that Amid all the doom and gloom about declining U.S. power and respect abroad, Americans can take solace in the fact terrorists’ ability to strike the U.S. homeland is lower than it was prior to Sept. 11, 2001, andAbout only the sam 2 percente of respondents believe21 it is greater. that their university system remains the envy of the world. But at a time when the United States faces a host of new By Paul C. Avey, Michael C. Desch, James D. Long, Daniel Maliniak, Susan Peterson, and Michael J. Tierney The world is: Less dangerous than during the Cold War 45% challenges—from the Arab Spring to the global financial crisis—does anyone in power care what the academy More dangerous than during the Cold War 31 Amid all the doom and gloomthinks? about A small declining circle U.S.of scholars power makes and respect their views abroad, known Americans in op-eds can and take blog solace posts, in the or byfact taking sabbaticals inside About the same Fading Camel,21 Rising Dragon? the Beltway, but the views of most academics remain unheard in Washington. that their university system remains the envy of the world. But at a time when the United States faces a host of new Although the Middle East may get all the headlines, IR scholars Policymakers are in line with the professors: Half of the challenges—from the Arab Spring So what to the does global the Ivory financial Tower crisis—does think about anyone the pressing in power issues care what of the the day? academy Below are some highlights of our 2011 pick East Asia as the region of greatest strategic importance to practitioners surveyed agree with this assessment today, thinks? A small circle of scholarssurvey of makes international their views relations known scholars in op-eds at andU.S. blog universities. posts, or Thisby taking year, sabbaticalsfor the first insidetime, we also separately the United StatesFading today, withCamel, 45 percent Rising identifying Drago it as the n? and 85 percent think East Asia will be the most important the Beltway, but the viewssurveyed of most practitionersacademics remain who have unheard worked in Washington. on national-security issues within the U.S. government—the people who most significant area, up from 30 percent who did so in 2008. strategic region for the United States in 20 years. Although the Middle East may get all the headlines, IR ACADEMICSscholars Policymakers are in line with the professors: Half of the POLICYMAKERS So what does the Ivoryrun Tower America’s think foreign-policy about the pressing machine. issues And of fromthe day? global Below warming are some to the highlights rise of China, of our we 2011 found that the academics pick East Asia as the region of greatest strategic importance to practitioners surveyed agree with this assessment today, survey of international relationsand the scholars policymakers at U.S. don’t universities. always see This eye year, to eye. for the first time, we also separately the United States today, with 45 percentT identifoday ying it100% as the In 20 years and100% 85 percent think EastREGION Asia will be the most imporTodaytant 100% In 20 years 100% surveyed practitioners who have worked on national-security issues within the U.S. government—the people who most significant area, up from 30 percent who45% did so in 2008. strategic72% region forEast the Asia/China United States in