About NSFA
The Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs (NSFA) is a research center that provides critical insights on national and international security challenges and foreign policy solutions through policy-relevant research, education, and engagement with a global perspective. NSFA faculty, fellows, and affiliates conduct research and publish policy briefs, reports, articles, and books that inform security and foreign affairs policy on topics of expertise:
- International and civil conflict, political violence
- Territorial & maritime security & disputes
- Indo-Pacific security & economic relations, with a focus on Japan
- Gray zone warfare, disinformation, & influence campaigns
- U.S. national security strategies
- Nuclear policy and nuclear security
NSFA also leads dialogues to build a deeper understanding of these critical issues by regularly engaging the university community, scholars, the media, and the general public on national security and foreign affairs issues through talks given by prominent officials and scholars, roundtables, and workshops. A number of sponsored events focus on the U.S. relationship with Japan, acknowledging the military and diplomatic legacy of U.S. Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr., a World War II Navy veteran and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, for whom the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs is named.
The Baker School of Public Policy prepares students for careers in public service through a combination of coursework and real-world experiences. Baker students interested in national security and foreign affairs have opportunities for real-world project assignments with the U.S. Department of State, immersive international travel experiences such as the Japan Ambassadors Program, Baker Scholars, involving a senior thesis on national security or foreign affairs, and student research experience. At the graduate level, students are integrated into a broader academic community through research projects with faculty, and the opportunity to network with visiting scholars and other experts.
PEOPLE
NSFA faculty, fellows, and affiliates provide critical insights on national and international security and foreign policy solutions through policy-relevant research, education, and engagement with a global perspective.
Japan Ambassadors
The Japan Ambassadors program is a 12-day international immersive experience in Japan. Students follow in the footsteps of former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Howard H. Baker Jr to learn about Japanese culture, politics, history, and U.S.-Japan relations.
RESEARCH
NSFA faculty, fellows, and affiliates conduct research on a wide range of topics: international and civil wars; conflict resolution; territorial and maritime disputes, piracy and maritime security; terrorism; foreign policy; hybrid warfare; human rights; economic security; and nuclear security and nonproliferation. Geographically, NSFA specializes in Indo-Pacific security, with a particular focus on U.S.-Japan relations. NSFA’s research has been supported by foundations and federal grants and contracts.
Policy Reports & Papers: Indo-Pacific Security
- Cheap Talk or Serious Resolve? Chinese and US policies on the East and South China Seas
- Incursions, Innocent Passage, or Costly Signals: Chinese Activity in the East China Sea
- How Biden Should Handle the South China Sea Disputes
- Costs of South Korea’s Shifts in Foreign Policy in the Increasing U.S. – China Rivalry
Policy Reports & Papers: Maritime Security
Policy Reports & Papers: Civil Wars & Ethnic Conflict
Policy Reports & Papers: Terrorism
Policy Reports & Papers: Nuclear Security
Recent Books By Faculty, Fellows, and Affiliates
- Emilia J. Powell and Krista E. Wiegand, The Peaceful Resolution of Territorial and Maritime Disputes, Oxford University Press, 2023
- Ursula Daxecker and Brandon Prins, Pirate Lands: Governance and Maritime Piracy, Oxford University Press, 2021
- Gary Uzonyi, Finding Soldiers of Peace: Three Dilemmas for UN Peacekeeping Missions, Georgetown University Press, 2020
NSFA EVENTS
NATIONAL SECURITY and FOREIGN AFFAIRS FORUMS
In the 2023-2024 lecture series, faculty from across the UTK campus address various aspects of the challenging relationship between the U.S. and China.
NSFA NEWS
- Muhammad Explores Tariff Implications for the US Distilled Spirits Sector
- Wiegand Receives Grant from the Stanton Foundation to Develop Nuclear Security Course
- Baker School and Brookings Institution Discuss Foreign Affairs with Bob Corker
- NSFA’s U.S.-Japan Diplomacy Academy Fulfills State Department’s Grant Request
- MOU Between Baker School & ORNL Paves Way for Collaboration
- Foreign Affairs Forum Recap: The Dangers of Modern-Day Disinformation and Propaganda
- UT Students Experience Japanese Culture and Foreign Policy on Japan Ambassadors Trip
- Boon and Scott Embark on Prestigious Summer Internships
- NSFA Award Grant by U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy-Tokyo, and U.S. Consulate General-Sapporo
- Baker School Launches Certificate Programs
- Recap: U.S. Companies Operating in China: The Debate about “Friendshoring”
- Recap: Stabilizing U.S. – China Relations in a Time of Tensions
- Patterns of Language Use of The Terrorism News Beat with Dr. Aaron Hoffman
- Recap: Troubling Findings from the 2023 Nuclear Security Index with Scott Roecker
- The Conversation: A Western-imposed peace deal in Ukraine risks feeding Russia’s hunger for land – as it did with Serbia
- Recap: The Impact of U.S. Restrictions on High-Tech Trade with China on U.S. Allies
- Recap: U.S. – China Relations: National Security vs. Economic Engagement
- Recap: Impacts of Limitations of Workforce Development in Machining on U.S. National Security
- Baker School Launches New Research Centers
- Baker Students Gain Firsthand Experience in National Security Research
- Call for Applications for Baker School Experts
- The Conversation: China and the US are locked in struggle – and the visit by Secretary of State Blinken is only a start to improving relations
- UT Students in Japan with Baker Center
- GS Director Krista Wiegand Participates in Indo-Pacific Security Dialogues
- The Conversation: The US is about to blow up a fake warship in the South China Sea – but naval rivalry with Beijing is very real and growing
- U.S. Grand Strategy in a New Era of Great Power Competition: America’s National Story
- Recap: U.S. Policy in the Indo-Pacific: Standing by Our Allies
- U.S. Policy in the Indo-Pacific: Standing by our Allies
- U.S. – Japan Strategic Alliance Series
- 2023 Japanese Business Roundtable
- Baker Center’s Global Security Program Launches New Japan Ambassador Program
- China Town Hall : Local Connections, National Reflection
- Ashe Lecture Series: Admiral Harry Harris
- Ashe Lecture with Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch
