Center for a Stateless Society

ALT A soldier shrouded in darkness Text that reads: Shaping and Training a Nation for War Vincent Ostrom on how militarism "places democracies at risk"

ALT Border Militarization as an Entrepreneurial Process NATHAN P. GOODMAN George Mason University Abstract: In recent decades, American border security officials have increased their use of military hardware, adopted training and tactics originally used by military forces, and increasingly collaborated with military and intelligence personnel. Much of this has occurred during episodic crises, which introduce profit opportunities for political entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurial responses to crises create additional political profit opportunities associated with maintaining and expanding the militarized aspects of border security policy. Some of these opportunities involve applying militarized powers in new arenas, causing mission creep. As political entrepreneurs seize these opportunities, they create new opportunities in turn. This results in a dynamic process of militarization and government growth over time. JEL Codes: D72, L26

ALT IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS AND THE UNFULFILLED PROMISE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY ABSTRACT The United States of America arose from a revolution. This revolution was motivated by classical liberal values and principles, which were codified in documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The American government has never fully lived up to these principles. In this paper, I argue that immigration restrictions have long enabled significant violations of America’s founding principles. Moreover, I argue that the increasing militarization of immigration enforcement threatens to destroy liberal democracy in America. To fulfill the promise of liberal democracy, we must reaffirm and radically extend the principles of the American founding. Ultimately, this means liberalizing immigration policy and stopping the rapacious state violence of agencies such as ICE & CBP.