Harrison Akins
PhD Candidate in Political Science, University of Tennessee
Chapter Member: Tennessee SSN
Areas of Expertise:
- Policy in Other Countries
- Security & Intelligence
- U.S. Foreign Policy
- Military & War
Connect with Harrison
About Harrison
Akins’ main research interests focus on the underlying causes of terrorism and the effectiveness, or ineffectiveness, of different counterterrorism strategies, such as drones. He is especially interested in the impacts of the U.S.-led War on Terror on minority Muslim communities in the United States, Europe, and the Muslim world and whether this contributes to the problem of terrorism.
Contributions
U.S. Drone Tactics and Global Precedents in the Fight Against Terror
SSN Basic Facts Brief,
In the News
"How Hindu Nationalists Politicized the Taj Mahal," Harrison Akins, The Atlantic, November 27, 2017.
"Trump’s Islam-Focused Policies Are an Example of How Not To Fight Terrorism," Harrison Akins, Huffington Post, February 1, 2017.
"Authoritarianism, Nationalism and Twitter Sum Up the Toxic Week One under Trump Presidency," Harrison Akins, India Times, January 31, 2017.
"Why a Trump Presidency Will Be Damaging to the US-India Relationship," Harrison Akins, India Times, November 7, 2016.
"Why the Appointment of Kofi Annan to Myanmar’s Advisory Commission on Rakhine State is Important," Harrison Akins, Huffington Post, September 1, 2016.
"Drones and the Burden of Proof: The Release of the White House’s Guidelines on the Use of Drones," Harrison Akins, Huffington Post, August 8, 2016.
"The Rohingya are Suu Kyi’s Litmus Test for a Legitimate Democracy," Harrison Akins, Huffington Post, November 9, 2015.
"To Combat the ‘New Anti-Semitism,’ Europe’s Jews and Muslims Must Work Together," Harrison Akins, Huffington Post, April 22, 2015.
"No Place for Islam? Buddhist Nationalism in Myanmar," Harrison Akins, Al Jazeera, October 18, 2013.
"Drones or No Drones, The Violence Will Continue in Pakistan," Harrison Akins, LSE Ideas, August 20, 2013.
"US Should Replace Drone Strikes in Pakistan with Outreach to Tribal Areas," Harrison Akins (with ), Christian Science Monitor, May 30, 2013.
"Waziristan: ‘The Most Dangerous Place in the World’," Harrison Akins (with ), Al Jazeera, April 12, 2013.
"We Must Understand Source of Violence to Win War on Terror," Harrison Akins, Knoxville News Sentinel, March 24, 2013.
"The Plight of the Rif: Morocco’s Restive Northern Periphery," Harrison Akins (with ), Al Jazeera, September 28, 2012.
"Nigeria in Flames: Breaking the Cycle of Revenge," Harrison Akins (with ), Al Jazeera, September 9, 2012.
"Waiting for the Arab Spring in Western Sahara," Harrison Akins (with ), Al Jazeera, March 14, 2012.
"Restoring Harmony Between Bangkok and the Malay Muslims of South Thailand," Harrison Akins (with ), Al Jazeera, February 27, 2012.
"Little Help for the Persecuted Rohingya of Burma," Harrison Akins (with ), The Guardian, December 1, 2011.
Publications
"The Yemen Imbroglio: Understanding the Many Layers of the Yemeni Civil War," The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, 2017.
""Lawnmowers in the Sky": The Turbulent Past and Uncertain Future of Drone Warfare," Howard H Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy, University of Tennessee, March 2017.
Examines global challenges facing the use of armed drones in counterterrorism efforts. It provides an overview of the United States’ use of armed drones, the debate surrounding its use, and the current challenges faced by the proliferation of Chinese drone technology to states around the world.