Praise for “The Incalculable Element,” from James N. Mattis

Letter from James N. Mattis, 26th United States Secretary of Defense, to Jaymie Durnan, Co-founder and Chairman of the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation

Praise for “‘The Incalculable Element’: Ancient Innovations for Modern Security Problems,” by Emily A. Davis

“In a word, this is wonderful. It is an apt, appropriate use of applied history. In a tumultuous time when journalists seem to be the only voices trying to make sense of our situation, nearly all historians have been unable to give us guideposts or a compass to orient us to solutions. As W. Churchill put it, the more one can look into the past, the further one can look into the future….This paper rates study and application to our own thinking about what we face. While dismissing the reasons for the internal disarray, Hermocrates sought to understand them and then to show them why they must mature their thinking. Where in America is such informed leadership today?

This is an award-winning paper in the truest sense of the word. This demonstrates why we need historians who can apply history to our current situation. As SecDef I often got my best new ideas from old books/history.

This paper is nothing short of exciting in what it unlocks. Many, many thanks for what your team is bringing to the fore in this paper Ms. Davis has crafted. I’m inspired and humbled by her application of history. Hermocrates ranks with Aurelian guiding Rome out of the crisis of the third century AD or Choiseul’s thoughtful leadership under the Sun King. Kudos to your Marshall Foundation and Ms. Emily! Hooray to you all, Jaymie. Only you could orchestrate such thinking with the way you’ve crafted, a method that rewards and draws out innovative thinking.”

 

The Andrew W. Marshall Paper Prizes

AWMF will award two prizes of up to $13,000 for well-researched, intellectually bold work on Future Reconfigurations in Asia 2045 and New Revolutions in Military Affairs.


As part of its mission to find and foster new voices to address strategic questions surrounding the long-term competitions facing the United States, the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation (AWMF) is offering two multi-round prizes of up to $13,000 for well-researched, intellectually bold work on Future Reconfigurations in Asia 2045 and New Revolutions in Military Affairs.

Winners will have the opportunity to present their work to leading scholars and practitioners in the national security field and beyond, and have their submission published as a “working paper” by AWMF.

AWMF seeks papers that are diagnostic rather than prescriptive; are informed and speculative; build upon a foundation of research; and employ an interdisciplinary approach.

Both paper prize competitions consist of three rounds. Submissions of abstracts for consideration for the Round One prizes are due by 11:59 PM ET on Monday, 28 June 2021.

Round One
Submission of Abstract
Up to 10 Semi-Finalists Awarded $500

Round Two
Submission of Paper
Up to 5 Finalists Awarded $2,500

Round Three
Submission of Final Paper
Grand Prize Winner Awarded $10,000

These competitions are open to all. AWMF is eager to find new voices of any age, background, experience, or discipline, including practitioners and scholars from non-traditional backgrounds with knowledge and skills transferable to national security studies.

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