IJOIS Spring 2021, Volume VIII Program in Arms Control &
Domestic and International Security

Letter from the Editor

Dear Reader,
On behalf of the IJOIS Editorial Board, the Program in Arms Control & Domestic and

International Security, the University Library, and the supportive academic community of the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, we would like to thank you for reading the eighth issue
of the Illini Journal of International Security (IJOIS). IJOIS is a peer-reviewed academic journal
founded in September 2015 by undergraduate students at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign in an effort to publish exceptional undergraduate papers on topics within
international security or foreign affairs. 

For our eighth issue of the journal, we are excited to publish outstanding undergraduate papers
that explore some of the most pressing issues within international security and foreign affairs, covering a
wide range of topic areas and geographical regions. Furthermore, IJOIS is excited to announce the
commencement of a brand-new Notes section. These Notes are comprised of shorter papers that discuss
the themes of the journal but in a more concise and argumentative manner. The editorial board created
this section in an effort to align further with other professional academic journals and law reviews.

In our Notes section, the first paper presented in this edition, “Public Right of Access to
America’s War on Terror” written by Joseph Lehman delves into pressing issues regarding the growing
debate between privacy and security. The second paper, “A Response to Patrick Pexton’s What About
Israel's Nuclear Weapons” by Ayah Jaber is an argumentative response to Pexton’s article. The third
paper, “The Ratification Question: Why the United States Should Ratify the Convention of the Rights for
Persons with Disabilities” by Anthony Valiaveedu concerns the CRPD and its impact on international
security. The fourth paper, “The Political Psychology of Regime Change in Iran” written by Ryan Vetticad
explores the psychological factors that have impacted regime change in the Middle-Eastern nation.

In our Articles section, the first paper “On Private Military Companies and Hybrid Warfare”
written by Norman De Castro - a master’s candidate at Sciences Po Paris, concerns the impact that PMC’s
hold on terrorism and gurilla warfare. The second paper, “Divide and Conquer: Separatism in
Transcaucasia and Russian Intervention” by James Monroe is a regional paper discussing the motives
Russia held in its intervention in Transcaucasia. The third paper, “The Race for Artificial Intelligence”
coauthored by Anthony Valiaveedu and Peter F. Rybinski explores the impact the intersection between
Technology and AI holds on international security. The fourth and final paper, “Analysis of the Effects of
Large-Scale Disasters on the Behavior of Non-State Violent Actors in Countries Already Under Duress”
written by Dylan Hyams is a thorough analysis of the effect that disasters hold on NSVA’s.

These exceptional undergraduate papers present novel arguments on a wide array of issues within
international security and foreign affairs. We hope that these papers will challenge and inform our readers,
spark discussion, and encourage undergraduate students to explore these pressing issues or pursue
international studies further. We hope you enjoy reading.

Ryan Vetticad
Editor-in-Chief

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