Who am I?
I currently work on and research issues pertaining to technology and international affairs. At Stanford University, I studied international relations at the Center for International Security and Cooperation with a focus on international security and economic statecraft. While I am interested in all things international affairs, my research has mainly fallen into three main categories:
Economic statecraft as an instrument for national security: How does a state utilize its international trade policy, tariffs, and export controls to serve its vital interests? Think about how the U.S. may use its industrial policy to incentivize American firms to manufacture components domestically, or how Russia may pivot its sale of natural gas to other countries to cushion the blow of economic sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War.
AI x something: Much of my current work looks at how the enablement of artificial intelligence and machine learning models will transform the global economy, the way in which states conduct global warfare, and the legal regimes needed to address this new technology.
Legal mechanisms and national security: Are our current laws sufficient to address the risks of AI? What executive authority does a country’s leader have to make unilateral decisions relating to national security? Think about emerging AI safety laws, or perhaps global governance frameworks for peace deals in the Middle East.
The purpose of this Substack is for me to share my learning and thoughts on different international security issues as they arise. With that said, a huge disclaimer is warranted:
All views expressed in this Substack and all other forms of this publication are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace or Stanford University. Everything in this publication does not and will not use any original material under the auspices of the Carnegie Endowment and is created entirely outside of my professional affiliations.
Why is this publication called “Bottom Line Up Front?”
In the military, “bottom line up front” or “BLUF” is a writing tool that distills the most important information in a publication or correspondence for military personnel and policymakers who have limited time to read and act upon such messages.
It is apparent that the way in which we consume news and information has shifted towards more short-form content. In the same way that long-form analysis became pithy 1500-word commentaries published online, these same forms of media are being abbreviated into video clips, push notifications, and other forms of clipping what typically warrants an in-depth analysis.
In the same spirit of BLUFing, I hope to do the heavy lifting as I learn new things about the world by consuming recent events and international security issues in their original forms and providing you with both the need-to-knows and my analysis. I would like to note that this publication should not be a substitute for your own thinking on a certain issue. I am neither an expert (I don’t even have a Ph.D.!) nor will this publication ever claim to be the dogma that you should internalize. My only hope for “Bottom Line Up Front” is to be your TikTok video or your push notification for information and analysis that is important but would otherwise not be considered “clickworthy.”
However, this publication is first and foremost a learning experience for me. I am a twenty-two-year-old recent graduate who just started his first full-time job and is still trying to figure out the world. “Bottom Line Up Front” won’t just be a place for me to share what I’ve learned about international security, but I hope it also becomes a platform where I can share what I have learned about working at a think tank, and what I have experienced so far.
Do you have thoughts? Critiques? Questions? Feel free to comment! I would love this place to be an open forum of well-intentioned young people trying to learn more about the world that we will soon lead.
Think this is something you or someone you know would be interested in? Feel free to subscribe and share it with your friends!
Very respectfully,
Noah Tan