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  • Foreword
  • Maia Linask, Manolis Priniotakis, and Andreas Hipple

In addressing evil in his Politics, Aristotle takes aim at people with "internal disorders," especially a category of rogues who reject justice, temperance and the like, finding little value in these would-be virtues. These scoundrels seek to live in luxury and to dominate others but are also psychically unfulfilled, as their rapaciousness leaves them wanting ever more and more. For Aristotle, they are bad people doing bad things in order to get what they want, with little regard for other individuals or wider society. In a word: villains.

Diplomacy, foreign policy, defense strategies, and trade relations are the typical stuff of international affairs journals, but this issue of the SAIS Review takes villainy as its topic. Looking at foreign affairs through a different lens, the essays in this issue focus on the murky world of extra-legal activities that go beyond the pale of acceptable behavior.

Unlike the part played by heads of democratic states and diplomats, the impact of these rogues, thugs and outlaws is often less visible. However, it is also undeniable, as evidenced by the constant discussions of terrorists and terrorism and the use of the word "evil." Yet villainy often goes unnoticed, either hidden by the discretion of its perpetrators or ignored by others. Such behavior surpasses simple crime—even if that is the original motive—and hits on the workings of the international system. In other situations, it becomes difficult to even clearly identify the villain and victim due to competing claims or diverse contexts. Past issues of the SAIS Review have occasionally touched on international organized crime syndicates, drug dealers and terrorists; it is time the wider cast of villains saw the light of day.

The articles in this issue recognize and analyze the particular effects of different flavors of villainy on world affairs, from the international security implications of the illicit small arms market to the regional consequences of dictatorship. A handful of recurrent themes appear; these point to the vitality of the discussions of evolving notions of sovereignty, cross-border cooperation, and the desire and obligation of wealthy countries to help their poorer counterparts fight scourges present within their borders.

Any discussion of evil or villainy first requires a definition of the topic. How, then, should we think about evil and villainy—not to mention morality—in the context of international relations? In answer to this question, the issue begins with a historical and theoretical framework for the study of the topic. These essays provide a foundation upon which the subsequent articles rest. As evidenced by the range of essays in the issue, our own consideration of the theoretical question of evil has led us to treat the subject broadly.

With definition and context in hand, the natural procession is to questions of policy, which demonstrate that as little is black-and-white in the [End Page 1] international realm as elsewhere. The second set of essays addresses the question of how legitimate governments can respond to some of the destructive, extra-legal or malicious forces at play in the international arena. These essays present two contrasting, if not quite opposing, views on the validity of assassination as a means of eliminating those who would do harm.

The third set of essays falls under the heading of Rogues, Thugs and Outlaws and presents a variety of case studies. These articles analyze pirates, small arms dealers, and those who traffic in weapons of mass destruction, among others. Some offer specific policy recommendations, while others provide firsthand accounts of the impact of certain unsavory characters.

Rounding off the issue, we are pleased to offer the words of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, drawn from an October 2004 celebration of the 60th anniversary of SAIS, on the role of the United States in the 21st century. Reviews of recent notable books follow the speech. Readers will also find a new feature throughout: a series of factual articles intended to supplement the analytical and prescriptive essays. These short works, contributed by the SAIS Review staff, highlight some of the trouble spots and individuals that facilitate and participate in international villainy, yet often manage to...

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