Thomas M. Nichols

The Atlantic; U.S. Naval War College; Carnegie Council Fellow, 2004-2005

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Thomas M. Nichols is a staff writer at The Atlantic and professor emeritus of national security affairs at the United States Naval War College.

Nichols previously taught international relations and government at Georgetown University and Dartmouth College, and taught as a Secretary of the Navy Fellow at the Naval War College. He also served as an aide in the United States Senate, and was a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

In addition, Nichols has been an associate of the Davis Center for Russian Studies at Harvard University and a fellow of the International History Institute at Boston University. Since 2008, he has been a fellow in the International Security Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

Nichols is a five-time undefeated Jeopardy! champion.

Featured Work

MAY 23, 2024 Podcast

U.S. Election 2024 in a Post-Policy World, with Tom Nichols

"Atlantic" staff writer Tom Nichols returns to "The Doorstep" in its penultimate episode to discuss the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

NOV 5, 2020 Podcast

The Doorstep: The World Waits for the Next U.S. President, with Professor Tom Nichols

As America waits for counts to come in from the last handful of swing states and the Trump campaign files lawsuits, leaders around the world ...

Ian Bremmer and Tom Nichols. CREDIT: Amanda Ghanooni.

JAN 16, 2019 Podcast

Ian Bremmer & Tom Nichols on Globalization, Populism, & American Politics

If populism is a reaction to a globalism that is viewed as unresponsive to the needs of citizens, can populism sustain any version of globalization? ...

JUL 6, 2017 Podcast

Tom Nichols on the Death of Expertise

Across the world today, there is active hostility towards experts, says Tom Nichols of the U.S. Naval War College, and this is a very ...

MAY 10, 2017 Podcast

Shades of Red and Blue: Global Security

For more than half a century, the United States has shouldered a disproportionate share of global security burdens. As China rises and Russia reasserts its ...

JUN 1, 2006 Podcast

Just War?

The U.S. and other developed nations are moving into an era where preventive war is acceptable—even though to say so openly is still ...

JUN 1, 2006 Transcript

Just War?

The U.S. and other developed nations are moving into an era where preventive war is acceptable—even though to say so openly is still ...

FEB 3, 2005 Podcast

Conflict and Order in the New Age of Preventive War

Nichols believes that the norm against preventive military action is rapidly being eroded and that we are headed into an era where preventive war will ...

FEB 3, 2005 Transcript

Conflict and Order in the New Age of Preventive War

Nichols believes that the norm against preventive military action is rapidly being eroded and that we are headed into an era where preventive war will ...