On March 6, 2026, the O’Brien Notre Dame International Security Center (ONDISC) convened a flash panel of subject matter experts to address the dramatic escalation of hostilities in the Middle East.
Following the joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the panel sought to provide immediate scholarly context to a conflict that has fundamentally shifted the global security landscape.
The discussion featured a cross-disciplinary group of Notre Dame faculty: Emelia Justyna Powell, Professor of Political Science and Law specializing in international legal traditions; Asher Kaufman, Director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and an expert on Middle Eastern border conflicts; and Eugene Gholz, Associate Professor of Political Science and a Principal at ONDISC.
The panel was moderated by Jenna Gibson, Assistant Director of ONDISC’s Hans J. Morgenthau Program.
The Erosion of International Norms
Professor Powell opened the discussion by centering on the legal ramifications of the strikes. She warned that bypassing traditional international legal frameworks—specifically the standards for "self-defense" under the UN Charter—threatens the stability of the global order.
"International law rests on state consent," Powell noted. "If we have major players defecting in such a significant way... the whole global order stands to suffer and suffer immensely because without the states, we really don’t have a way to move things forward in a peaceful way."
She emphasized that the current military actions risk establishing a "law of the jungle" precedent that could be exploited by other global powers in the future.
Political Survival and Military Objectives
Professor Kaufman turned the focus toward the domestic drivers in Israel and the lack of a clear endgame. He observed that for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the conflict is inextricably linked to political longevity.
"[Netanyahu] has basically banked his and almost his entire political career on elevating this threat from Iran," Kaufman explained. "This government... has been using gross military force to resolve problems that, at the end of the day, can only be addressed politically."
He further noted the "unprecedented" nature of the U.S. opening a direct front against Iran, cautioning that the lack of concrete political objectives mirrors the strategic failures of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The "Illusion" of Strategic Cost
Professor Gholz challenged the American perception of warfare, arguing that the U.S. is operating under a dangerous assumption that conflict can remain cost-free.
"We continue to have our illusion that war doesn’t come with costs for the United States," Gholz said. "Our expectation has been we take almost no casualties in these fights."
He also contextualized the war within the broader "Great Power Competition," suggesting that some in Washington view Iran as a "Chinese pawn," making the current strikes a proxy battle to undermine Chinese international investments.
Leading the Conversation
As the conflict continues, the insights shared during this panel underscore the necessity of academic rigor in moments of international crisis. Events like these are vital for moving beyond headlines and fostering a deeper understanding of the legal, historical, and strategic currents that shape our world.
ONDISC remains at the forefront of these critical conversations, providing a platform where research meets real-time global events. To stay informed about upcoming flash panels, lectures, and expert analyses, we encourage you to subscribe to the ONDISC Newsletter.