Scott D McDonald, Ph.D.

Scott D McDonald

Assistant Professor

Phone706-864-1523

Office locationBarnes Hall, 121, Dahlonega

Area(s) of Expertise: National Security; International Relations; Chinese Philosophy; Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China; Indo-Pacific Security

Overview

Dr. McDonald joined the Department of Political Science & International Affairs in 2024. Prior to arriving at UNG, he completed his Ph.D. at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. He is embarking on his second career after spending 24 years as an officer in the US Marine Corps. In addition to tours as an armor officer in the 2nd and 1st Tank Battalions, he was trained as a China Foreign Area Officer and learned Mandarin Chinese. This specialty led to diplomatic tours at the US Embassy in Canberra, Australia and the American Institute in Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan. Combined with additional tours at the operational and strategic level, these experiences led Dr. McDonald to focus on why foreign policy decision-makers come to the conclusions they do. His research focuses on producing scholarship relevant to both academics and policy makers that will increase our understanding of the intentions and decisions of adversaries and partners alike.

Education

  • Ph.D., International Relations, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, 2024
  • M.A., National Security Affairs, The Naval Postgraduate School, 2001
  • B. A., International Affairs, The George Washington University, 1995.
  • A. A., Chinese Language, Monterey Peninsula College, 2001

Research/ Special Interests

Ideas matter. The cognitive lens individual leaders bring to problems of foreign policy shape how they conceive of, understand, and evaluate the choices they face. Therefore, while Dr. McDonald's scholarship is broadly within the discipline of international security, his focus is on the ideas that drive decision-making.

Publications

Journal Articles:

“Forget China—A Policy for an Interconnected Region.” Fletcher Security Review 8 (2021): 72-79.

“戰略競爭?—Strategic Competition?” Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs 3, No. 4 (Winter 2020): 3-16.

“Phase Zero: How China Exploits It, Why the United States Does Not.” With Brock Jones and Jason M. Frazee. Naval War College Review 65, No. 3 (Summer 2012): 123-135.

Edited Volumes:

The Future of the United States-Australia Alliance: Evolving Security Strategy in the Indo-Pacific. With Andrew T. H. Tan. London: Routledge, 2021.

China’s Global Influence: Perspectives and Recommendations. With Michael C. Burgoyne. Honolulu, HI:  Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, 2019.

Book Chapters:

“The Future of US-Australia Strategic and Defense Cooperation: A US Perspective.” In The Future of the United States-Australia Alliance: Evolving Security Strategy in the Indo-Pacific, edited by Scott D. McDonald and Andrew Tan, 196-216. London: Routledge, 2021.

“China-US-Australia: Redefining the Strategic Triangle.” With Adam Lockyer and Yves-Heng Lim. In The Future of the United States-Australia Alliance: Evolving Security Strategy in the Indo-Pacific, edited by Scott D. McDonald and Andrew T. H. Tan, 141-160. London: Routledge, 2021.

“The United States-Australia Alliance.” With Andrew T. H. Tan. In The Future of the United States-Australia Alliance: Evolving Security Strategy in the Indo-Pacific, edited by Scott D. McDonald and Andrew T. H. Tan, 1-12. London: Routledge, 2021.

“Philosophy and Policy: Why Ideas will Drive the Indo-Pacific.” In Hindsight, Insight, Foresight: Thinking about Security in the Indo-Pacific, edited by Alexander Vuving, 3-11. Honolulu, HI: Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, 2020.

“战略竞争?—Strategic Competition?” In China’s Global Influence: Perspectives and Recommendations, edited by Scott D. McDonald and Michael C. Burgoyne, 22-37. Honolulu, HI:  Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, 2019.

“Introduction.” With Michael C. Burgoyne. In China’s Global Influence: Perspectives and Recommendations, edited by Scott D. McDonald and Michael C. Burgoyne, 5-21. Honolulu, HI: Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, 2019.

“Synthesis.” With Michael C. Burgoyne. In China’s Global Influence:  Perspectives and Recommendations, edited by Scott D. McDonald and Michael C. Burgoyne, 249-256. Honolulu, HI:  Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, 2019.

Encyclopedia Entry:

“Autonomous Robots: China.” In Examining Internet and Technology Around the World, edited by Laura M. Steckman, 263-268. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2021.

Periodicals:

“Sunzi, ‘shì’ and strategy: How to read ‘Art of War’ the way its author intended.” The Conversation, 16 May 2023, https://theconversation.com/sunzi-shi-and-strategy-how-to-read-art-of-war-the-way-its-author-intended-200807.

“Why China feels threatened by the moral authority of a 90-year-old Catholic bishop.” The Conversation, 19 September 2022. https://theconversation.com/why-china-feels-threatened-by-the-moral-authority-of-a-90-year-old-catholic-bishop-190319.

“The Battle for Taiwan Is a Diversion for America and China.” The National Interest, 22 April 2022. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/battle-taiwan-diversion-america-and-china-201894.

"Wanted: A Strategy for the Indo-Pacific Region." The National Interest, 7 August 2018. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/wanted-strategy-indo-pacific-region-28182.

"Forthcoming Asia Strategy Should Avoid Second-handed Pitfalls." The National Interest, 26 December 2017. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-trump-administration-isnt-putting-america-first-23813.

“The Marine Attaché: Task Me…Please.” The Marine Corps Gazette 98, no. 8 (August 2012): 43-44.

Opinion Columnist, “On Liberty…” IT Magazine. 1994-1995.

Working Papers:

“The PRC’s View of Security.” Center for Strategic Studies, The Fletcher School, Tufts University. Prepared as a summary of the discussions held during my workshop of the same name, 8-9 February 2024.

Policy Papers:

“A PRC Cognitive Campaign: Taiwan Case Study.” Prepared for Deloitte’s malign influence study, December 2021.

“A2/AD, A Profile.” SIG Scouting Report. Strategic Initiatives Group, 19 January 2016.

“To Win Without Fighting.” SIG Scouting Report. Strategic Initiatives Group, 20 April 2015.

“Archipelagic Defense.” SIG Scouting Report. Strategic Initiatives Group, 16 March 2015.

Conference Presentations:

“Shì, Xi, and the PRC’s Taiwan Policy.” China-US Symposium, SURGE, Tufts University, 6 April 2024.

“A Philosophical Paradigm: Can Chinese Philosophy Explain PRC Policy in the South China Sea.” Bridging Asia Conference, American Grand Strategy and East Asia in the 21st Century, University of Southern California, 6 January 2024.

“Chinese Philosophy in the South China Sea.” International Political Science Association, 2023 World Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 17 July 2023.

“Chinese Philosophy in the South China Sea.” Seventeenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Athens, Greece, 21-23 July 2022 (remote presentation).

“Forget China: A Policy for an Interconnected Region.” The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, SCIP Scholars Symposium. Hosted by the Working Group on Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific. 28 April 2022.

“War Powers on Remote Control.” Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies Annual Graduate Conference. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 23 April 2022.

"Philosophical Roots of Chinese Foreign Policy.” International Studies Association Annual Conference. Nashville, TN, 1 April 2022.

“A Heretic’s View of Ambiguous Warfare.” J39 Strategic Multi-layer Assessment Conference, Joint Base Andrews, MD, October 2015.

Work Experience

  • 2019-present: Nonresident Fellow, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
  • 2022-2024: Assistant Director, Center for Strategic Studies, The Fletcher School, Tufts University
  • 2023: Lecturer, The Fletcher School, Tufts University
  • 2022: Visiting Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Wellesley College
  • 2017-2019: Military Professor, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
  • 2016-2017: Lead, Communication Synchronization Cell, Office of Marine Corps Communication, Headquarters, US Marine Corps
  • 2014-2017: Strategic Analyst, Strategic Initiatives Group, Headquarters, US Marine Corps
  • 2012-2014: Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan
  • 2011-2012: Regional Engagement Planner, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan
  • 2008-2011: Marine Corps Affairs Officer (attaché equivalent), American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 2005-2008: Marine Corps Attaché, US Embassy, Canberra, Australia
  • 1996-2003: Held various billets in Marine Corps Tank Battalions, including Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, Company Commander, and Battalion Logistics Officer.

Personal Information

Outside of school, he enjoys running, reading, and spending time with his family. Together his family enjoys exploring world cuisine, at home and on trips together.