August 2026 Student Spotlight

John Deckers, Master of International Affairs Candidate

What got you interested in international affairs and global security?
As long as I can remember, I have been interested in learning about the histories and nuances of the world. I would spend hours as a kid reading or watching programs about different cultures or histories, always wanting to learn more. I found myself fascinated by the beautiful mosaic that we as people are. In undergrad, I found myself gravitating towards the comparative analysis classes. It was fascinating to see how people around the world approach governance and security in different ways and how, through these differences, we can learn from one another to improve our own communities. Throughout my life, learning about the good, bad, and ugly of our global human experience has continually drawn me deeper into international affairs and the global security field, and it has kept me wanting to better understand the complexities of our societies and connections.

Your work and studies touch on everything from political polarization to AI policy. How did those become areas of interest for you?
The through line of my interests is exploring why and how people think and act, as well as what brings people to commit acts of violence. Growing up, like many my age, political violence became an ever-present aspect of American society. Some of my earliest memories were shaped by the events of 9/11, increased state surveillance, school shootings, and violent political rhetoric. As a young person, I wanted to understand why this was and what we could do to change it. I first started examining political polarization and violence back in undergrad at The Catholic University of America. I was a politics and communications double major, so many of my studies looked at how our media systems influence our political realities and choices. This was back in 2015 and 2016 during the buildup to the 2016 presidential election. This was a formative experience for me as I delved into radicalization/ polarization studies while seeing exactly what I was studying occurring within the USA. This experience pushed me to dive deeper and try to understand more completely what is occurring around me and how I can prevent myself and others from falling into hardline political polarization/extremism. Due to my background in media studies as well, one of my focus areas was how different media forms contribute to growing polarization. My capstone project looked at how social media was playing a monumental role in pushing hyper-partisan political polarization. Coincidentally, this was also my first introduction to AI policy, as I examined AI algorithms’ contribution to digital echo chambers. From here, I continued with my interest in how new media, societal systems, and emerging technology are being weaponized to galvanize extremist factions, like white supremacy. In the fall of 2025, I attended a conference at the University of Coimbra in Coimbra, Portugal, on AI policy. It was here that my interests in AI policy and polarization/radicalization collided once again. Throughout the week, we explored various ways in which AI is impacting different policy areas. Throughout each topic area, one common theme that kept appearing was the risks AI could pose, from privacy concerns to environmental impacts. This prompted me to look further into how different radicalized groups are using AI tools to further their agendas.

Was there a class, project, or professor at Marxe that changed the way you think about these issues?
My experiences here at the Marxe School have challenged my understanding of the world, pushing me to think deeper and to consider the complex dynamics of our histories and communities. One particular professor who has really changed the way I approach global security is Professor Rhiannon Neilsen. I have taken two classes with Professor Neilsen, and in both she created a class environment where I felt that I could explore the topics at hand with no judgment or barriers. Professor Neilsen had us challenge existing dominant narratives in the global security field and see them from different angles and perspectives with empathy. She invited the class to bring our own experiences and interests to the content she presented, creating an environment where academic curiosity could blossom into academic pursuits.

AI is becoming a bigger part of everything from politics to national security. What do you think people are getting right, and wrong, about the conversation?
AI is an extremely complex topic. There are a number of ways AI can benefit us, such as identifying early cancer cells in cancer screenings; however, I struggle to weigh these positives against the major faults of AI, like its impacts on the environment. Also, in the research I have done, the ways in which malicious actors can use this technology to promote violence and extremism are highly concerning. In much of the discourse around AI, it is treated as an inevitable piece of advancement, and that we should get on board or be left behind, and to some degree, I do see some truth to this statement. Pandora’s box has been opened; however, I do not think that means we have to blindly accept the widespread adoption of AI into our daily lives. What concerns me is not that AI is here – there are genuine positives that it can bring; it is the speed at which we are being forced to accept it with little to no oversight or consideration of its impact on the climate and social systems. It is critical that this technology is approached with caution and that all risks are considered before implementation. The European Union, for example, has passed legislation that requires “human-in-the-loop” safeguards and oversight to ensure that human rights, safety, and the environment are considered at all stages of AI use from design to operation. The USA and the world at large are currently faced with a multitude of compounding issues, and we need to be bold but also cautious with how we move forward so that any new “advances” do not just add to our existing issues but can be a part of the solutions.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your time at Marxe so far?
Overall, the most rewarding part of my time at Marxe has been getting to know the people who make up the school. From the faculty and staff to my fellow classmates, here at Marxe there are people from every walk of life, bringing with them so many experiences and ideas. Getting to learn from and with all these talented and thoughtful people has been enriching and has only deepened my love and passion for international affairs.