As part of the “Pathways to Peace” week of forums and events exploring more peaceful foreign-policy initiatives, author David Vine will be talking about the Pentagon’s new empire of hundreds of strategically built frontier bases around the world, and whether the practice enables peace or more conflict.---

Vine, an anthropology professor at American University in Washington, D.C., has researched the “lily pad” strategy, whereby the Pentagon has begun expanding its global reach by building small bases in remote outposts all over the world, even while scaling back larger bases. Vine points out the bases can be damaging to local communities and even more damaging to diplomacy, as the proliferation of small combat-ready bases heightens military tensions and encourages “base races” with other nations. Learn more about whether the lily pads spread peace or spread fear and dominion at this free public forum Thursday, where Vine will be joined by University of Utah economics professor Ken Jameson.

Check out the morning talk, “U.S. Military Strategy in the Obama Era: Global Presence and Local Resistance,” Thursday March, 28, 10:45 a.m. at the University of Utah Hinckley Institute of Politics, 260 S. Central Campus Drive. Later that evening, Vine will also speak at the Salt Lake City Main Library, 210 E. 400 South, 7 p.m. For more info on Pathways to Peace events going on this week, check out the group’s Facebook page here.