News | Maxwell School

Taylor explores impact of Putin’s new constitution in Foreign Affairs

In 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin solved his "2024 problem"—the legal constraint to standing for reelection in 2024. He did so by ramming through a constitutional overhaul that nullified the previous term limit—a special provision designed especially for him. "Putin’s solution to the 2024 problem was for his own benefit, but it also was designed to reassure Russia’s political and economic elite. They were dreading a potentially treacherous succession crisis that might put their power, wealth, and freedom at risk," writes Professor Brian Taylor. "Resetting Putin’s presidential clock does little for the Russian people, however," he says. Read more in Taylor's article, "Putin’s Rules of the Game: The Pitfalls of Russia’s New Constitution," published in Foreign Affairs.

4/13/2021

Faricy research cited in Forbes article on American Rescue Plan

"The Other Side of the Coin: Public Opinion toward Social Tax Expenditures" (Russel Sage Foundation, 2021), co-authored by Christopher Faricy, associate professor of political science, was cited in the Forbes article, "Making The Most Of A Crisis, Biden Links Recovery And Tax Reform." Faricy and co-author Christopher Ellis (Bucknell University) have judged the American Rescue Plan to be "the largest expansion to the American welfare state in a generation."

4/12/2021

Burman comments on rising national debt in Christian Science Monitor

National debt is surging yet economists are less worried about it. One reason is that interest rates have fallen to near record lows, making the cost of borrowing virtually free. That could prove to be an advantage, especially if the money is spent on investments, such as infrastructure, that can grow the economy in the future. "Investing in better roads, bridges, dams, electrical infrastructure, all of that stuff, clearly, those investments pay returns over a long period of time," says Professor Leonard Burman. "Investing in better education, if you can do it, pays returns over the course of decades." Read more in the Christian Science Monitor article, "National debt is surging higher. Here’s why worry is heading lower."

4/8/2021

Murrett talks to Fox News about Russia's Arctic build-up

Russia is expanding its military bases in the Arctic and testing its newest weapons, causing concern to security experts. "Russia is developing a series of weapons that are very concerning from the standpoint of the United States," says Vice Adm. Robert B. Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs. "The Arctic is actually smaller and just a terrific shortcut whether you're in an aircraft, whether you're underneath the surface of the ocean, and also for intercontinental ballistic missiles, this goes back to the Cold War," he says. Murrett was interviewed for the Fox News segment, "Experts worry Russia is seeking a 'new Cold War'."

4/8/2021

Sultana study examines overlapping crises of climate change, COVID-19

"Climate change, COVID-19, and the co-production of injustices: a feminist reading of overlapping crises," authored by Farhana Sultana, was published in Social & Cultural Geography. Sultana, associate professor of geography and the environment, argues that an intersectional analysis of the overlapping but uneven global crises produced by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the importance of investigating and addressing them simultaneously through a feminist lens. This allows for a more nuanced understanding of the co-production of injustices structurally, materially and discursively.

4/7/2021

M.P.A./M.A.I.R. grad’s Excelsior Fellowship leads to career with NYS

Charlene Cordero ’17 M.P.A./M.A.I.R. calls working as senior policy adviser for New York’s Public Safety Office her "dream job." The native of Brooklyn landed the job in September 2019 after two years as a New York Excelsior Fellow, working for the state’s Office of Public Safety. Cordero is among 24 Maxwell alumni named Excelsior Fellows since 2013, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched the initiative. The program for recent law, graduate and professional school graduates invites participants to share diverse backgrounds and new perspectives to policy design and implementation in New York state government.

4/6/2021

Wiemers study on COVID-19 risk factors, protective behaviors published

"Association Between Risk Factors for Complications From COVID-19, Perceived Chances of Infection and Complications, and Protective Behavior in the US," co-authored by Associate Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs Emily Wiemers, was published in JAMA Network Open. In their cross-sectional survey study, the authors found that adults with risk factors for COVID-19 complications reported higher perceived susceptibility to complications. They also found that during common activities, including visiting with friends, the majority of adults, including the highly susceptible, did not consistently wear masks.

4/6/2021

Reeher discusses Biden's infrastructure plan in National Interest

President Biden recently unveiled a portion of his nearly $3 trillion infrastructure, jobs and climate change package. "The case that Biden made to centrists and to some conservatives in the election is that he wouldn’t lurch too far to the left once elected. But this price tag will make that case harder to sustain," says Professor Grant Reeher. "If we look at the policy record since 1993, no Democrat has really succeeded at the national level by going big." Read more in the National Interest article, "Joe Biden to Unveil Infrastructure Package Tomorrow. What Will it Include?"

4/5/2021

Yinger quoted in Daily Beast article on diverse communities

It's been shown that diverse communities have innumerable benefits for all their residents, yet communities remain segregated. There are long-lasting ramifications from historic and present-day housing discrimination, which is evidenced by a substantial racial homeownership gap. "Our past has a long legacy. The federal government discriminated in the provision of mortgages, in the placement of housing, and we still have that legacy with us," says John Yinger, Trustee Professor of Economics and Public Administration and International Affairs. He was quoted in the Daily Beast article, "Benefits for All: Why Diverse Communities are the Way Forward, For Everyone."

4/5/2021

Purser quoted in Law360 article on extended CDC anti-eviction order

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a 90-day extension of a national anti-eviction order slated to expire on March 31. In place through June with minor modifications, the policy effectively extends an anti-eviction order enacted in September under the Trump administration. "The need for rental assistance and a massive influx of cash to deal with this is really, really great," says Gretchen Purser, associate professor of sociology. "The question now is what will happen [after] June." Purser was quoted in the Law360 article, "CDC Extends Federal Anti-Eviction Order Through June."

4/2/2021

Ma featured in Chronicle piece on international students, racism in US

The shootings at Asian-run spas near Atlanta were a dark moment in a grim year for anti-Asian racism—since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the group Stop AAPI Hate has catalogued nearly 3,800 incidents of anti-Asian discrimination or xenophobia. "The very fact that six out of eight victims are Asian women definitely makes the violence racialized and gendered," says Yingyi Ma. "And given that 70 percent of all international students in the United States are from Asia, I think that would definitely make them very, very afraid." But, adds Ma, "I would argue that anti-Asian racism is always there." Read more in the Chronicle of Higher Education article, "How International Students' Perception of Racism in the U.S. Has Changed."

4/2/2021

Landes speaks to PBS about COVID-19 vaccines for people with IDD

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID-19. Plus, many receive care in group living facilities, putting them at further risk. But despite the elevated risks for those with IDD, they face an uphill vaccination battle. "It's not been surprising, on one hand, that states have not prioritized this group, because that's historically been the case," says Scott Landes, associate professor of sociology. "It's been disappointing, because the evidence was there pre-pandemic and the evidence is there now that this group is at higher risk." Watch the full interview, "Relative invisibility makes for uphill battle to get COVID vaccines for Americans with IDD," on PBS NewsHour.

4/1/2021

Popp weighs in on Biden's green stimulus spending in NYT, Guardian

President Biden is preparing the details of a new, vastly larger, economic stimulus plan that again would use government spending to unite the goals of fighting climate change and restoring the economy. "Unless they can pair it with a policy that forces people to reduce emissions, a big spending bill doesn’t have a big impact," says Professor David Popp. Read more in the New York Times article, "Biden’s Lesson From Past Green Stimulus Failures: Go Even Bigger." Popp was also interviewed for the Guardian article, "Biden’s $2tn infrastructure plan aims to ‘finally address climate crisis as a nation'."

3/31/2021

Radcliffe comments on corporations' role in politics in Marketplace

Activists are asking corporations in Georgia such as Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines and Home Depot to speak out against the recent bill passed that restricts voting in a number of ways, including shortening the window in which someone can request an absentee ballot and limiting the number of ballot drop boxes. "If you don’t take a stand, you’re opening yourself up to criticism of being complicit in legislation that is widely seen as violating individual rights," says Dana Radcliffe, adjunct professor of public administration and international affairs. He was quoted in the Marketplace article, "What responsibility do corporations have to weigh in on voting rights?"

3/30/2021

Maxwell School ranks #1, with five specialties rated in the top five

Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs ranks #1 in the nation for public affairs according to the annual U.S. News & World Report & reputational survey. The School also received high marks across a wide range of subspecialties within public affairs, recognized with five subspecialty rankings in the top five.

3/29/2021

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