News

Khalil Quoted in Al Jazeera Article on How the Oslo Accords Failed the Palestinians

“Israel had no intention of agreeing to the emergence of a viable, contiguous, and independent Palestinian state,” says Osamah Khalil, professor of history. “Israel was able to pursue its occupation and settlement policies with the political cover of endless negotiations,” he says.

September 22, 2023

New Handbook Co-Edited by Anthropologist Bhan Provides Comprehensive Perspective on Kashmir Dispute

Mona Bhan, Haley Duschinski and Cabeiri deBergh Robinson

Mona Bhan, professor of anthropology and Ford-Maxwell Professor of South Asian Studies, co-edited and was a contributing author to the “The Palgrave Handbook of New Directions in Kashmir Studies” (Palgrave, 2023).

September 20, 2023

See related: Conflict, India

Faculty Lead Partnerships to Support Ukrainian Veterans, Strengthen European and US Security

James Baker and Robert Murrett are leading academic partners in the newly formed US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge—Baker additionally leads a network of frontline state scholars.

September 19, 2023

McFate Speaks with USA Today About the War in Ukraine

"Things are going nowhere for Ukraine," says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington Programs. "Wars are no longer won like World War II by taking the enemy’s land, killing their troops and flying your flag over their capital."

September 16, 2023

Taylor Speaks with CBC News, International Business Times About the Prigozhin Plane Crash

Brian Taylor, professor of political science, says that he believes Prigozhin is dead and he agrees with Biden. "Putin made clear at the time he saw the mutiny as 'treason' and 'a stab in the back,' which he was unlikely to forget or forgive," he says.

September 1, 2023

Campbell Talks to Democracy Now About Opposing Military Intervention in Niger

"This military intervention in Niger is a consequence of the militarization of Nigerien society, when the society needs social and economic reconstruction," says Horace Campbell, professor of political science.

August 21, 2023

McFate Talks to RadioFreeEurope, VOA News About the Coup in Niger

“This is an alarming trend,” says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs. “The more coups happen, the more success they enjoy, the more temptation there will be for future juntas around Africa.”

August 11, 2023

Research by Gallo-Cruz Cited in Salon Article on the Human Costs of Global Warming

Citing the work of organizations like Global Witness in conflict zones worldwide, Selina Gallo-Cruz, associate professor of sociology, points out that a significant part of the violence on this planet comes from the North's "extraction of natural resources through mining or deforestation—palm oil plantations are a big one—and mega-, mega-agricultural projects," all of which lead to "outbreaks of very violent conflict."

July 18, 2023

Murrett Quoted in Newsweek Article on Ukraine Retaking the City of Bakhmut

"It is just a matter of time until Ukrainian forces overrun Bakhmut, as reflected in advances already made by their forces in key areas surrounding the city," says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.

July 14, 2023

Taylor Discusses the Wagner Group, Russian President Putin with Business Insider, DW and Newsweek

Brian Taylor, professor of political science, says that the mutiny fallout has put Putin in a position he's neither familiar nor comfortable with—often using his pulpit to blast political enemies, both inside and outside of Moscow. "Now he's applying that very same language to one of his own guys, someone he elevated to a position of power and responsibility," Taylor says.

July 7, 2023

See related: Conflict, Crime & Violence, Government, Russia, Ukraine

McFate Speaks With NPR About the Repercussions of the Wagner Group's Rebellion in Russia

"The problem of private warfare is control and accountability. And you have very little of it, especially in a conflict zone. So right now, we have the problem—well, Putin has a problem, is he can give amnesty temporarily to Wagner Group and to Prigozhin," says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.

June 29, 2023

See related: Conflict, Government, National Security, Russia

Lender Fellows Research the Impact of AI-Controlled Weapons

Anthropology Professor Mona Bhan is leading the team of student researchers.

June 13, 2023

Murrett Talks to the Daily Beast About North Korea’s Missile Tech Advances

“North Korea’s recent development and initial testing of a long-range solid-fuel ICBM does represent a significant step forward in its ongoing development of potentially nuclear-capable delivery vehicles,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.

June 6, 2023

Jok Comments on the Ongoing Conflict in Sudan on GLOBAL with JJ Green, Newzroom Afika and TRT World

"This has been a long time coming," says Jok Madut Jok, professor of anthropology

May 5, 2023

Campbell Article on the Sudanese Revolution Published in CounterPunch

"Progressive forces internationally must call for the arrest and trial of the military forces that have unleashed genocidal violence on the Sudanese peoples since 1989," writes Horace Campbell, professor of political science. "The Resistance Committees’ and the popular forces are calling for solidarity and non-intervention to push the process of transition from militarism to one where the peoples of Sudan can enter into new relations."

April 30, 2023

Murrett Talks to Newsweek About the Legacy of the Sinking of Russia's Black Sea Flagship, the Moskva

The visibility of losing their flagship for an entire fleet inevitably attracted attention, says retired Vice Admiral Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs. It proved that any and all Russian vessels approaching Ukraine's littoral waters were under threat, he adds.

April 27, 2023

McFate Comments on China’s Military Capabilities in South China Morning Post Article

Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs, says China is far from being able to take the island. “China’s military is not ready to take Taiwan, which is why Xi Jinping ordered the military to be ready to take Taiwan by 2027, if told to do so,” he says.

April 25, 2023

See related: China, Conflict, East Asia, International Affairs

Murrett Discusses China’s Taiwan-Targeted Military Drills in Politico Article

That show of force was as much for “domestic consumption inside China” as it was for Taiwan, says retired Vice Adm. Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs. And the scale and intensity of the drills “were calibrated very, very carefully,” to minimize threat perceptions, he says.

April 21, 2023

Taylor Quoted in Vox Article on Russian Paramilitary Network the Wagner Group

“Wagner was a very useful stopgap in that period between when [Russia] had so many of their regular forces attrited and Putin came around to the realization that he had no choice but to bring in hundreds of thousands of more people. That may, in some sense, prove to be that Wagner is at its sort of height of influence,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science.

March 27, 2023

See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine

McFate Speaks With Newsweek About the Exodus of Wagner Group Soldiers

"Most of the old guard have sought to remain in places like Mali, or in Africa, away from the Ukraine fight, because the guys I talked to before the invasion were not supportive of the invasion," says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.

March 24, 2023