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Maxwell School News and Commentary

Filtered by: Defense & Security

McFate Talks to Newsweek About the Rift Between the Wagner Group and the Russian Military

"There's an ongoing public split between Wagner and the Russian military, and both sides are looking for symbolic wins," says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.

March 15, 2023

McCormick Comments on the Use of Military Force Against Mexican Drug Cartels in Dallas Morning News

Gladys McCormick, associate professor of history, says Mexico already has a significant police and military presence on its side of the border and efforts to confront the cartels militarily have not solved the problem. “It’s been tried and it has failed colossally,” McCormick says. “So the idea to sort of try it again to me sounds utterly irresponsible.”


March 14, 2023

Williams Piece on Putin’s Fear of Democracy Published in the Atlantic Council UkraineAlert Blog

"Putin has always known that NATO poses no credible security threat to Russia itself. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO’s force posture and the U.S. military presence in Europe have greatly declined, reducing any potential military threat to Russia. What really scares the Russian elite is the spread of democracy," argues Michael John Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs.

March 10, 2023

See related: Conflict, NATO, Russia, Ukraine

Griffiths Contributes to New Book on Self-Determination and Secession

Ryan Griffiths, Aleksandar Pavković, Peter Radan

Ryan Griffiths, associate professor of political science, has contributed to and co-edited “The Routledge Handbook of Self-Determination and Secession” (Routledge, 2023). It investigates debates surrounding issues of self-determination and secession as well as the legal, political and normative implications they give rise to.

March 10, 2023

McFate Provides Stratagems on How To Defeat Russian Mercenaries in Newsweek

"Those who think international law can curb mercenarism are unrealistic. Even if we had solid laws (which we do not), who will go into Ukraine and arrest all those mercenaries? Not the UN or NATO. The market for force resists arrest, which is why mercenaries are the second oldest profession. Now they are back, and we must re-learn strategies to fight this unique form of warfare," writes Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.

March 8, 2023

Ekbia Article on the Current Revolution in Iran Published in Geschichte der Gegenwart

"Despite brutal repression, protests in Iran continue. The ruling clergy can no longer rally the "masses" behind them, as they have successfully done since the 18th century." University Professor Hamid Ekbia examines the perspectives and dangers of the present revolution in Iran.

March 7, 2023

Taylor Discusses Russian Political Stability at CNAS Forum and in Washington Times Article

As we pass the one-year anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, numerous factors such as the Russian military’s poor performance, Putin’s botched mobilization, mounting casualties, economic challenges resulting from sanctions and export controls, and increasingly visible elite fissures are raising questions about the political stability of the Russian regime. Brian Taylor, professor of political science, weighs in.

March 6, 2023

One Year Later: Taylor Talks to WRVO About the Invasion Into Ukraine

For Brian Taylor, professor of political science, the biggest take from the one-year anniversary is Ukraine is still standing. "A year ago a lot of people might not have expected that, given Russia’s size, the size of the population, the size of its army, the size of its economy," Taylor says.

February 27, 2023

See related: Conflict, NATO, Russia, Ukraine

Murrett Weighs in on the Biggest Setbacks for Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine in Newsweek Article

Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, says that at the strategic level, the biggest setback for Putin is "the huge casualties that the Russians have taken." 

February 24, 2023

Taylor Speaks with La Presse About the War in Ukraine, Russia’s Persistence

The concentration of troops in the east of the country shows that the Russian president has not given up on his goal of enslaving Ukraine despite multiple setbacks since the launch of the invasion, says Brian Taylor, professor of political science.

February 22, 2023

See related: Conflict, Russia, Ukraine

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