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Maxwell School News and Commentary

Filtered by: International Affairs

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

March 27, 2023

“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.

McFate Speaks With Newsweek About the Exodus of Wagner Group Soldiers

March 24, 2023

"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.

Murrett Discusses the Putin-Xi Moscow Summit with the Associated Press, Daily Mail

March 22, 2023

The Moscow summit has the effect of underscoring and reinforcing the status of “Russia as a junior partner with China—economically, militarily and diplomatically,” Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, tells the Associated Press.

Moynihan Institute’s Longtime Leader Says She Was ‘Honored to be Part of the Mission’

March 22, 2023

Recent retiree Margaret ‘Peg’ Hermann greatly expanded the institute’s global reach and served as a mentor to countless students.

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

March 15, 2023

"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.

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

March 10, 2023

"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.

See related: Conflict, NATO, Russia, Ukraine

McFate Provides Stratagems on How To Defeat Russian Mercenaries in Newsweek

March 8, 2023

"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.

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

March 6, 2023

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.

Sultana Talks to Inside Climate News About the COP27 Loss and Damage Agreement

March 3, 2023

“When you can’t adapt to climate change at all and face interconnected issues surrounding loss and damage, the unbearable heaviness of climate coloniality is worsened,” says Farhana Sultana, professor of geography and the environment. “This means destruction, devastation and loss are so profound that one can’t finance one’s way out of it.”

McDowell Weighs in on Russia’s Increased Use of China’s Yuan in Wall Street Journal Article

March 1, 2023

While Russia’s use of the yuan doesn’t mean the end of dollar supremacy, it may usher in the beginning of a more fractured system that could ultimately blunt the U.S.’s ability to use financial sanctions as a weapon, says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.

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