Maxwell School News and Commentary

The meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa “represents a remarkable shift in U.S. policy toward al-Qaeda and its affiliates. More than 23 years after the 9/11 attacks and the declaration of the Global War on Terror, the United States is developing relations with a former leader of the organization who now declares himself a moderate,” says Osamah Khalil, professor of history.

“Social media can be a minefield for divisive commentary, so I imagine he’ll use it sparingly, perhaps for simple, pastoral messages (and yes, delivered on the official pope account) like holiday greetings, but not for anything controversial,” says Margaret Susan Thompson, professor of history and political science.

India's move to use the Indus Waters Treaty as geopolitical leverage “undermines the legal integrity of such treaties,” says Farhana Sultana, professor of geography and the environment. ”These treaty violations and suspensions can have ripple-on deleterious (harmful) effects across and beyond the region for the examples they set,” she says.

More than the immediate rewards, “vacations provide a buffer against chronic stress and inflammation—both of which wreak havoc on the body,” says Brooks Gump, Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health. Vacationing turns off the spigot of stress hormones like cortisol and allows the body to reset, restoring equilibrium, he says.

“We have a lot of legacy systems that really were designed for the Soviet Union still in our arsenal and I think the Army is finally trying to peel them away,” says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.

“There have been a variety of efforts since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 to try and remake the U.S.-Russia relationship...Obviously a lot has happened since then and it hasn't worked out that way and from my point of view, the thing that has broken the relationship most of all has been the Russian war against Ukraine which began in 2014,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science.

Wildfires driven by climate change contribute to as many as thousands of annual deaths and billions of dollars in economic costs from wildfire smoke in the United States, according to a new study. Jacob Bendix, professor emeritus of geography and environment, says he is “dismayed” by the findings but not surprised.

“Donald Trump has come in and has had just a blizzard of executive orders and other kinds of actions that have had serious impact in the federal government, the relations between the major branches of government and have had effects that have trickled down into Syracuse,” says Grant Reeher, professor of political science.

“What’s at risk is not just enrollment numbers or university budgets—it’s the future of American innovation and the country’s standing in the world,” says Yingyi Ma, professor of sociology.

“Officials are soliciting advice from experts on pronatalist options. Some involve subsidies for births. This would be a mistake. The better idea is to make in vitro fertilization affordable and accessible,” says Leonard Lopoo, associate dean, chair and professor of public administration and international affairs.