Maxwell School News and Commentary
Filtered by: Commentary
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.
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.
See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
Murrett Discusses the Putin-Xi Moscow Summit with the Associated Press, Daily Mail
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.
See related: China, Conflict, Government, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
Huber Talks to Real Change News About Carbon Pricing Programs
The fact that the costs of compliance are typically borne by workers and consumers is a fundamental flaw of carbon pricing programs, says Matthew Huber, professor of geography and the environment. It’s one that, he suggests, has led to the Biden administration’s relatively skeptical stance on cap-and-trade programs.
See related: Climate Change, State & Local, United States
Koch Weighs in on Western States Banning Foreign Groundwater Use in Stateline Article
“The U.S. has always been promoting and setting up this entire thing,” says Natalie Koch, professor of geography and the environment. “It’s not like the Americans are passive in this. We have absolutely helped sow the seeds for that Saudi agricultural industry that has come back to us now.”
See related: Middle East & North Africa, United States, Water
Monarch Quoted in VOA Article on China’s Shift Towards High-End Manufacturing
Ryan Monarch, assistant professor of economics, says it would be more difficult for China's manufacturing industry to transition to the high-end amid deteriorating U.S.-China relations and the decoupling of business between the two countries.
See related: China, Economic Policy
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.
See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
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.”
See related: Conflict, Congress, Latin America & the Caribbean, Terrorism & Extremism, United States
Engelhardt Weighs in on Fixing Social Security in CNN Article
It’s unlikely anything will be done in the near term, in part because of the current lack of bipartisanship in Washington, says Gary Engelhardt, professor of economics.
See related: Economic Policy, Retirement, United States
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.