Maxwell School News and Commentary
Filtered by: Commentary
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.
Harrington Meyer Quoted in New York Times Article on Grandfathering
Overall, grandmothers still take the lead in spending time with grandchildren, often rearranging their schedules to do so, says Madonna Harrington Meyer, University Professor and author of “Grandmothers at Work: Juggling Families and Jobs” (NYU Press, 2014).
See related: Child & Elder Care, United States
Blockwood Discusses the Challenges of Selecting Our Nation’s Leaders in The Fulcrum
"Selecting our nation’s leaders is becoming increasingly complex and challenging, but we can make it more effective by ensuring the processes—for elections as well as appointments—reinforce democracy rather than erode our confidence in it," says James-Christian Blockwood, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.
See related: Congress, Federal, SCOTUS, U.S. Elections, United States
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.
See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Russia
Mosher Featured in Philadelphia Magazine Article on Metropolitan Expansion
"What all of this adds up to is a really complicated rewiring of activity patterns where people who live in the hinterland have greater choice as to which big city they gravitate toward for employment/shopping/sports-team fandom, where they can more easily travel to the big city they find most appealing," says Anne Mosher, associate professor of geography and the environment.
See related: Infrastructure, Rural Issues, United States, Urban Issues
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.
See related: Conflict, Middle East & North Africa
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.
See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
Thompson Quoted in France 24 Article on Nikki Haley and Donald Trump
"Nikki Haley has to negotiate the very thin line between differentiating herself from Donald Trump and still appealing to—or not alienating herself from—his supporters, who still constitute the vast majority of CPAC activists and GOP primary participants," says Margaret Susan Thompson, associate professor of history and political science.
See related: Federal, U.S. Elections, United States
Sultana Talks to Inside Climate News About the COP27 Loss and Damage Agreement
“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.”
See related: Climate Change, Colonialism, International Agreements
McDowell Weighs in on Russia’s Increased Use of China’s Yuan in Wall Street Journal Article
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.
See related: China, Economic Policy, Foreign Policy, Russia