Political Science News

Gueorguiev comments on US-China trade talks, Huawei in Wash Examiner

"If differentiating the Huawei issue into trade and security strands makes it politically more palatable for the Trump administration to make a limited deal that lifts the ban on non-security related Huawei transactions, it is hard to see what the Chinese side stands to gain from not playing along," says Dimitar Gueorguiev. He was interviewed for the Washington Examiner article "Beijing backs away from including Huawei in trade talks."

Maxwell announces new faculty members, department chair

The academic year begins at the Maxwell School with the arrival of twelve new faculty members. In addition, Tom Perreault, professor of geography, is the new chair of the Department of Geography.

Gadarian discusses attitudes on immigration in Quartz article

Shana Gadarian was interviewed for the Quartz article "The Bahamas ferry confusion is the perfect encapsulation of America under Trump." Gadarian says the fact that Trump has turned immigration into such a partisan issue has likely increased support for immigrants among many Americans." On the whole, people’s attitudes have become more supportive of immigration," Gadarian says.

Zoli op-ed on Taliban peace talks published in Newsday

Corri Zoli, research assistant professor of political science, provides commentary on the US-Taliban peace negotiations in her article titled "Second thoughts about Taliban peace talks," published in Newsday.

Taylor weighs in on recent Moscow elections in Vox article

"The authorities made a calculation back in the summer: that it was better to keep the actual opposition candidates...off the ballot and take the protests over the summer, than it would be to steal the elections in September and face protests over that," says Professor Brian Taylor. "And they may have calculated right on this." Taylor was interviewed for the Vox article "Moscow’s elections dealt a blow to Putin’s party. But it’s complicated."

Jackson featured in Medium article on imposter syndrome

Jenn Jackson, assistant professor of political science, was featured in the Medium article "For Women of Color, Imposter Syndrome Begins in the Classroom." "By labeling every single moment of self-doubt expressed by women, primarily those of color, as impostor syndrome, we flatten the complexities and pervasiveness of White Supremacy and patriarchy," Jackson writes.

Elizabeth Cohen evaluates the concept of citizenship in new book

The Maxwell School is proud to announce the publication of Citizenship, a new book by Elizabeth F. Cohen and Maxwell alumnus Cyril Ghosh ’05 MA (PSc)/’08 PhD (PSc), associate professor of political science at Wagner College. Citizenship is an introduction to the concept of citizenship and an evaluation of the idea’s continuing relevance in the 21st century.

Reeher comments on Trump's approach to immigration in The Hill

Grant Reeher was interviewed for The Hill article "The Memo: Dangers loom for Trump on immigration." "His supporters value his consistency but the overall numbers don’t bode terribly well," says Reeher. Trump’s rhetoric, Reeher adds, "just takes all the things that people criticize him for and puts it right there in their face."

Maxwell announces promotions, tenure for six faculty

The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is pleased to announce the promotion of six distinguished individuals from Geography, Public Administration and International Affairs, Political Science, and Sociology.

Maxwell Professor Emeritus G. Matthew Bonham remembered

G. Matthew Bonham, professor emeritus of political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, died on Aug. 14. Bonham taught at Syracuse University for 25 years and was instrumental to the creation and development of the International Relations Program as a separate interdisciplinary endeavor.

McDowell op-ed on Lagarde's tenure as IMF director published in WPR

In his latest piece for World Politics Review titled "Lagarde Leaves the IMF Better Off, but New Troubles Loom for Her Successor," Daniel McDowell surveys the accomplishments (and controversies) of Christine Lagarde's tenure as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and looks ahead to the challenges that will face her successor.

White book examines America’s participation in WWII, racial politics

World War II and American Racial Politics: Public Opinion, the Presidency, and Civil Rights Advocacy, a new book by Steven White, assistant professor of political science at the Maxwell School, was published on August 15 by Cambridge University Press.

Taylor comments on the Moscow pro-democracy protests in Vox article

Professor Brian Taylor was interviewed for the Vox article "The pro-democracy protests rocking Moscow, explained." "We do seem to be seeing a ramping up in tension around this rather than a successful repression of protest on the part of authorities so far," says Taylor.

Zoli comments on US travel warnings in WZTV article

Corri Zoli was interviewed for the WZTV article "Japan joins list of countries warning of U.S. travel, Venezuela lists Tennessee city." "There is likely a political message embedded in especially Venezuela’s travel alert in light of President Trump’s announcement on Monday of expanding US sanctions, which will freeze all Venezuelan government assets and ban all Americans from doing business with Maduro's administration," says Zoli.

Reeher weighs in on Obama's criticism of Trump in The Hill

"Obama can say things that will be heard differently from the Democratic candidates for president," says Professor Grant Reeher. "He has the role of former president and that de facto gives you a statesmanlike role. And he fills that role in the way he expresses himself." Reeher was interviewed for The Hill article "The Memo: Obama throws down challenge to Trump."

Thompson quoted in NY Times article about nuns and slavery

"A lot of communities now are very committed to dealing with issues of racism, but the fact is their own history is problematic," says Margaret Susan Thompson."They’re beginning to confront their own racism, and their own complicity in the racism of the past," she says, "but it’s a very long road." Thompson was interviewed for the New York Times article "The Nuns Who Bought and Sold Human Beings."

Reeher comments on Trump's efforts to help A$AP Rocky in USA Today

Grant Reeher was interviewed for the USA Today article "Trump and Sweden don't see eye to eye – on anything." In July, President Trump offered to come to the aid of A$AP Rocky, an American rapper who has been charged with assault in Stockholm, Sweden. "We're headed into a campaign year, and it may be no coincidence that the person Trump is advocating for is a popular African-American rapper," says Reeher.

Student veterans prepare for success at Warrior-Scholar Project

Last week, for the fifth year in a row, Syracuse University hosted the esteemed Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP), a no-cost academic boot camp for first-year student veterans. WSP at Syracuse University is a collaborative effort of the OVMA and the College of Arts and Sciences. Several Maxwell School faculty members taught during this year's program.

Thompson speaks with ABC radio about presidential racial rhetoric

In the wake of President Trump's recent tweets about four Democratic congresswomen of color, Margaret Susan Thompson was interviewed on ABC Radio about the history of the use of racist language by US presidents. According to Thompson, coded racial language began to be used as a political strategy under President Richard Nixon.

Maxwell alums featured in WSYR-TV series Victory Over Violence

Abdul Saboor '18 BA (PSc)/’19 EMPA/CAS Conflict Resolution, was recently featured in a story by WSYR-TV as part of a series called “Victory Over Violence.” Abdul is Community Navigator at Center for New Americans. The story also includes Olive Sephuma ’12 EMPA, who is the center’s director. This refugee resettlement agency in Syracuse is part of Interfaith Works of CNY.

Zoli discusses economic warfare with Iran in WAER article

"In a war, you can hurt certain areas of a country, but you usually don't grenade the entire economy. Whereas with economic warfare, you truly can," says Corri Zoli, director of research in the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism. She was interviewed for the WAER article "SU National Security Expert: "Economic Warfare" With Iran, Others Might Achieve Results."

Reeher quoted in Press-Republican article on NY, Trump's tax returns

"This represents a new escalation in the level of political polarization that we're seeing," with states taking an active role in differing with the Trump administration, said Professor Grant Reeher. He was interviewed for the Press-Republican article "New York clears way for access to Trump's state tax records."

Boroujerdi quoted in National Interest article on Iran's IRGC

"Before the war the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] militiamen were nothing more than bodyguards to the clerics," says Professor Mehrzad Boroujerdi. "Their performance in the war gave them a seat at the proverbial power table." Boroujerdi was interviewed for the National Interest article "Iran's Most Powerful Weapon Against America: Meet the IRGC."

Reeher comments on Jordan's proposed gun legislation in Jerusalem Post

Grant Reeher was interviewed for the Jerusalem Post article "Jordan Pushes Bill to Limit Firearm Ownership." "It does seem that the media coverage of the mass shootings in the US does inform some of the thinking and the responses of leaders elsewhere when they have a mass shooting incident in their own country," Reeher said. They do not want to become "like the US" in this regard.

Taylor discusses Putinism on CNAS podcast

Brian Taylor, author of The Code of Putinism (Oxford University Press, 2018), was a guest on the Center for a New American Security podcast Brussels Sprouts. Taylor says that Putinism is less an ideology than a code for staying in Vladimir Putin’s good graces, administering authority over the largest country on earth, and maintaining a grip on power in a nation whose economy continues to stagnate.

Reeher weighs in on Gillibrand's legislative victories in PolitiFact

Grant Reeher was interviewed for the PolitiFact article "Gillibrand claims legislative victories in Trump era." According to Reeher, it can be difficult to measure how much a lawmaker worked behind the scenes to advance legislation, because the paper trail isn’t always clear.

Boroujerdi op-ed on US-Iran tensions published in US News

In his article titled "The U.S. and Iran Are Stirring a Recipe for Conflict," published in U.S. News & World Report, Professor Mehrzad Boroujerdi illustrates Iran’s point of view concerning the escalating tension with the U.S. "If the White House game plan was based on the premise that imposing more robust sanctions would cause a popular uprising by the Iranian people to bring down the regime, it badly miscalculated," writes Boroujerdi.

Boroujerdi weighs in on US-Iran tensions in Washington Times

"The Iranians do have an appetite for negotiating, but I think what is holding things up right now—and that’s the part that the Trump administration perhaps is not really comprehending—is they have to save face," says Mehrzad Boroujerdi. He was interviewed for the Washington Times article "Mike Pompeo softens U.S. rhetoric on Iran: 'Trump does not want war'."

Boroujerdi discusses Japanese PM's visit to Iran in ThinkProgress

Mehrzad Boroujerdi was interviewed for the ThinkProgress article "Japanese PM’s visit to Iran might cool tensions between Tehran and Washington." According to Boroujerdi, the meeting between the Japanese prime minister and Iran essentially constitutes indirect talks between Iran and the United States. "That is the main reason for the trip regardless of what each side says," Borourjerdi said.

Reeher weighs in on possible 4th term for Governor Cuomo in Daily Star

Grant Reeher was interviewed for the Daily Star article "Poll shows opposition to 4th term for Cuomo." Governor Cuomo could be facing "the fatigue factor," with more voters now looking to "change the dialogue and change the players" at the statehouse, says Reeher. "Voters develop sets of norms and expectations about the length of term in office and those can be very powerful."

Thorson discusses belief echoes on WCNY's Capitol Pressroom

In the era of fake news, why do people hold onto beliefs that have been proven false? New research by Emily Thorson, assistant professor of political science, shines a light on these “belief echoes” and how they can be broken. She recently discussed the topic on WCNY's Capitol Pressroom.

Reeher comments on upcoming Democratic debates in The Hill

"It sets up an incentive for candidates to get some attention by throwing out something that will get the media’s attention,” Grant Reeher says about the crowded Democratic field. "Definitely, they are all going to have arrows in their quiver." Reeher was interviewed for The Hill article "The Memo: 2020 Democrats jockey for position as reckoning looms."

Reeher comments on crowded Democratic 2020 debate stage in TIME

"With 10 people on a stage, you can’t really do much that’s meaningful," says Professor Grant Reeher. "They may end up competing with each other on … who has the best zinger." Reeher was interviewed for the TIME article "How the 2016 Debates Are Still Haunting Democrats."

Research by Emily Thorson cited in Forbes article on misinformation

Emily Thorson's research on "belief echoes," which she defines as "effects on attitudes that persist even when you know that a piece of information is false," was featured in the Forbes article "Science Shows How the Los Angeles Lakers Should Be Responding to Magic Johnson's Comments."

Reeher weighs in on Pelosi's comments about Trump in The Hill

"I don’t think this kind of rhetoric is helping," says Grant Reeher. "If you think the Democrats’ chances are better with a more moderate centrist candidate, just say that. Instead, everything is about Trump." Reeher was interviewed for The Hill article "The Memo: Pelosi's 'tone-deaf' remarks raise ire of Team Trump."

Drew Kinney '18 PhD (PSc) discusses crisis in Venezuela in Wash Post

"What the history of coups in the Middle East tells us about Venezuela," written by Drew Kinney '14 MA/'19 PhD (PSc), was published in the Washington Post. Kinney examines how coup attempts in the Middle East offer some clues — and warnings on how the crisis in Venezuela could end.

Reeher discusses Trump, 2020 election, border crisis in The Hill

Grant Reeher was interviewed for The Hill article "The Memo: Could deepening border crisis help Trump?" "There are things that candidates and office-holders are particularly known for and they stake their identities on," says Reeher. "He [Trump] is clearly one of them, on this issue."

Reeher weighs in on state abortion laws in TIME

Grant Reeher was interviewed for the TIME article "Trump Keeps Talking About Second-Trimester Abortions. Here's What He Gets Wrong." Reeher says some of the more restrictive abortion measures appear to be designed to be tested in courts, "especially in the newly composed Supreme Court."

Maxwell students named 2019-20 Remembrance Scholars

Syracuse University’s Remembrance Scholar Selection Committee has chosen the 35 students who will be the 2019-20 Remembrance Scholars. The scholarships were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the 35 students who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

Carriere article on North Korea-Russia summit published in The Hill

"If a summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin takes place before the end of April, it may well be construed as Kim’s inaugural diplomatic move to launch this 'new way' to pursue the strategic objectives he failed to achieve in Hanoi," writes Fred Carriere. His article, "What a Putin-Kim summit means for North Korean peace talks," was published in The Hill.

Elise Roberts awarded grant from the Smith Richardson Foundation

Elise Roberts, a PhD candidate in political science, received a research grant from the Smith Richardson Foundation. The grant’s funds will go towards supporting Roberts’s dissertation research, “Aiding War or Developing Peace? International Aid and the Breakdown of Post-Conflict Peace,” which examines the effect of foreign aid in post-conflict states and the processes of conflict relapse.

Taylor weighs in on Russia's reaction to Ukraine election in Newsweek

Brian Taylor, professor and chair of political science, was interviewed for the Newsweek article "Ukraine's New Comedian President was 'Obvious' Choice, Says Russia." Taylor believes the situation between the two countries will not change significantly with Zelensky’s election. "I think that Russia will probably wait and see for a while to see what Zelensky does," says Taylor.

Supreme Court scholar Thomas Keck is a 2019 Carnegie Fellow

Thomas M. Keck, professor of political science and the Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics at Maxwell, has been named a 2019 Andrew Carnegie Fellow. The award is for a period of up to two years, and its anticipated result is a book or major study. Keck’s Carnegie-funded project is titled “Free Expression and Judicial Power.”

Reeher comments on Assange extradition, Democrats in Boston Herald

Grant Reeher was interviewed for the Boston Herald article "Democrats split on Wikileaks chief Julian Assange following arrest in England." "The longer the Democrats stay on this, the more it’s helping the president," says Reeher.

Thorson weighs in on study of uncivil online discourse in The Atlantic

Emily Thorson was interviewed for The Atlantic article "The New Science of How to Argue—Constructively." "I’d argue that much of the dysfunction we see in online interactions is just a symptom of much larger and older social problems, including but not limited to racism and misogyny," says Thorson. "Our time would be better spent addressing those issues."

Reeher speaks with TIME about John Delaney's policy suggestions

Grant Reeher was interviewed for the TIME article "This Presidential Candidate Wants to Debate Congress Four Times A Year." "Without a more general change in our political culture, it might make things worse," Reeher says. "... Each of them would end up playing to their bases, I would fear."

Reeher weighs in on in-fighting among NYS Democrats in Daily Star

Grant Reeher was interviewed for the Daily Star article "Albany Notebook: Tensions simmer in New York's ruling party." Reeher says the sharp elbows being tossed in Albany may reflect how the confrontational tactics employed by President Donald Trump in dealing with opponents has seeped into New York politics.

Thorson discusses how partisanship affects belief of facts with PBS

Emily Thorson was interviewed for the PBS NewsHour article "You may not believe the Mueller report no matter what it says." According to Thorson, negative misinformation about a politician of an opposing party is hard to shake, even after people learn that the original story was false. She describes these lingering doubts as "belief echoes" — because the misinformation keeps coming to push back against the truth.

Reeher weighs in on Elizabeth Warren's campaign strategy in TIME

Unlike other candidates, Senator Elizabeth Warren is putting out detailed policy plans now instead of waiting for the presidential primary to unfold. "When you put out things that people can get behind, you also put out things that people can criticize," says Grant Reeher. Read more in the TIME article "Elizabeth Warren Bucks the Trend by Running on Ideas."

Keck discusses the history of packing the Supreme Court on C-SPAN

Thomas Keck, Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics, spoke to C-SPAN about the history of efforts to pack the Supreme Court. "The size of the court is not specified in the constitution and it's changed multiple times …. in the first 100 years it was a regular occurrence for Congress to change the size of the Supreme Court," says Keck.

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