Political Science News

Reeher comments on 2020 NY presidential primary in Daily Star

Professor Grant Reeher was interviewed for the Daily Star article "Democrats take sides as New York primary looms." Reeher likens the 2020 Democratic primary to the 2016 GOP primary when several rivals of then-candidate Donald Trump kept their campaigns alive for as long as possible in hopes of stopping the eventual nominee's rise.

Brown and Hermann publish a study on transnational crime

In their new book, Transnational Crime and Black Spots: Rethinking Sovereignty and the Global Economy, published by Palgrave MacMillan, Maxwell School faculty members Stuart Brown and Margaret Hermann examine 80 safe havens across the globe from which transnational criminal, insurgent, and terrorist organizations operate — areas they term “black spots.”

Elizabeth Cohen discusses new book on Blog Talk Radio

Elizabeth Cohen was recently a guest on Blog Talk Radio to discuss her new book, Illegal: How America's Lawless Immigration Regime Threatens Us All. Cohen provides the full scope of the issue starting in the days just after 9/11, examining how the panic of the time gave way to the creation of a complex and unmonitored infrastructure that the Trump administration has unleashed without recourse.

Reeher discusses the New Hampshire primary in the Hill

The result will affect "momentum and perceptions of momentum," says Professor Grant Reeher. "The general phenomenon is one where primary voters are wanting to make decisions among the candidates that are the viable ones." Reeher was interviewed for the Hill article "The Memo: New Hampshire spells danger for struggling candidates."

Taylor discusses Putin and Russia's future on BYUradio

Russian President Vladimir Putin has four years left in office before term limits will force him to leave the role. But he’s already begun maneuvering to rewrite the rules so he can remain Russia’s most powerful leader. Brian Taylor, author of The Code of Putinism, recently spoke with BYUradio about why the Russian leader behaves as he does and what that’s meant for Russia during his 20 years in power.

Jolly study on representation gaps in European politics published

"Multidimensional incongruence, political disaffection, and support for anti-establishment parties," co-authored by Seth Jolly, was published in the Journal of European Public Policy. The authors found that multidimensional incongruence is associated with disaffection at the national and European level, and that disaffected mainstream party voters are in turn more likely to consider voting for anti-establishment challenger parties.

Reeher quoted in Modern Healthcare article on political contributions

"One of the main lenses to look at political contributions is as investments. That often leads to big investors hedging their bets, which they often do," says Professor Grant Reeher. He was interviewed for the Modern Healthcare article "Hospital, insurance execs prefer moderate Dems in early campaign giving."

Jackson paper on black women’s self-making published in Public Culture

"Private Selves as Public Property: Black Women’s Self-Making in the Contemporary Moment," written by Jenn Jackson, was published in Public Culture. Jackson draws on the autobiographical works of Black enslaved, postbellum, queer, and transgender contemporaries to show how Black women have resisted the fungibility of their bodies through processes of self-formation and self-reclamation.

Cohen critiques U.S. immigration enforcement agencies in new book

Elizabeth F. Cohen, professor of political science, has written Illegal: How America’s Lawless Immigration Regime Threatens Us All, recently published by Basic Books. In the book, Cohen assesses a long history of nativism and anti-immigrant antagonism that she describes as driving forces in U.S. immigration policy, and which began to reemerge during the 1980s.

Reeher quoted in Daily Star story on adding national motto to NYS flag

In his recent State of the State speech, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed adding the national motto, "e pluribus unum," to New York's state flag. Professor Grant Reeher says the proposal "appears to be driven by a desire to react to the president." He was interviewed for the Daily Star article "Cuomo proposes adding national motto to state flag."

Taylor quoted in Wash Post article on Putin's post-presidency plans

"Since Putin cannot remain as president after 2024 under the current rules, he needs to change the rules. This will potentially allow him to remain the dominant political actor even if he leaves the presidency," says Professor Brian Taylor. He was interviewed for the Washington Post article "Putin’s plans post-presidency could see him wielding influence for life."

Reeher weighs in on Sanders-Warren fight in the Hill

"I don’t think the conflict between Warren and Sanders will help Biden, at least of the face of it," says Professor Grant Reeher. "The two of them are struggling for the same general bloc of Democratic voters, and Biden is offering an alternative to both of them..." Reeher was interviewed for the Hill article "Biden could be winner in Warren-Sanders fight."

Keck explains role of chief justice in impeachment trial in Al Jazeera

"Impeachment of a US president is an unusual circumstance," says Professor Tom Keck. "(The chief justice) is there to oversee a trial, which is something that should be well within his comfort zone. But it's a trial conducted by elected partisan officials. It's not a court, the US Senate." Keck was interviewed for the Al Jazeera article "US impeachment trial: What role will Chief Justice Roberts play?"

Taylor weighs in on Putin's constitutional reforms in Vox article

"He’s leaving the presidency, but he’s almost certainly going to take some other position and try and stay on," Professor Brian Taylor says of Putin. "But we still don’t know what this position is, or when this is going to happen." Taylor was interviewed for the Vox article "The Russian government’s dramatic shake-up, briefly explained."

Maxwell faculty co-edit new book on intractable conflicts

Three Maxwell faculty members, Miriam Elman, Catherine Gerard, and Louis Kriesberg, and their colleague Galia Golan at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, have co-edited Overcoming Intractable Conflicts: New Approaches to Constructive Transformations, recently published by Rowman & Littlefield.

Reeher speaks to US News about 2020 elections in NY State

Professor Grant Reeher was interviewed for the U.S. News & World Report article "Capitol Watch: Democrats Hope to Keep New York Blue in 2020." "It solidifes their majority, and puts in place this idea that New York is just blue, full stop," says Reeher. "And it seems like it's going to be really tough for Republicans to make a real run at the governor's seat, given what we've seen in recent elections."

Zoli speaks to local media about the death of Qassam Soleimani

According to Corri Zoli, research assistant professor of political science and counterterrorism expert, the death of Soleimani is perhaps more significant than the targeting of bin Laden and al Baghdadi. While those were household names, Zoli says Soleimani had even greater military reach throughout the region. Zoli was interviewed by several local media outlets regarding the death of Qassam Soleimani.

Reeher op-ed on new VPPCE program published in USA Today

"What immediately struck me and stayed with me throughout the program was the genuine support the veterans offered each other, despite their political differences," says Professor Grant Reeher. His article, "How do we reduce political polarization? America's veterans can show us the way," was published in USA Today.

Griffiths article on secession movements published in Washington Post

"60 or so secessionist movements around the world want independence in 2020. Guess which one might succeed," written by Ryan Griffiths, was published in the Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog. Griffiths examines how Bougainville has gotten so far in its movement to gain independence when so many other aspiring nations have failed. He also discusses what's next for Bougainville, and what you need to know about the road to independence.

Reeher comments on impeachment vote in Democrat & Chronicle

"The fact that this in the end became such a strict party line vote, I think it’s going to reinforce the divisions that already exist," says Professor Grant Reeher. He was interviewed for the Democrat & Chronicle article "Impeachment vote stirs dissension for NY House Democrats in swing districts."

McDowell examines affect of financial sanctions on US dollar in WPR

In his piece titled "How ‘Sanctions Overreach’ Could Undermine the U.S. Dollar’s Dominance," Daniel McDowell takes a look at how US financial sanctions affect the appeal of the US dollar as an international currency, how affected countries are looking for ways to "de-dollarize," and why finding those strategies will be difficult. The article was published in World Politics Review.

Morgan comments on US-UK relations in USA Today

How would UK-US relations have differed if left-wing politician Jeremy Corbyn won Britain's election? "I can't imagine them having a civil conversation," Glyn Morgan, associate professor of political science, told USA Today. "Their world views are so diametrically opposed. I doubt Trump has even ever met anyone like Corbyn."

Reeher quoted in USA Today article on recent Pensacola shooting

Professor Grant Reeher was interviewed for the USA Today article "'A real security problem': Pensacola shooting exposes exception in US gun policy that leaves Americans vulnerable." "There are AR-platform guns that shoot legal hunting rounds, from a .308 on down. I don’t know what that would do if we’re thinking of the lethality it provides somebody," said Reeher.

Elizabeth Cohen cited in NY Mag article on ICE, McKinsey & Company

A passage from Elizabeth Cohen’s forthcoming book, Illegal: How America's Lawless Immigration Regime Threatens Us All, was cited in the New York Magazine article "ICE Didn’t Need McKinsey’s Help to Abuse Detainees." Cohen reveals that abusive approaches were also in place during both the Clinton and Obama administrations, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection obstacles.

Gueorguiev article on China, dictatorship published in Washington Post

Earlier this fall, Mike Bloomberg said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is “not a dictator,” and that the long-ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) "listens to the public." Dimitar Gueorguiev weighs in on Bloomberg's comments and explains why China is still a dictatorship in his article "Mike Bloomberg said China isn’t a dictatorship. Is he right?," published in the Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog.

Reeher comments on the political impact of impeachment in the Hill

"On paper, you would say it has to hurt him [Trump] and there are public opinion data that back that up," says Professor Grant Reeher. "But there are different ways this might be spun that we can’t predict right now. It could be that this mobilizes a set of voters in a way that helps Trump." Reeher was interviewed for the Hill article "The Memo: Will impeachment hurt Democrats or Trump?"

McDowell discusses history of the Washington Consensus on WPR podcast

Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science, was a guest on World Politics Review's latest Trend Lines podcast where he discussed the history of the Washington Consensus and why it continues to spark controversy around the world 30 years after the term was coined.

Jackson shares her perspective on racial acts on campus in Wash Post

"These events force us to confront the thin line between our beliefs and our practices," writes Jenn Jackson, assistant professor of political science. Her article, "I teach at Syracuse University. Racist acts on campus have left me scared, tired and more motivated than ever," was published in the Lily, a publication of the Washington Post.

Jackson talks about fighting bigotry during the holidays in Teen Vogue

In her article titled "It's Your Responsibility to Challenge Bigoted Relatives Over the Holidays," published in Teen Vogue, Jenn Jackson explains why it's important to fight bigotry. "The issue of racism is tangled up with a host of other issues, including gender and sexuality, class, and education," writes Jackson. "Starting the conversation can seem daunting, but it can also be a gateway to a host of other meaningful interactions about systemic prejudices and inequality."

Keck weighs in on the future of American democracy in the NY Times

Tom Keck was interviewed for the New York Times article "The Democracy Doomsayers Consider 2020." Keck said drastic measures might be needed such as term limits for new justices and keeping open the possibility of expanding the [Supreme] court’s size. "It may be our least-bad option in restoring the court’s role as a democratic guardrail," said Keck.

Thorson quoted in CT Mirror article on Connecticut's tax myth

"With policy perceptions, it’s not about what a candidate did or didn’t do," says Emily Thorson, assistant professor of political science. "Misconceptions about a particular policy, these are pretty common." Thorson was interviewed for the CT Mirror article "Debunking Connecticut’s enduring tax myth."

Abdelaaty paper on refugees, guesthood in Turkey published in JRS

"The refusal to designate certain populations as asylum seekers or refugees enables Turkey to opt in or out of what might otherwise appear to be generally applicable, national-level policies," writes Lamis Abdelaaty, assistant professor of political science. Her article, "Refugees and Guesthood in Turkey," was published in the Journal of Refugee Studies.

Veterans Week 2019 Stories of Service, EMPA student Dan Cordial

For U.S Army veteran Daniel Cordial, as he stepped foot onto the Syracuse University campus, he was taking advantage of a second chance at working towards the life he wanted. Cordial graduated with a degree in political science in 2018 and was accepted to the Executive Master’s in Public Administration program at the Maxwell School.

Jackson weighs in on women's bodily autonomy in Washington Post

Jenn Jackson was interviewed for the Washington Post article "Rapper T.I. says he takes his teen to the gynecologist to confirm her hymen is ‘still intact’." "[Harris] is an adult...so why is he still invested in what she does with her body?" says Jackson. "These are the types of ways young girls are socialized to understand their bodies do not belong to them, that they are a societal possession."

Elliot J. Stamler ’60 makes legacy gift to support academic excellence

Elliot J. Stamler ’60 BA (PSc) has named the University as a beneficiary of a portion of his estate, totaling $5,480,000, to be directed to multiple recipients on campus to support academic and research excellence. His newly announced bequest reflects his own loyalty to his undergraduate professors and his love for the University.

Gadarian discusses voter turnout, local elections on WAER

Central New Yorkers face an election in November with dozens of local offices on the ballot for positions that decide things such as tax rates, education policy, and district lines. But voter turnout in elections with primarily local races has been historically low. Shana Gadarian joined WAER's Syracuse Speaks to discuss the importance of local elections and voter engagement.

Weschle paper on revolving door employment published in PSRM

"Campaign finance legislation and the supply-side of the revolving door," written by Simon Weschle, was published in Political Science Research and Methods. Weschle argues that one important institutional factor that shapes politicians' willingness to leave office for a private sector job is campaign finance legislation.

Reeher weighs in on the race for Onondaga County executive in Politico

Tony Malavenda has launched an aggressive campaign to unseat incumbent Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, which Grant Reeher says could backfire on him. Criticisms of pay raises and the compensation paid to county officials have been raised in previous elections and haven't gained much traction, Reeher says. He was interviewed for the Politico article "A rare brawl breaks out in race for Onondaga County executive."

Bybee speaks to CNY Central about the rise of political incivility

Some acrimony is typical, particularly in an election year, when politicians will use "tactical or strategic incivility" to attract attention or publicity, explains Keith Bybee. "The bigger concern is whether there's some kind of deeper problem here and whether we are...at the threshold of civil war," he says. Bybee was interviewed for the CNY Central article "The 2020 election could solidify a new standard of political incivility."

White discusses his recent book on WWII and racial politics on NBN

Steven White spoke with the New Books Network about his recently published book World War II and American Racial Politics: Public Opinion, the Presidency, and Civil Rights Advocacy (Cambridge University Press, 2019). White offers an extensive analysis of rarely used survey data and archival evidence to assess white racial attitudes and the White House response to civil rights.

Reeher weighs in on Trump's removal of US troops in Syria in the Hill

Grant Reeher was quoted in the Hill article "The Memo: Trump's sea of troubles deepens." "Even among his customary allies and supporters, there has been pretty blunt criticism, not only of the policy choice but of the way it was done and the way it is continuing to be done," says Reeher of the troop withdrawal in Syria.

Elizabeth Cohen discusses her book Citizenship on New Books Network

Elizabeth Cohen spoke with the New Books Network about her recently published book Citizenship (Polity Books, 2019), co-authored with Cyril Ghosh. The book takes the reader through the authors' approaches to the concept of citizenship and begins by highlighting how it is not always or often consistently applied and understood.

Thompson examines the meaning of success in religious life in GSR

"So as we look ahead to where religious life is going," writes Margaret Susan Thompson, "can we overcome an unfortunate and perhaps even unconscious obsession with size and numbers and instead focus on the inspiration that should be central to our understanding of "success," even — or especially — in religious life?" Thompson's article, "'Success' in religious life: What is it?," was published in Global Sisters Report.

Jackson discusses forgiveness after violence on WNYC's The Takeaway

"The expectations have remained relatively rigid," says Jenn Jackson. "What's happening, at least in my research, is that young people have been organizing for a great deal of time. And what they've been saying is that, you know, enough is enough." Jackson was interviewed on WNYC's The Takeaway for the segment titled "The Expectations of Forgiveness from Black Americans in the Aftermath of Violence."

Gadarian speaks to Spectrum News about the impeachment inquiry

"This is bigger than a partisan fight," says Shana Gadarian, associate professor of political science. "This is really about the nature of what is the presidency and what can it be used for." Gadarian was interviewed for the Spectrum News segment "Misso, Balter See Impeachment As Important, But Not Focus of Campaigns."

Reeher quoted in Globe and Mail article on impeachment

Grant Reeher was interviewed for the Globe and Mail article "The Democrats’ impeachment play could backfire." Reeher says the whistle-blower revelations aren’t really telling people anything they didn’t already know about Mr. Trump. "How many times,” Reeher says, "can you regenerate the outrage?"

Reeher quoted in The Hill article on impeachment, polarization

"One of the risks for Democrats in 2020 — especially at the presidential level — is that the impeachment process will suck up all the oxygen that otherwise might have been available to make the affirmative case for election," says Professor Grant Reeher. He was interviewed for The Hill article "The Memo: Will impeachment create an even more polarized nation?"

Faricy reviews the impeachment inquiry on CNY Central

"It’s damning by any account just for the mere fact that he asked a foreign leader to investigate private citizens for potential personal political gain is egregious," says Chris Faricy. "The question, what else is out there that we are not aware of, either with the Ukranian President or even other countries and leaders." Watch the full interview via the CNY Central website.

Reeher discusses NY Dems, support for impeachment in Daily Star

Whether Democrats favor impeachment or are resisting it is now a "litmus test" within the party, says Professor Grant Reeher. "The more moderate Democrats are recalculating, thinking they have to get on board with this or face primaries" from left-leaning insurgents. Reeher was interviewed for the Daily Star article "Most N.Y. Dems back push to impeach Trump over Ukraine call."

PSc PhD students publish op-ed on the Brexit battle in Washington Post

Claire Sigsworth and Nathan Carrington, PhD students in political science, used survey research to analyze Brexit and its impact on the UK Supreme Court. Their article, titled "The Brexit battle has reached the U.K. Supreme Court. Here’s what you need to know," was published in the Washington Post. Their data suggest the overall legitimacy of Britain’s highest court will remain intact.

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