Failure. Russia Under Putin
Brian Taylor, professor of political science, contributed a chapter to the recently published book Failure. Russia Under Putin (Bloomsbury, 2025). He is one of multiple authors who share their views on Russia’s failures under the leadership of Vladimir Putin.
See related: International Affairs, Russia, United States
Taylor Speaks With CBS News About Poland Shooting Down Russian Drones in Its Airspace
“Poland is a NATO member state. The United States is a member of this alliance and Poland is asking for consultations among the alliance. Several other countries sent aircraft to help down some of the drones. So this is at least a potential escalation here in the war beyond the Russia-Ukraine war,” says Brian Taylor, professor of politcal science.
See related: Conflict, Europe, Government, International Affairs, NATO, Russia, Ukraine
Climate-Induced Redistribution of People Is Not Inevitable
The article, co-authored by Professor of Geography and the Environment Farhana Sultana, was published in Environmental Research Letters.
See related: Climate Change, International Affairs, Migration
Sultana Shares Book Review in Nature's Reading List for Scientists
“That a Muslim woman in a colonized country conceived of green innovation, universal education and social equity as forms of justice more than a century ago is deeply inspiring, ” writes Farhana Sultana, professor of geography and the environment, about Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain's Sultana's Dream (1905).
See related: Climate Change, Gender and Sex, India
Cleary Weighs In on Trump’s Deployment of Troops Domestically in HuffPost Article
“It is something that is done in other democracies when it really, really has to be done. It’s never ideal, and it should only be done in the U.S. or in any other democracy when it’s a true emergency, when there’s no other solution, and it should always be temporary,” says Matt Cleary, associate professor of political science.
See related: Conflict, Federal, U.S. National Security, United States
Bosnian Fluxes, Belonging, Caring, and Reckoning in a Post-Cold War Semiperiphery
Azra Hromadžić, professor and undergraduate director for anthropology, has contributed to a recently published book, Bosnian Fluxes: Belonging, Caring, and Reckoning in a Post-Cold War Semiperiphery (Routledge, 2025).
See related: Europe
Patel Quoted in ClearanceJobs Article on Office of the Director of National Intelligence Staff Cuts
“There have also been arguments that DNI (Director of National Intelligence) has grown beyond its original intent. There is always a process of streamlining and covering the priorities effectively, but this doesn’t seem to be an effective way to do it,” says Kristen Patel, Donald P. and Margaret Curry Gregg Professor of Practice in Korean and East Asian Affairs.
See related: Federal, Labor, United States
Taylor Speaks With CBS News, LiveNOW from FOX About Putin, Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine
“He [Putin] continues to launch missle and drone attacks, and military attacks continue along the front line. So Putin is really betting on a military solution, not a political one, despite all of the talks that took place over the last week,” says Brian Taylor, director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs.
See related: Conflict, Government, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
Maxwell School Announces Faculty Promotions for 2025-26
See related: Promotions & Appointments
New $1M Gift to Build Bridges and Create Global Map to Enhance Democracies
See related: Giving
Taylor Weighs In on the Presidential Summit Between Russa and the US in Los Angeles Times Article
“This will be the first U.S.-Russia summit brought about by sheer ignorance and incompetence: The U.S. president and his chosen envoy mistook a Russian demand for a concession,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science and director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs.
See related: Conflict, Federal, Foreign Policy, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine, United States
The Last Door: A History of Torture in Mexico's War against Subversives
Gladys McCormick, associate dean and professor of history, has written a new book, The Last Door: A History of Torture in Mexico's War against Subversives (University of California Press, 2025). The book explores how the Mexican government increasingly used torture to suppress dissent as guerrilla movements spread across Mexico in the 1970s.
See related: Crime & Violence, Federal, International Affairs, Latin America & the Caribbean
Farhana Sultana Organizes DC Event Commemorating Bangladesh’s July Revolution
A diverse audience gathered in the U.S. Capitol for a series of remarks and panel discussions on the future of Bangladesh and its people.
See related: Conflict, Government, International Affairs, South Asia
Before Colonization: Non-Western States and Systems in the Nineteenth Century
Ryan Griffiths, professor of political science, has co-written a new book, Before Colonization: Non-Western States and Systems in the Nineteenth Century (Columbia University Press, 2025). The book, written with Charles R. Butcher, challenges the Eurocentric view of the world by offering a comparative analysis of non-Western state systems in the 19th century, supported by an original dataset.
See related: Government, Political Parties, United States
Taylor Weighs In on Trump’s Approach to Aiding Ukraine in Newsweek Article
“The good news for Ukraine is that...Trump has finally figured out that Putin is the main obstacle to peace,” says Brian Taylor, director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs.
See related: Federal, International Affairs, U.S. Foreign Policy, Ukraine, United States
Sultana Article on Democracy in Bangladesh, Anniversary of July Revolution Published on Counterpoint
“One year after the July Revolution, the memory of brave young lives lost continues to light the path toward a just, democratic, and united Bangladesh,” says Farhana Sultana, professor of geography and the environment.
See related: Conflict, Government, International Affairs, South Asia
Robert Rubinstein Honored With 2025 Wasserstrom Prize for Graduate Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member who has an important impact on students and a special interest in the graduate seminar.
See related: Awards & Honors
Four Maxwell Professors Named O’Hanley Faculty Scholars
Brian Brege, Sarah Hamersma, Yüksel Sezgin and Ying Shi will hold the title for three years.
See related: Awards & Honors, Giving, Promotions & Appointments
Taylor Talks to AP About CIA Report Criticizing Investigation of Russia’s Support for Trump in 2016
“This report doesn’t change any of the underlying evidence—in fact it doesn’t even address any of that evidence,” says Brian Taylor, director the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs. Taylor suggests the report may have been intended to reinforce Trump’s claims that investigations into his ties to Russia are part of a Democratic hoax.
See related: Federal, International Affairs, Political Parties, Russia, U.S. Elections, United States
It's Not the Economy: The Effect of Framing Arguments on Attitudes Toward Refugees
The article, co-authored by Lamis Abdelaaty, associate professor of political science, was published in International Migration Review.
See related: Economic Policy, Human Rights, International Affairs, Law, Political Parties, Refugees, United States
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Managing Change at the Grass Roots of the Middle East: A Panel Discussion with the Near East Foundation
220 Eggers Hall, Strasser Legacy Room
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Panelists will discuss NEF’s work on the ground with refugee, displaced, and other conflict-affected populations to develop sustainable solutions to local development challenges, and create opportunities from within. Moderated by Peter Castro, Associate Professor, Anthropology and Robert D. McClure Professor of Teaching Excellence.
Panel Members are:
Dr. Charles Benjamin / PRESIDENT: Dr. Benjamin has over twenty-five years of experience in international development, with extensive experience in community development and natural resources management throughout the Middle East and Africa. He began his affiliation with the Near East Foundation in 1993 as Country Director in Morocco. Before joining NEF he spent several years in Morocco as a Fulbright Scholar and as a Peace Corps Volunteer. After leaving Morocco, Dr. Benjamin was Senior Manager for a large international development consulting firm based in Washington DC and a Professor of International Environment Issues and Development at Williams College in Williamstown (MA). Dr. Benjamin became NEF’s President in 2010. Under Dr. Benjamin’s leadership, NEF has seen steady growth. Dr. Benjamin holds a PhD from the University of Michigan with a focus on decentralization and local institutional development in West Africa. He is a published author in the areas of natural resource management and policy.
Salah Abu-Eisheh / COUNTRY DIRECTOR, PALESTINE, AND REGIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST: Mr. Abu-Eisheh joined the Near East Foundation in 2004 as Project Manager. Since 2010 he has served as NEF’s Palestine Country Director and Regional Advisor. Prior to joining the Near East Foundation, Mr. Abu-Eisheh worked as Program Coordinator for the Land-O-Lakes Foundation and as Technical Supervisor for the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture-Veterinary Services. A native of Nablus, Mr. Abu-Eisheh holds an undergraduate degree in agriculture and a master’s in business administration (MBA) from An-Najah National University in Nablus.
Mireille Dika, Deputy Country Director, Lebanon: Ms. Mireille Dika joined the Near East Foundation in 2016 as Deputy Country Director in Lebanon, where she currently oversees all programs for NEF's Lebanon office. Prior to working at NEF, Ms. Dika spent the past decade working for INGOs. She served as the Country Director at Solidar Suisse-Lebanon, Head of Mission for Lebanon and Syria at Relief International, and Program Manager at International Relief and Development, Lebanon. Ms. Dika graduated from Lebanese University with a degree in English and Architecture, where she first developed her passion for humanitarian and social work.
If you require accommodations, please contact Deborah Toole by email at datoole@syr.edu or by phone at 315.443.2367.
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