2017 In the News

Commentary by columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. on shifting relationships among Americans, particularly in neighborhoods, focuses on work by Marc Dunkelman, a Watson Institute fellow who wrote "The Vanishing Neighbor" in 2014.

Ashutosh Varshney, professor of political science, wrote an op-ed about Nitish Kumar's pragmatic choice to enter an alliance with the BJP political party in India and how it might influence other alliances.

Elias Muhanna in The New Yorker, "Mashrou' Leila, the biggest alt-rock band in the Middle East, was formed in 2008 by several students at the American University of Beirut. The group's early songs—ironic, grungy jams about the nettlesome oppression of bourgeois Lebanese society—made them famous in Beirut's indie scene."

Wendy Schiller, chair of political science, joins Bloomberg radio to discuss why established Republicans don't want to work for Trump.

Wendy Schiller comments on a potential reason why Gov. Gina Raimondo's approval rating is lower than Charlie Baker, the Republican governor of Massachusetts.

Political Science Professor Wendy Schiller joins Bloomberg Surveillance to discuss Trump's agenda and how the Republican Party can move forward.

Across cultures, women are bombarded with different messages about what's ok to eat during pregnancy. Emily Oster, professor of economics and author of "Expecting Better," said she didn't find any evidence that would suggest drinking alcohol would harm a fetus.

A new paper co-authored by Brown economist John Friedman examines the key findings of the Equality of Opportunity Project, which exploits a unique data set to assess the contributions that individual colleges make to intergenerational social mobility.

Anthropologist Sarah Besky in The Hindu, "Understanding Gorkhaland requires understanding its underlying histories. In many ways, the Gorkhas of Darjeeling have yet to taste the liberation of India's Independence."

This feature on the origins of "beef lynchings" and the political turmoil that has ensued in India after the death of a Muslim boy includes a perspective by Ashutosh Varshney, professor of political science.

Jessaca Leinaweaver in TRTWorld, "International adoptions have decreased annually from their global apex in 2004, when 22,989 children were adopted internationally by US parents, according to a new report from the US State Department. Last year, 5,372 visas were issued; a mere 23 percent of the total from 2004."

Observations by Brown economist Emily Oster are mentioned in a feature about how breastfeeding has become a status symbol in American culture.

Wendy Schiller commented on Gov. Gina Raimondo's re-election chances after a tumultuous week that saw the governor featured in the New York Times, but also mentioned in poll tagging her as one of the "most unpopular governors" in the country.

Vazira Fazila-Yacoubali Zamindar discusses the mystery of a 2,000 year-old bronze box, the Kanishka casket, that was said to hold the remains of the Buddha himself.

Stephen Kinzer wrote an op-ed about the probable re-election of Rwandan leader Paul Kagame and the challenges he will undoubtedly face in the next seven years.

Sociologist Michael Kennedy in RIOT Material, "Trump's political foolishness is not meant to clarify a problem; it is designed to mark enemies so that his supporters can enjoy a righteousness regardless of evidence to the contrary."

Jeff Colgan in Duck of Minerva, "Even if Trump never becomes a dictator, he could do an awful lot of damage to US democracy, and potentially pave the way for an autocrat in the future."

Wendy Schiller, professor of political science, comments on a possible reason why Republican Sen. Jerry Moran hasn't backed the GOP healthcare bill.

Nina Tannenwald in The Washington Post's Monkeycage Blog, "The non-nuclear countries obviously knew that the treaty would not immediately cause nuclear states to give up their arsenals. So why did they put so much effort into it?"

To understand how President Trump rose through the political ranks, one has to step back and see how globalization benefitted the wealthiest not only in the U.S. but throughout the world, Brown economist Mark Blyth discussed during CBS News' The Takeout.

During an interview that aired Thursday on the Christian Broadcasting Network, President Trump described his disdain for military spending in the Middle East citing a figure on the high end of Brown's Costs of War report.

Public Policy professor Eric Patashnik is mentioned in an article about conspiracy theories.

Senior Fellow Brian Atwood comments on President Trump's proposed plan to cut USAID funding by 30% and fold it into the State Department.

The appointment of Yogi Adityanath's to rule India's most populous state "invests a certain amount of power in Yogi Adityanath that cannot be easily taken away," said Ashutosh Varshney, professor of political science and international studies.

Professor Ashutosh Varshney joins RN Drive to discuss the rise of populism in the West and in the developing world.

In a recent GQ interview, Mark Blyth discussed a range of topics that included the rise of "alt-work," his thoughts on universal basic income, and the legacy of the baby boomers.

Ashutosh Varshney in The Indian Express, "Is India's past, so marked by communal riots, transmuting itself into an era of lynching? Of immense political significance, this question is now squarely in front of us all."

Economist John Friedman commented on the financial strain Brightline might experience if it moves forward with a rail service project in South Florida.

Stephen Kinzer writes about his colleague Sahin Alpay, one of more than 200 Turkish journalists and other media workers now languishing in jail.

Starting July 1, Susan Moffitt will lead the A. Alfred Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy, a research center at the University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs.

Comments made by Ashutosh Varshney on the historical leadership of India are featured in an op-ed about Yogis Naraharinath and Adityanath.

Ashutosh Varshney, professor of political science, comments on the accuracy of news articles in gathering data, which organizations are using to determine whether lynchings in India are on the rise.

A study co-authored by Bryce Millett Steinberg found India's monsoon season may not be a boon for everyone. The study suggests that with torrential rains, school children are often stuck at home and turned into farmers.

On the 150th anniversary of Canada's independence, Brown political scientist Jeff D. Colgan wrote about Canada's newfound popularity on the global stage and what it must do to maintain its position.

Elias Muhanna in the New Yorker, "Rather than expecting regional politics to change the status quo in Lebanon, as many factions have done for many years, local parties have decided to make their peace at the Lebanese negotiating table, even if next year's election could threaten their hold on the country's governance."

Newly released Costs of War paper cited in the Fiscal Times, "Bill was one of three former soldiers cited by the authors of a study released this week by the Costs of War Project at Brown University that examines why the number of "bad paper" discharges – which result in vets being denied VA health care, education and housing support and other benefits -- has grown from 5.5 percent during the Gulf War era to 6.5 percent since America went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon."

Political analyst Wendy Schiller joined NBC10 to discuss the dilemma Republican's face in trying to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act.

Dr. Adam Levine, Faculty Fellow and Director of the Humanitarian Innovation Initiative, comments on Brown student Khaled Almilaji's move to Canada after being stranded in Turkey for months due to President Trump's travel ban.

Following the Department of Veterans Affairs announcement that it would offer mental health support to "bad charges" veterans, a new report from the Costs of War Project says it's not enough.

Ashutosh Varshney, director of the Center for Contemporary South Asia, commented what a recent visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House on Monday might accomplish.

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer in The Boston Globe, "Our country's long-term interest will be best served if Trump remains in office until 2021."

Wendy Schiller, political science professor, said Gov. Gina Raimondo's scaled down version of a tuition-free college proposal that drew national attention is still a positive outcome for Raimondo.

The second in a series of polls conducted by the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy is cited.

The Taubman Center's second poll in a series shows support for President Trump is declining in Rhode Island.

Political scientist Jim Morone commented on the public support of Medicaid, which was expanded under Obamacare to cover more people and is currently facing deep financial cuts.

Sociologist Michael Kennedy in RIOT Material, "I have been waiting for President Trump to depart from this approximation of high communism, but in recent weeks, he only moves closer to this system-destructive disposition."

Rose McDermott, professor of international relations, joins Five Books to recommend books pioneering the field of 'political psychology.'

Political scientist Wendy Schiller joined a discussion about President Trump's first 150 days in office and how recent controversies might be affecting his agenda and, more importantly, his ability to govern.