2017 In the News

Watson Institute Faculty Fellow Alex Gourevitch comments on the meaningfulness behind several companies pulling their ads from The O'Reilly Factor, whose host has been accused of inappropriate behaviors that stretch back more than a decade.

James Morone, director of the Taubman Center for the Study of American Politics and Policy, comments on news of theaters around the country re-screening the 1980s film "1984," a film based on George Orwell's 1949 novel about a government that manufactures its own facts and demonizes foreign enemies.

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer in The Boston Globe, "Merkel has well served her country and Europe, but rather than run for a fourth term, as she is doing, she should step down."

Wendy Schiller, chair of political science, commented on Rhode Island's fragile pension fund and the delicate balance the treasurer must achieve so there isn't another pension crisis.

Peter Andreas' new memoir "Rebel Mother: My Childhood Chasing the Revolution" is highlighted.

Director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Jessaca Leinaweaver in US News, "Social inequality exacerbated by poverty and crime before they got to the orphanage is what ultimately cost these children their lives."

James Green, director of the Brazil initiative, co-authored an article about corruption and controversy in Brazil that is exacerbating polarization within the Latin American country.

James A. Morone, professor of political science, commented on impact the proposed health care bill would've had on Medicaid recipients.

Economist Emily Oster took a multi-faceted approach in responding to a letter from a college student, who is undecided about which language to study. "You might also be interested in considering how influential a given language is likely to be in the future, based on an area's anticipated economic growth."

Political science professor Jeff Colgan comments on the Russian interference that plagued the presidential election and continues to trouble the Trump administration.

Ashutosh Varshney delivered a lecture on democracy in India and the election process as part of a five-day conference to celebrate the Asian Development Research Institute's 25th anniversary.

Political science professor Peter Andreas in The Chronicle of Higher Education, "For most of my career, I carefully followed that academic script."

Sociology professor Michael Kennedy joins The Pell Center's "Story in the Public Square" to discuss the role professors and intellectuals play in global change.

Mark Dunkelman on the Federalist, "Because there are only 24 hours in a day...we are choosing to invest in the inner and outer most rings...and we are abandoning those middle rings. And it is in the middle rings where you come into contact with people who generally have different points of view than you."

Jessaca Leinaweaver in The Hill, "The spectacle of separating mothers and children is meant to communicate without a doubt the firmness of U.S. immigration enforcement."

Peter Andreas' "Smuggler Nation" was mentioned in an interview with Chris Hayes.

John Friedman, associate professor of economics, comments on the gender wage gap in some of the most lucrative occupations.

Senior Fellow Deborah Gordon in The Hill, "Yet, despite the potential dismantling of our global commitments, it is the loss of federal data and well-honed data collection regimes that will have lasting consequences for our ability to effectively combat climate change."

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer praised Oman as "the geopolitical gem of the Middle East" because of its stance in foreign affairs and its stable government. Kinzer expressed concern about the country's future now that its sultan, Qaboos bin Said, has fallen ill.

Ashutosh Varshney in The Indian Express, "However, like Indira Gandhi, his functioning between elections also departs from democratic principles. He does not stop intolerant organisations from running amok and unleashing violence."

Robert Blair, assistant professor of political science, co-wrote an article about the complex role of warlords and when they should be recognized as a legitimate authority.

Andrew Schrank, professor of public affairs and sociology, comments on the impact of strikes in labor relations after farmworkers in Florida successfully improved their working conditions.

Jeff Colgan in The Washington Post, "It does seem that automation has combined with international trade, particularly trade with China, to drive down employment and wages in industries that have traditionally competed with imports."

A review of Stephen Kinzer's book titled "The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire," praised the author for his insights into America's historical struggle over imperialism.

Political Science Professor Ross Cheit was the keynote speaker at Buck County's Children's Advocacy Center's annual Conference on Crimes Against Children in Pennsylvania, where he discussed his recent book "Witch-Hunt Narrative."

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer in The Boston Globe, "After living in Turkey for years, I concluded that Turkish democracy was deeply enough rooted so that no demagogic leader could throw it off track. I was wrong."

Jim Morone's book, "The Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office," is quoted in an article about Trump's realization that health care is complicated.

Political scientist Peter Andreas is quoted on whether building a wall at the southern border, as President Trump describes, could deter drug smuggling.

Margaret Weir, professor of political science and international and public affairs, wrote an opinion piece about health care jobs and related facilities disappearing in rural areas if the Affordable Care Act is repealed.

Stephen Kinzer, senior fellow at the Watson Institute, discusses the history of the United States as an imperial power.

Co-Director of the Costs of War Project, Neta Crawford in Democracy Now, "Well, it is historic. There has been no increase of this magnitude in peacetime or, in fact, since 2002, when the United States was running up for the Iraq War, so in recent war memory."

Political Science professors Jeff Colgan and Rob Blair in Duck of Minerva, "Although we do not wish to professionally engage in partisan politics, as scholars we are alarmed by Trump's willingness to transgress long-standing norms of democracy, tolerance and civility."

Ashutosh Varshney in The Indian Express, "Lower levels of communal violence, however, cannot be a matter of celebration. The majoritarian threat remains."

Political scientist Wendy Schiller comments on the timing of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello's dismissal of Gov. Gina Raimondo's proposed free college tuition and car tax plan.

James N. Green, director of the Brazil Initiative, comments on the changing ambience of Brazil's lauded Carnival parade, which has been described at times as sexist, homophobic or racist.

Wendy Schiller, professor of political science, comments on the significance of President's Day in an era with a "very unconventional" president.

Stephen Kinzer in The Boston Globe, "With a barrage of insults and threats, President Trump has begun the process of turning Mexico against us. This could bring the United States something it has never had: an unfriendly country on our border. "

John Friedman, associate professor of economics, critiques the research methodology of a new study that suggests graduating from college is not the economic equalizer many assume.

Michael Kennedy, Professor of Sociology, joined WPRI's Tim White in a roundtable to discuss President Trump.

Timothy Edgar in Lawfare Blog, "Whether we approve of the motive or not, it is an abuse of surveillance for national security officials to leverage legitimate foreign intelligence collection to reveal public information in order to damage individuals they do not believe should serve."

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer comments on the country's top five interests and how Russia can impact them.

Ashutosh Varshney in The Indian Express, "Though not without flaws, post-1965 US has been closest to the American ideals that the US has ever been."

In response to the US correspondent of one of Argentina's leading newspapers, Kennedy acknowledged the difficulty of projecting Trump's likely future, but he said that one must "prepare for the worst." Spanish text.

Senior Fellow Chas Freeman sat down with World Affairs to discuss the ways in which U.S. foreign policy must evolve to suit today's changing and increasingly competitive world.

Wendy Schiller, professor of political science, evaluates the job performance of Gov. Gina Raimondo, who has been in office for two years. "Raimondo has kept her eye on the prize, which is economic growth and making state government work better..."

A paper co-authored by Watson economist Justine Hastings adds to growing evidence that for every additional dollar in food stamp benefits recipients get, nearly all of it goes into buying additional food.

Narges Bajoghli in Al-Monitor, "American universities have been quick to respond. Presidents from the United States' leading colleges and universities have individually and jointly sent letters to Trump, including a widely publicized letter from 47 university presidents stressing that the executive order threatens American higher education."

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer discusses his new book, The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire, with Radio Open Source's Chris Lyddon.