2019 In the News

Jeff D. Colgan, an associate professor of political science, wrote this column explaining that rapidly melting ice in Greenland will expose waste that has been locked in for decades.

Ashutosh Varshney in the Indian Express, "In short, only in one democratic sense — democracy as a system of electoral power — can the decision to change Kashmir's status be called potentially legitimate. In all other democratic senses, we have witnessed severely anti-democratic conduct. It was electorally-enabled brute majoritarianism."

Wendy Schiller, Chair of the Political Science department, comments on the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates' bill-drafting productivity, saying "Introducing bills is an especially attractive messaging tool for Democrats, who believe in the power of government programs and introduce more bills than Republicans."

Economist Emily Oster comments on the wave of new parenting tools, saying "Infants can be very overwhelming to be around, and these devices give you something to do...But it's really for you. Not for your baby."

Professor Glenn Loury provided commentary on slavery reparations, saying "Seeing blackness and African descent as some kind of subhuman category, that would legitimate in the land of the free and the home of the brave carrying on a commerce in human chattel... That was a deep and profound injury. It can't be made into a piece of cash."

Stephanie Savell, Co-Director of the Costs of War Project, in Military Times, "America is currently embroiled in counterterror wars stretching across the planet, and public discussions are largely ignoring them. It's good to see the Presidential candidates talking about ending the war in Afghanistan, but the American public deserves to know what these candidates plan for the rest of the wars as well."

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer in The Boston Globe, "Power to direct American government has fallen to the corrupt and nefarious. Amid this collapse, it is cold comfort to know that some other countries are doing far better."

The well known "war on drugs" is only one episode in a long, multifaceted and often direct relationship between addictive drugs and armed conflict, says Political Science professor Peter Andreas, in this interview.

Professor Ashutosh Varshney comments on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "bold step" to revoke Artiicle 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. "Can Art. 370 bee scrapped with an executive order, or through a constitutional amendment?"

Research by the Costs of War Project is cited in an article linking employment and the Defense Industry. "$1 billion in military spending creates approximately 11,200 jobs, compared with 26,700 in education, 16,800 in clean energy, and 17,200 in health care."

Research from John Friedman's Opportunity Atlas is cited. "Using data taken from the Opportunity Atlas—a collaboration between the U.S. Census Bureau, Harvard University, and Brown University that provides data on economic mobility throughout the country—one can see that the South has the lowest level of economic mobility for all demographics."

Stephanie Savell, Co-Director of the Costs of War Project, sat down with Susan Coleman to discuss the Project and the war on terror, saying "it seems to be 'the biggest story in the United States that no one wants to talk about.'"

Senior Fellow Chas Freeman provided commentary on Steve Bannon's reforming of the Committee on the Present Danger (CPD) that named China an existential threat to American citizens. "The assault on China rests upon the assumption that everyone else has to be governed in the same way we are."

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer comments on Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard's presidential camapaign, saying "A lot of us in Tulsi world, we don't have the fantasy that she's going to pull ahead, but she serves a great purpose in this campaign because she is saying things that no one else is saying."

Professor Glenn Loury argues in The New York Times that by defending Al Sharpton, Democrats have "handed Trump an easy win and yoked themselves to a genuine bigot."

A new study co-authored by Assistant Professor Jayanti Owens finds that discipline in many classrooms is anything but fair, with punishments often unequal and cutting along racial lines. "It was extraordinarily disturbing and I really didn't want to believe it."

Research by the Costs of War Project is cited in an article ahead of the Democratic debates. "Whether it's in Syria or Afghanistan, Western or Eastern Africa, the US has spent roughly $6 trillion combating terrorism around the world, according to an estimate from Brown University's Cost of War program."

Research by the Costs of War Project is mentioned in regards to the open letter signed by scientists calling for governments to be held responsible for environmental damage their militaries inflict in war zones. ""Increases in cancer, birth defects, and other conditions have been associated with war-related environmental damage and toxins" in Iraq, according to the Costs of War Project."

Political scientist Wendy Schiller comments on former special counsel Robert Mueller's testimony and possible impeachment. "Mueller's lacklustre testimony likely gave Speaker Pelosi the ammunition to withstand calls for impeachment inquiries, or hearings, from the left flank of her party."

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer in The Boston Globe, "In the United States, it is possible to spend many years in politics and rise to high positions without ever thinking seriously about foreign policy. This self-imposed ignorance would be lamentable in any country. In the United States it is especially dangerous."

Research by the Costs of War Project is mentioned in an article about President Trump's commentary on Afghanistan during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. "According to Brown University's Watson Institute, 140,000 Afghans have been killed since 2001 and 2.4 million are refugees."

Professor Ashutosh Varshney in The Indian Express, "Does democracy contain within itself the seeds of its own weakening? Does it have an inner adversary? These questions have long agitated the minds of political thinkers."

Senior Fellow Deborah Gordon comments on the frequent oil spills in California, saying "It's like turning oil from the consistency of peanut butter into the consistency of honey."

Senior Fellow Richard Arenberg comments on former special counsel Robert Mueller's upcoming Congressional testimony, saying "Overwhelmingly, most Americans have no idea how damning the report actually is. The constant refrain from the White House of 'witch-hunt,' 'no collusion' and 'no obstruction,' and the Trump assertion that the report exonerates him have left the truth obscured by a dense fog."

Associate Professor Jeff Colgan in The Washington Post, "...the recent tension around oil tankers is in part a product of more fundamental disputes about Iran's nuclear program, funding of various violent insurgents, and ongoing rivalry with Saudi Arabia. In turn, Iran's actions stem from what it sees as Trump administration belligerence."

Dr. Adam C. Levine, Director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, has been named to Providence Business News' 40 Under Forty for 2019, and Top 4 Doctors Under 40 by the Rhode Island Medical Society.

In new research, sociologist Jayanti Owens found that different treatment of black and white students accounted for half of the racial gap in school suspensions and expulsions among 5- to 9-year-old children. "Subconsciously, we all have racial biases in different ways. This is one way in which those biases are manifesting in the classroom," she said.

The Institute is featured as part of Brown's biannual special edition of News from Brown, highlighting Brown's distinction. "Now more than ever, our society needs what Watson has to offer...Factors that threaten the peace, prosperity and stability of our societies must be understood analytically so that they can be addressed in more effective and lasting ways." said University Provost Richard Locke.

Professor Emily Oster in Medium's Elemental, "Miscarriage can be lonely, it can be devastating, and it can be confusing. Reassuringly, most women who miscarry go on to have healthy pregnancies. This can be hard to see when miscarriage is kept so secret, but if this happens, you are not alone."

Senior Fellow Richard Arenberg comments on the extra hour that has been added to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's upcoming Congressional hearing. "Extending the hearing, even marginally, makes it easier to get Mueller's major points out there."

Political economist Mark Blyth comments on the allegations that Nigel Farage may have influenced markets to help hedge funds on Brexit referendum night in 2016, and if it could happen again on October 31. "If you have a leading politician pushing in that direction, this gives the hedge funds a one-way bet, with insurance against failure. And that's the type of 'option' hedgies love the most."

Professor Emily Oster sat down with InStyle to debunk parenting myths. "You're making these decisions about something you've never thought about before, and they all feel incredibly important."

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer in The Boston Globe, "We are outraged by the corruption of our political system, and by the suffering it is causing countless human beings around the United States and beyond. Yet when we look at our own representatives in Congress, we see the same bland, business-as-usual, go-along-to-get-along politics that created this matrix of crisis."

Associate Professor Prerna Singh discusses the state of health and healthcare in India, saying "Political elites need to feel that these are our children dying, that this is a crisis for us, a tragedy for our community, we must take immediate action to save the lives of our people."

Economist Emily Oster comments on a new wave of families using traditional office software to run their households, explaining how Asana made the jump from software her husband used for work to software they used as a couple.

Compliant factories have higher quality and performance. Even so, noncompliant firms dominate the market. Could stronger financial incentives help? Study by Provost Richard M. Locke and Greg Distelhorst.

Professor Emily Oster comments on what the future could look like if robots took over housework. "More automation could mean more equality, although I think it's a little complicated whether it will change the inequality as opposed to just the amount."

Senior Fellow Richard Arenberg comments on the federal lawsuit that the House Democrats filed against the Treasury Department demanding President Trump's tax returns. "Clearly, the House leadership is being very cautious. This is understandable given the stakes. I don't believe urgency is lacking. It's just that democratic and legal process can be slow."

Wendy Schiller, Chair of the Political Science department, comments on Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo reluctance to sign the $10 billion state budget, saying "First of all, she wants Rhode Island to look to the outside world like it's running well."

Emily Oster in The Atlantic, "At this point, if you're pregnant and a marijuana user and you're wondering what to do, my answer is: Don't freak out; do think seriously about quitting."

Associate Professor Jeff Colgan joined Ian Masters to discuss the three camps in U.S. foreign policy.

Economist Emily Oster joined KQED to help cut through all of the advice soon-to-be and new parents receive.

Professor Ashutosh Varshney comments on the University Grants Commission's concern of the quality of PhD research in India, saying "Unlike universities in the US and, to some extent, the UK, Indian universities have been dominated by political theorists, who frown upon empirical research."

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer in The Boston Globe, "In one of the most remarkable partnerships in modern American political history, Soros and Charles Koch...are joining to finance a new foreign-policy think tank in Washington."

James Green, director of the Brazil Initiative, comments on the first Pride parade in Brazil following right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro's election. "The parade is really a moment of affirmation and celebration for most people, but it is de facto, in my mind, a confrontation with the policies of Bolsonaro."

Senior Fellow Richard Arenberg comments on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's testimony on July 17, saying "The Congressional minority should have insisted on public hearings two years ago."

The Pentagon has managed to shrink its carbon footprint in recent years, but it is still massive. Researchers from the Costs of War Project estimate it is responsible for producing more than 59 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2017.

In an op-ed by 2020 presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders, research by the Costs of War Project is cited. "The war on terror has also been staggeringly wasteful. According to the most recent study by the Costs of War Project at Brown University, it will have cost American taxpayers more than $4.9 trillion through the end of this fiscal year."