2022 In the News

Researchers at Watson's Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies are working with the Refugee Dream Center in Providence to assess Afghan refugees' needs and improve military-civilian partnerships across the globe.

Ambassador Chas Freeman discusses his time as President Nixon's translator during his 1972 trip to China.

Ashutosh Varshney discusses BJP's massive victory in four state elections, including UP, the biggest and most vital, he argues. Varshney asks whether India's electoral democracy, vibrant and free, is coming increasingly in conflict with India's Constitution.

Dany Bahar on Forward, "The story of modern Israel exemplifies the tremendous gains that Ukrainian refugees could bring to their host nations if they are given the chance to do so."

Stephen Kinzer on the real threat of a nuclear war and what it would take to avoid it.

Dany Bahar on the refugee crisis in Ukraine, "In the few days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, over 1.7 million Ukrainians—including children, women, elderly—have already fled their homes, seeking refuge in other nations."

Professor of Economics Emily Oster offered commentary on how parents of young children can navigate relaxed COVID-19 restrictions.

A group of professors from Brown University including Tony Levitas and Michael Kennedy are teaming up to help those fighting in Ukraine against Russia.

Associate Professor of Political Science and International and Public Affairs Prerna Singh offered commentary on the relationship between Russia, China and India.

Omer Bartov penned this essay Ukraine, "...the fate of Ukraine will determine that of the rest of Europe and have a major effect on the rest of the world, including the United States."

Jeff Colgan co-authored this article in Monkey Cage on the roots of Russia's aggression.

Chas Freeman is interviewed in RT about President Nixon's historic visit to China.

Lyle Goldstein in The Week, "Unquestionably, the Ukraine armed forces are badly overmatched by Russian military might."

Stephen Kinzer in the Boston Globe, "Shifting our approach to our two major rivals would require putting aside issues that many in the United States and beyond consider vital."

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Monday marks the 50th anniversary of US president Richard Nixon's historic visit to China. Recalling this breakthrough trip, Chas W. Freeman Jr, who was a lead translator for Nixon during the visit, said the biggest lesson we should learn from the trip is that China and the US "could set aside ideology in the interest of cooperating to common ends."

Ambassador Chas Freeman on his trip to China as President Nixon's interpreter in 1972, "It was an almost unprecedented instance of American initiative and statecraft,"

Ambassador Chas Freeman who served as President Nixon's lead interpreter and former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, discusses Nixon's historic visit to China which took place 50 years ago.

Professor of Sociology Michael Kennedy provided historical background on Russia's relationship with Ukraine and explained how the current crisis could unleash major conflicts across the globe.

Chas Freeman joins Chris Lyddon on Radio Open Source to discuss President Nixon's visit to China to meet with Mao Zedong which took place 50 years ago this month.

Jeff Colgan in Politico, "Energy crises — whether their causes are natural or geopolitical — shouldn't become excuses to backpedal on climate goals."

Director of the Center for the Study of Contemporary South Asia Ashutosh Varshney offered commentary on Hindu nationalism and second-class citizens in India.

Stephanie Savell in Foreign Policy, "...Burkina Faso's war on jihadis obscures the government's failure to alleviate poverty or fix state corruption, which are the deepest drivers of the militant movement."

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Emily Oster discusses her study on the effects of screen time on the Freakonomics podcast.

Professor of Political Science Wendy Schiller discusses how President Joe Biden will handle a Supreme Court vacancy.

Jayanti Owens was recently was selected as a 2020 William T. Grant scholar. With a $350,000 award, Owens will develop different aspects of an ongoing project investigating what drives racial and ethnic disparities in school discipline.

Stephen Kinzer penned this column arguing that despite the crises of the moment in places like Taiwan, Ukraine, and Iran, whatever happens there will pale in significance for Americans compared with what happens in Mexico.

Emily Oster joins the New York Times' Sway podcast to discuss how America is doing in the fight against Covid-19.

Wendy Schiller provided commentary on what Democrats need to do to push through key legislation and keep control of the House of Representatives in 2022.

This article mentions a 2013 longitudinal study headed by Rose McDermott that found if people in your close social network divorce, the risk of your marriage ending greatly increases.

Professor Emily Oster's research is cited, "...economist Emily Oster and her co-authors found that learning loss was far worse in districts that kept classes fully remote, and that declines in reading scores were greater in districts serving predominantly poor and non-white students."

Wendy Schiller commented on the potential instability in Rhode Island health care leadership as Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott resigns from her role as director of the RIDOH.

Prerna Singh penned this article on subnational politics in India.

Wendy Schiller joined this Bloomberg podcast segment to discuss President Biden's next steps.

This article cites Prerna Singh's work on sub-nationalism in India as it compares to achieving positive civic outcomes in the Middle East.

This article cites a recent report by Emily Oster which states that learning loss was far worse in districts that kept classes fully remote.

Richard Arenberg provided commentary in this article stating, "It really comes down to this fundamental question of whether or not you think it's a good thing for a president with a legislative majority to be able to do things without any bipartisan input."

Stephen Kinzer penned this article on the idea of "strategic depth," or buffers between the U.S. and potential enemies, with a focus on China.

Watson Director Edward Steinfeld provided commentary in this interview, stating, "Steel became not just an important industry for China, but it became a symbol in a way, an embodiment of socialist command planning. But it was also an embodiment of modernity."

Stephen Kinzer penned this column on how the election of Honduran president-elect Xiomara Castro could be a turning point for the country.

Emily Oster wrote this article on the switch to remote learning in 2021 and the effect it had on many students at Brown.

Ieva Jusionyte was interviewed in this article on gun violence and the illegal purchasing of weapons between people in the U.S. and Mexico.

Wendy Schiller appeared on this podcast segment of Bloomberg Surveillance to discuss Biden's plans for 2022.

Mark Blyth penned this article on regional growth models and compares carbon states to the rise of the Prosecco industry.

Richard Arenberg penned this article on the history of the filibuster over the past 40 years.

In this interview, Emily Oster shares her thoughts on people's risk assessment capabilities and the pandemic.