In the News

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."

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."

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.

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."

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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."

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 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.

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. "

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

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

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.

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

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."

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.

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."

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.

Senior Fellow Timothy Edgar was quoted in this article about how the Department of Homeland Security is considering asking foreign travelers to give their social media passwords.

The Watson Institute hosted Neera Tanden, president for the Center for American Progress, and Ramesh Ponnuru, senior editor for the National Review on February 7.

Applying for food stamps usually indicates that a household is struggling financially, but a new Brown study co-authored by Justine Hastings, professor of economics, reveals that families spend more for the same amount of food once they are using taxpayer funded benefits.

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer in The Boston Globe, "The American drive to win and dominate led us to pursue agendas that triggered wars, refugee flows, and terrorism."

Professor Ashutosh Varshney in The Indian Express, "All analytical roads thus lead to political motivations as the primary, or only, rationale for why Modi undertook demonetisation."

Before Donald Trump rose to presidency, Mark Blyth, professor of political economy, delivered a lecture on "global Trumpism" that hit several keynotes on the state of foreign and domestic affairs.

To give perspective on the widespread disapproval of Trump's executive orders, Peter Andreas, professor of international studies and political science, comments on the historical purposes of walls and the connotations it invokes.

Peter Andreas discusses the border wall President Trump wants to build between the U.S. and Mexico.

Michael Kennedy in publicseminar.org, "There is an overwhelming sense of momentum. Although the size of the protest was probably less than half of what it was for the #WomensMarch, many showed up on a chilly overcast day for an event only planned the night before."

Professors Ashutosh Varshney, Bhrigupati Singh, and Prerna Singh attended one of the largest literary festivals in the world at the palaces of Jaipur.

Brown University President Christina Paxson and Provost Richard M. Locke published a letter in the Brown Daily Herald student newspaper Sunday, January 29, as an open letter to the Brown community.

Richard Boucher, senior fellow in international and public affairs, discusses the unusual career turnovers in management positions during the presidential transition.

Ambassador Richard Boucher is quoted in an opinion piece on the State Department.

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer in The Hill, "Americans are imperialists and also isolationists. We want to guide the world, but we also believe every nation should guide itself."