In the News

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer wrote an op-ed about the cultural freedom Cuba has undergone and the challenges the country faces ahead.

Senior Fellow Stephen Kinzer speaks with WNYC about how the media shapes our perceptions of the world.

Postdoctoral Fellow Narges Bajoghli discusses the chemical attack in Syria last month and the memories and impact of the chemical attack during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s.

Faculty Fellow Elias Muhanna in The New Yorker, "Aslan, however, moved with facility among conservative Christians and liberal atheists, scattering data points and sound bites as he emerged as one of the most prominent Muslim-Americans in mainstream media."

An audio recording of the Taubman Center's panel discussion featuring NPR correspondent Corey Flintoff is available online. The conversation focused on Flintoff's reporting on Putin's Russia and the evolving relationship between Russia and the U.S.

Wendy Schiller, political science professor, commented on the national attention Gov. Gina Raimondo is attracting from leaders in the Democratic Party.

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.

Professors Michael Kennedy, Jeff Colgan, and Cathy Lutz comment on the impact of the missile strike against Syria in response of a chemical-weapons attack.

Peter Andreas is not overly fond of the word "memoir," saying it sounds pretentious and self-centered. Andreas, an International Relations professor, nonetheless has written one and recently discussed his book in an interview with the Providence Journal.

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.

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."

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

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

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

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.

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."

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

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."

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

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.

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.

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.

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