In the News
News media from around the world rely on the expertise of Watson School faculty and researchers to help make sense of current world affairs and public policy issues. On this page, you will find articles that cite research done at the Watson School, opinion pieces by our faculty, interviews, podcasts and more.
In the News
News media from around the world rely on the expertise of Watson School faculty and researchers to help make sense of current world affairs and public policy issues. On this page, you will find articles that cite research done at the Watson School, opinion pieces by our faculty, interviews, podcasts and more.
In an interview with NPR, Lyle Goldstein said Trump's threatening rhetoric has bolstered Iranian unity and warned that his unpredictable negotiating style could undermine delicate nuclear talks.
In an interview with Ocean State Media, Stephanie Savell discussed the war in Iran, its effects on average Americans and the influence of defense contractors on U.S. military decisions.
In The Print, Ashutosh Varshney argues that India's recent state elections reveal both the vitality of Indian democracy and the BJP's systematic efforts to narrow the electoral field through voter suppression and Hindu nationalist politics.
South China Morning Post
Iran war could give Xi the upper hand in meeting with Trump: US experts (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
In the South China Morning Post, Lyle Goldstein weighs in on how the Iran war could shift the balance of power in the upcoming Trump-Xi summit.
Jeff Colgan told Deutsche Welle that the UAE's departure from OPEC is unlikely to significantly impact global oil prices in the short term, as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz remain the dominant factor in the global oil market.
Christopher Rea told Vox that funding wildlife conservation through firearm sales is "really problematic," arguing that conservation should not be financed by what he considers tools of violence.
Stephen Kinzer argues in the Boston Globe that the rise of cheap drone technology has fundamentally shifted modern warfare, allowing weaker nations to resist military superpowers and signaling the decline of traditional American military dominance.
Stephanie Savell tells the New York Times that the true costs of the war in Iran extend far beyond the Pentagon's $25 billion estimate.
In an interview on the Ezra Klein Show, Marc Dunkelman discussed the abundance movement.
Jeff Colgan told the New York Times OPEC proved effective at raising oil prices in the 1970s but has struggled to control markets consistently, wielding leverage only when demand outpaces supply.
Mark Blyth told Bloomberg that climate change and inflation are closely linked.
Marc Dunkelman's book "Why Nothing Works" was cited in The Seattle Times.
Lyle Goldstein writes in Asia Times that Taiwan's opposition-led outreach to Beijing signals a diplomatic path to easing cross-strait tensions and reducing the risk of U.S.-China conflict.
Mark Blyth appeared on Slate's Decoder Ring podcast to discuss the history and global mechanics of the U.S. dollar.
Responsible Statecraft
War has significantly altered major Trump meeting with Xi (written by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein wrote in Responsible Statecraft that the U.S.-Iran war could complicate U.S.-China relations but also create an opportunity for cooperation to stabilize the global economy and reduce tensions.
Reid Pauly told El Mercurio that the most viable path to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon would be a deal allowing limited, strictly monitored enrichment, with verification as the cornerstone of any lasting agreement.
Ashutosh Varshney wrote in The Print that the defeat of India’s constitutional amendment bill protected federal balance by preventing a shift in parliamentary power that could have disadvantaged southern states and destabilized national unity.
Jeff Colgan told WPRI that the Climate Solutions Lab found the war in Iran has driven up U.S. fuel costs by $24 billion since late February, costing the average U.S. household $183.
Jeff Colgan told Mother Jones that the U.S. blockade of Iran presents a lose-lose scenario, driving higher global energy prices and increasing costs for American consumers.
Jeff Colgan comments for CBS News, "Whether it's from Amazon or from a grocery store, everything gets touched by diesel prices because diesel is the fuel by which all of the goods in our economy really get shipped around."
Omer Bartov said in an interview with The New Yorker that Zionism as a state ideology has shaped Israel’s actions in Gaza
Lyle Goldstein told the Washington Examiner that China views the Iran war as economically and diplomatically disruptive but remains insulated enough to avoid deeper involvement.
Lyle Goldstein argues in RealClearWorld that the U.S. and China should pursue a fourth communiqué to reduce tensions and avoid conflict over Taiwan.
Reid Pauly comments for BBC News, "It's tragically ironic that one of the justifications for the war was to prevent Iran from obtaining the bomb."
Jeff Colgan told Heatmap News the Iran war has cost the U.S. economy about $17 billion through higher gasoline and diesel prices, citing data from the Climate Solutions Lab.
Mark Blyth provided commentary in ABC News on the economic impacts of the Iran war.
Lyle Goldstein writes for U.S. Naval Institute that China’s study of the 1955 Yijiangshan amphibious assault suggests a conflict over Taiwan could be more dangerous and escalate more quickly than many U.S. planners assume.
Lyle Goldstein was interviewed by the South China Morning Post about the Iran war and the lessons it holds for protecting energy infrastructure.
In The New Republic, Jeff Colgan said bombing Iran’s power grid would cripple daily life and cause severe suffering for civilians.
In ThePrint, Ashutosh Varshney wrote that the BJP’s push to reduce Muslim voter rolls in West Bengal could shape both the state election and broader concerns about democratic backsliding.
This opinion piece notes data from the Costs of War project.
John N. Friedman offered commentary in this story on the value of an Ivy League education.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Trump is promising to hit Iran 'extremely hard' and his assets in the Middle East give him options
Lyle Goldstein commented that Iran has a terrain advantage that may help it to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.
Stephanie Savell offered commentary on the costs of the Iran war.
Democracy Project NYU Law
Progressivism’s goose and gander problem (op-ed by Marc J. Dunkelman)
In this op-ed, Marc J. Dunkleman discussed the barriers to passing the SPEED Act, a bipartisan effort to speed the permitting process on infrastructure projects, and the Democrats' underlying distrust of executive authority.
The St. Louis American
America needs a ‘War for affordability’ (Costs of War research cited)
This opinion column references research by the Costs of War project.
Mark Blyth provided commentary on the economic impacts of the Iran war.
The National Interest
The delayed US-China Summit is another cost of the Iran War (op-ed by Lyle Goldstein)
In this op-ed, Lyle Goldstein argued that the Iran War is distracting the U.S. from the most pressing issue facing the global order: U.S.-Chinese relations.
Andrew Schrank co-authored this op-ed on AI and the future of work.
Reid Pauly offered commentary in this article on how the Iran conflict could spark a new nuclear arms race.
Commonweal Magazine
Delivery problems (interview with Marc J. Dunkelman)
In this interview, Marc J. Dunkelman discussed the growing frustration with the government’s inability to finish major projects on time and on budget and what can be done about it.
Heidi Peltier, director of programs at Brown University’s Costs of War project, offered commentary in this article.
In this op-ed, Ashutosh Varshney argues that heavy bombing will not be enough to lead to Iran's surrender, and a long, crushing war may need to be waged for that.
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings
The Battle of Gallipoli's sobering lessons for the Strait of Hormuz (article by Lyle Goldstein)
In this article, Lyle Goldstein discussed the 1915 Battle of Gallipoli as an example of the kinds of problems that can arise in a battle for control over a constricted waterway like the Strait of Hormuz.
This op-ed cites research from Watson's Costs of War project.
Maybe We Evolved Wrong
Regime change in Iran is a nonstarter (Reid Pauly cited)
This article on the possibility of regime change in Iran cited research by Reid Pauly.
This article on the effect of war on economic activity cited research from The Costs of War project.
Neta Crawford, co-director of the Costs of War project, discusses how military conflicts impact the environment and highlight the need to increase investment in renewable energy.
Deborah Gordon will deliver a talk at the next meeting of the New Bedford Science Café on April 7.
Jeff Colgan offered commentary in this article on the impact of the Iran conflict on oil prices.
This article cited research from a paper published in 2013 by a team led by Rose McDermott that found people were 75% more likely to divorce if a close friend divorced.
The Chicago Tribune
Why Donald Trump's war could play into China's hands (op-ed by Lyle Goldstein)
In this op-ed, Lyle Goldstein argued that problems in the Persian Gulf are likely to give further impetus to China-Russia energy cooperation in the Arctic.
Texas National Security Review
The influence of psychological factors in the search for strategic stability (scholarly analysis by Rose McDermott)
In this article in the Texas National Security Review, Rose McDermott reviews her research on how the psychological proclivities of authoritarian leaders of nuclear powers can influence their decisions and behavior.
Los Angeles Times (via Miami Herald)
Trump is searching for an endgame to the Iran war (commentary by Reid Pauly)
Reid Pauly offered commentary for this article on Trump's search for an exit strategy from the Iran conflict.
This opinion piece cites research led by Neta Crawford, co-director of the Costs of War project at the Watson School, on the impacts of war on climate change.
This article on the costs of the Iran conflict cited research by Neta Crawford, co-director of the Costs of War Project.
This article on the possibility of China attacking U.S. bases in Korea featured commentary from Lyle Goldstein.