Research Briefs
Delve deeper into the most recent research published by Watson faculty.
Research Briefs
Delve deeper into the most recent research published by Watson faculty.
News from Watson
Professor Schiller wins APSA Barbara Sinclair Lectureship Award
Wendy Schiller was recently awarded the APSA Barbara Sinclair Lectureship Award by the American Political Science Association, which recognizes achievement in promoting understanding of the U.S. Congress and legislative politics.
Innovation contests, vaccine diplomacy, and health nationalism: The case of Kenya
Nitsan Chorev and coauthor Salma Mutwafy recently published a piece in SECTORS: Newsletter of the American Sociological Association's Sociology of Development Section on the impact that international contests over innovation, vaccine diplomacy, and health nationalism have on both the availability of vaccines and their perception in low-income countries.
No Standard Oil: Managing Abundant Petroleum in a Warming World
In her book, "No Standard Oil: Managing Abundant Petroleum in a Warming World," published by Oxford University Press in October 2021, Deborah Gordon examines the widely varying climate impacts of global oils and gases and proposes solutions to cut greenhouse gas emissions in this sector.
Research Symposium on Civilian-Military Humanitarian Coordination
In September 2021, the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies (CHRHS) at Watson, in collaboration with the Naval War College, presented cutting edge public health, social science, and legal research examining key questions regarding humanitarian civil-military coordination.
The Italian Catholic Press and the Racial Laws (1938–1943)
In an article appearing in the Fall 2021 issue of the journal Holocaust and Genocide Studies titled "The Italian Catholic Press and the Racial Laws (1938–1943)," David Kertzer, with coauthor Roberto Benedetti, examines the support that the Roman Catholic Church gave to Fascist Italy's antisemitic "racial laws."
Who Gets What? The New Politics of Insecurity
Margaret Weir recently co-edited "Who Gets What? The New Politics of Insecurity," a book harnessing the expertise of scholars from across the disciplines of history and the social sciences to probe how the economic and social transformations of the past forty years have introduced new risks and insecurities that fractured the solidarities of the postwar era.
The Politics of Climate Change at the International Maritime Organization
Climate Solutions Lab affiliate Jan Stockbruegger recently wrote a White Paper focusing on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and it's role in climate change.
Does the Meeting Style Matter? The Effects of Exposure to Participatory and Deliberative School Board Meetings
Jonathan Collins recently authored, "Does the Meeting Style Matter? The Effects of Exposure to Participatory and Deliberative School Board Meetings" a study focused on the effects of civic engagement in public meetings.
Climate Change, Grand Strategy, and International Order
Jeff Colgan recently authored, "Climate Change, Grand Strategy, and International Order" a piece in which he identifies three different ways that various analysts of strategy and order think about climate change.
Eric Patashnik recently co-authored "How Voters Use Contextual Information to Reward and Punish: Credit Claiming, Legislative Performance, and Democratic Accountability," a study focused on how voters use contextual information to evaluate the performance of legislators.
Emily Oster recently co-authored "Disparities in Learning Mode Access Among K–12 Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic, by Race/Ethnicity, Geography, and Grade Level," a report focused on access to full-time in-person learning for non-Hispanic White students, non-Hispanic Black students, Hispanic students, and students of other race/ethnicities from January–April 2021.
Populism and Hindu Nationalism in India
Ashutosh Varshney recently co-authored, "Populism and Hindu Nationalism in India" which presents findings from the first-ever survey, conducted in 12 states, of populist attitudes in India.
Is Confirmation Bias Guiding COVID Vaccine Recommendations?
Rose McDermott recently co-authored "Is Confirmation Bias Guiding COVID Vaccine Recommendations?" an op-ed focused on basing policy on indisputable evidence rather than confirmation bias.
International Strategy Forum Fellowship Class of 2020
Reid Pauly was recently invited to join the inaugural Schmidt Futures International Strategy Fellowship Class of 2020, which aims to elevate and connect rising leaders in global affairs and to equip them to tackle the most pressing challenges of the next few decades.
Climate and Energy in the Transatlantic Relationship
Jeff Colgan recently published, "Climate and Energy in the Transatlantic Relationship" - a piece examining the relationship between climate change and changes in the transatlantic political landscape.
2020 Year-End Reflections: Helping People Now and Helping People More in a Global Pandemic
Reid Pauly is mentioned in "2020 Year-End Reflections: Helping People Now and Helping People More in a Global Pandemic" as being among the 27 fellows from diverse fields that made up Schmidt Futures ISF-North America 2020 cohort - a team working on various humanitarian efforts surrounding COVID-19, climate change, racial injustice, rising economic inequality, and threats to democracy.
Rob Blair and co-authors recently wrote, "Can Americans Depolarize? Assessing the Effects of Reciprocal Group Reflection on Partisan Polarization," a piece analyzing an experimental evaluation of a unique depolarization initiative that draws on principles of couples therapy to mitigate hostility between Democrats and Republicans.
Biden's Climate Report Card: 4 A's, 2 B's, 3 Incompletes
Jeff Colgan and co-authors Thomas N. Hale (University of Oxford) and Scott M. Moore (University of Pennsylvania) recently published "Biden's Climate Report Card: 4 A's, 2 B's, 3 Incompletes," in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Deniability in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime: The Upside of the Dual-Use Dilemma
Reid Pauly recently published, "Deniability in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime: The Upside of the Dual-Use Dilemma" in International Studies Quarterly.
Design Principles for American Industrial Policy
Andrew Schrank recently wrote "Design Principles for American Industrial Policy," a piece focused on the Biden administration's efforts to mobilize American manufacturing.
Biden at 100 Days: A Climate Foreign-Policy Scorecard
Jeff D. Colgan and co-authors Thomas N. Hale (University of Oxford) and Scott M. Moore (University of Pennsylvania) recently published "Biden @ 100 DAYS: A Climate Foreign-Policy Scorecard," which examines the current administration's actions and commitment to reorienting U.S. foreign policy to meet the climate challenge.
Foreign Aid and State Legitimacy
Rob Blair and Philip Roessler recently published, "Foreign Aid and State Legitimacy" which examines evidence on foreign aid from surveys, survey experiments, and behavioral games.
For Marielle: Mulhere(s) da Maré—Danger, Seeds and Tides
Drawing on Rio de Janeiro City Councillor Marielle Franco's published masters thesis in public administration, Professor Geri Augusto recently wrote the article "For Marielle: Mulhere(s) da Maré—Danger, Seeds and Tides" for Transition magazine that shines a light on Marielle's thinking about favela life on its own terms, gender equality, anti-racism, policing, and social justice.
Economic Determinants of Public Support for European Integration, 1995–2018
Chase Foster and Jeff Frieden, Professor of Government at Harvard University recently published, "Economic Determinants of Public Support for European Integration, 1995–2018" which examines how the state of the economy has shaped public attitudes toward the EU over the last quarter century.
United States Counterterrorism Operations, 2018-2020
A new report from the Costs of War finds that from 2018 to 2020, the United States government undertook what it labeled "counterterrorism" activities in 85 countries.
Recommendations on Brazil to President Biden and the New Administration
James Green recently co-wrote, "Recommendations on Brazil to President Biden and the New Adminstration," which provides a background analysis of Brazil's current situation, focusing on ten main areas with a list of policy recommendations.
Parental Intervention in School, Academic Pressure, and Childhood Diagnoses of ADHD
Jayanti Owens recently published "Parental intervention in school, academic pressure, and childhood diagnoses of ADHD," in Social Science & Medicine. The article delves into the dramatic increase in childhood diagnoses of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the U.S. in recent decades.
Can the 25th Amendment Save Democracy?
Rose McDermott is the author of "Presidential Leadership, Illness, and Decision Making", and regularly comments on presidential health and power. Most recently her work has appeared in Vox, the Atlantic, and the Economic Times. Following the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, we asked her to provide additional analysis of the history and potential application of the 25th Amendment.
The Larger Forces Behind the January 6, 2021 Insurrection
In January 2021, Eric Patashnik and Wendy J. Schiller provided commentary on the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol. Their insights draws from points made in their recently published edited volume, "Dynamics of American Democracy," (University of Kansas Press).
Energy and International Conflict
Jeff D. Colgan and Jan B. Stockbruegger co-wrote a chapter in The Oxford Handbook of Energy Politics entitled, "Energy and International Conflict" which reviews the ways in which energy has contributed to modern international wars and conflicts.
Social Class, Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Child Well-Being
Jayanti Owens recently wrote, "Social Class, Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Child Well-Being." In it, Owens explores the positive and negative effects and implications of ADHD diagnoses in children. Her research is based on disentangling the effects of a positive diagnosis from that of children's underlying behaviors, social contexts, and medication treatment.
Beyond Feminism? Jineolojî and the Kurdish Women’s Freedom Movement
In December 2020, Nadje Al-Ali co-wrote, "Beyond Feminism? Jineolojé and the Kurdish Women's Freedom Movement." In it, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies Nadje Al-Ali and co-author Dr. Isabel Käser explore the concept of Jineolojé, a new science and paradigm developed by Kurdish women to challenge Western androcentric knowledge production and address gender-based inequalities within Kurdish society.
Peacekeeping, Policing, and the Rule of Law after Civil War
Robert Blair is the author of, "Peacekeeping, Policing, and the Rule of Law after Civil War." In it, Blair proposes a new theory to explain how the international community can help establish the rule of law in the world's weakest and most war-torn states, focusing on the crucial but often underappreciated role of the United Nations.
Ethics in Field Experimentation: A Call to Establish New Standards to Protect the Public From Unwanted Manipulation and Real Harms
In November 2020, Rose McDermott co-wrote, "Ethics in Field Experimentation: A Call to Establish New Standards to Protect the Public From Unwanted Manipulation and Real Harms." In it, Professor McDermott and co-author Peter K. Hatemi (Pennsylvania State University) delve into the importance of creating new ethical research guidelines for field experiments.
Anticipation and Consumption
In "Anticipation and Consumption," Neil Thakral analyzes how the timing of information affects consumption decisions using data from the 2008 stimulus payments in the U.S. and data from randomized experiments in Kenya and Malawi.
Dynamics of American Democracy: Partisan Polarization, Political Competition and Government Performance
In December 2020, Eric M. Patashnik and Wendy J. Schiller published "Dynamics of American Democracy: Partisan Polarization, Political Competition and Government Performance." This edited volume brings together leading scholars and practitioners to examine the challenges plaguing contemporary American politics, including ideological polarization, partisan sorting, and legislative stalemate.
Science, Politics, and the Pandemic
In November 2020, J. Nicholas Ziegler wrote "Science, Politics, and the Pandemic," a piece that compares the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom's approach to containing COVID-19, specifically focusing on the striking variations in their use of scientific expertise to understand the new pathogen.
The Vatican’s Role in the Finaly Children’s Kidnapping Case
In October 2020, David Kertzer co-wrote, "The Vatican's Role in the Finaly Children's Kidnapping Case," a piece expanding on the abduction of Robert and Gérald Finaly, two French Jewish orphans of the Holocaust, who were taken when their parents were deported to their death at Auschwitz in 1944.
Science, Politics, and the Pandemic
J. Nicholas Ziegler’s paper, "Science, Politics, and the Pandemic," compares the COVID-19 responses in Germany, the UK, and the US, highlighting the importance of rational political leadership in translating scientific expertise into effective policy.
COVID-19 School Response Dashboard
In September 2020, Emily Oster created a national COVID-19 dashboard for K-12 schools. The tracking system allows schools to independently collect data on confirmed or suspected cases among faculty and students, as well as data on hybrid versus in-person learning plans.
Prerna Singh Selected as Recipient for Rapid-Response Grant on Covid-19
In September 2020, Prerna Singh was selected as a Rapid-Response Grant Recipient for her research on Covid-19. The grant will allow recipents to support projects examining the experiences of society's vulnerable populations, including migrant farmworkers, refugee communities, and sex workers.
The Past, Present, and Future of Behavioral IR
In September 2020, Rose McDermott co-wrote "The Past, Present, and Future of Behavioral IR," a piece curated to survey cutting-edge research in psychology, neuroscience, and genetics and explore novel applications to the study of International Relations.
Comparatively Ineffective? PCORI and the Uphill Battle to Make Evidence Count in US Medicine
In September 2020, Eric Patashnik wrote "Comparitively Ineffective? PCORI and the Uphill Battle to Make Evidence Count in US Medicine," a piece analyzing the trials and tribulations of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The Institute was created to promote research on the comparative effectiveness of treatment options and has struggled to have an impact on the decisions of physicians and payers.
New Costs of War Study: 37 Million Displaced by U.S. Post-9/11 Wars
In September 2020, the Costs of War project released a new report entitled, "Creating Refugees: Displacement Caused by the U.S. Post-9/11 Wars," outlining the number of people displaced as a result of post-9/11 wars.
Air Travel Fiction and Film: Cloud People
In August 2020, Erica Durante wrote "Air Travel Fiction and Film: Cloud People," a piece exploring how present lifestyle patterns and infrastructure have evolved and how this is illustrated in our air travel practices.
Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of San Diego, California
In August 2020, Wendy Schiller collaborated with a team of Brown undergraduate research assistants and Professor Kaitlin Sidorsky at Coastal Carolina University to produce, "Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of San Diego, California," a brief research essay on domestic violence and COVID-19.
Solidarność, with Michael Kennedy
In August 2020, a video featuring Michael Kennedy was released to commemorate the 40 year anniversary of the Polish movement, Solidarność. Kennedy reflects on what Solidarity was 40 years ago, and where we might see it today.
Glass Floors and Glass Ceilings: Sex Homophily and Heterophily in Job Interviews
In August 2020, Jayanti Owens co-wrote, "Glass Floors and Glass Ceilings: Sex Homophily and Heterophily in Job Interviews," a piece exploring the hypothesized theory of employment interviewing when female applicants are paired with female versus male interviewers.