Elizabeth N. Saunders

Elizabeth N. Saunders is professor of political science at Columbia University. She studies international relations and U.S. foreign policy. She is the author of “The Insiders’ Game: How Elites Make War and Peace” (Princeton University Press, 2024).


Trump’s verbal attack on Zelenskyy was shocking – and predictable

In bullying Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, Trump showed his core beliefs.

Why high-level U.S.-Russia talks are bad diplomacy

Marco Rubio’s Riyadh meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov shows U.S. diplomacy is in crisis.

On foreign policy, has Donald Trump become predictable?

The candidate who wanted to be “the madman” has a pretty clear agenda.

Three big questions about nuclear weapons

How worried should we be?

The NATO summit is a tale of three cities

What political gambles and uncertainty in London, Paris, and Washington could mean for international security.

Announcing Good Authority teaching resources

Bookmark these Good Authority resources that will be especially useful for instructors and political science enthusiasts.

What didn’t happen in the world in 2023 🎧

Good Authority editors discuss what could have but didn't happen in world politics in 2023.

Five things that didn’t happen in the world in 2023

We missed some breakthroughs, but we dodged some disasters.

Will Congress shut down the government over aid to Israel and Ukraine?

Four experts examine how U.S. foreign policy is dividing both Republicans and Democrats.

What political scientists know about occupation, applied to Gaza

Experts on the politics of foreign occupations tackle big questions in this week’s Good Chat.