Good to Know: Hostage taking and the rise in hostage diplomacy Danielle Gilbert - January 17, 2024 Media stories spotlight the high stakes – and the pressure to bring hostages home.
Violent deaths in Pakistan jumped last year. That’s a big worry. Christopher Clary - January 5, 2024 Outside powers may be unable to ignore the worsening turmoil in Pakistan.
What the arrest warrant for Putin really means Kelebogile Zvobgo - October 3, 2023 He may never stand trial, but that’s not all that matters.
Did the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan harm U.S. credibility? Christopher Clary - September 20, 2023 Here’s the latest research.
Just seeing a Fox News logo prompts racial bias, new research suggests Thomas Gift, Julie Norman, and Andrew M. Bell - December 23, 2022 It’s an example of what social scientists call ‘priming’
Today is International Day of Peace. Can you measure what peace is? Roger Mac Ginty and Pamina Firchow - September 21, 2022 One way is to see whether people feel safe going about their daily lives, the Everyday Peace Indicators project finds
Afghanistan’s women in exile continue to push for equality Mona Tajali - August 18, 2022 Activists and former politicians put pressure on the international community regarding concerns over key women’s rights
The U.S. killed al-Qaeda’s leader. That might boost terrorism. Jenna Jordan - August 9, 2022 ‘Leadership decapitation’ can inspire Islamist extremist groups and followers to carry out more attacks, my research finds
Is there a difference between ‘defensive’ and ‘offensive’ weapons? Stephen Biddle - April 27, 2022 In Ukraine and beyond, skills, determination and tactics matter more than the mix of weapons
Muslim women in hijab get the brunt of discrimination. I asked them what that’s like. Nura Sediqe - March 27, 2022 In the past few years, in schools across the country, girls wearing hijab have been targeted by fellow classmates and teachers
Does Putin really want regime change in Ukraine? Alexander Downes - February 9, 2022 The research suggests this rarely works. But countries keep trying anyway.
Biden promises to fight transnational corruption. But will the U.S. target friends as well as foes? Victor Peskin and Mieczysław Boduszyński - December 20, 2021 Washington tends to avoid confronting allies, this research shows
Biden has resettled the fewest refugees in the history of the U.S. program. What could change that? Reva Dhingra, Olivia Woldemikael, and Mitchell Kilborn - November 2, 2021 Refugees bring communities a net financial gain, research finds
Why the Pentagon can’t fully account for all its assets — in Afghanistan or anywhere else Christian I. Bale - September 22, 2021 Incomplete audits make wasteful spending more likely
What happens now to U.S. counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan? Sarah Kreps and Paul Lushenko - September 21, 2021 The lack of accountability for civilian casualties in drone strikes isn’t likely to change
What 9/11 taught us about the president, Congress and who makes war and peace Douglas Kriner - September 11, 2021 It’s more complicated than it appears.
20 years later, America’s ‘War on Terror’ language has gone global Somdeep Sen and John Collins - September 9, 2021 Right-wing governments and movements often use these words to justify authoritarian and racist policies.
Did the Afghanistan exit diminish U.S. credibility among its allies? Probably not. Ronald Krebs and Jennifer Spindel - August 31, 2021 Prolonged wars make allies nervous, our research on Vietnam shows.
The U.S. couldn’t build Afghanistan a democracy. That rarely works. Jacqueline L. Hazelton - August 31, 2021 Regimes battling a counterinsurgency often depend on corruption to stay in power
Afghanistan’s security forces unraveled this month. What broke their seven-year stalemate with the Taliban? Yuri M. Zhukov and Stephen Biddle - August 31, 2021 The dynamics behind this kind of collapse are more common than you might think
Taliban leaders are back in charge in Afghanistan. Can they control their own army? Jean Lachapelle, Dan Slater, and Adam E. Casey - August 26, 2021 What we know from other victorious rebellions
How resettling Afghan refugees might help Afghanistan’s future Margaret Peters and David Leblang - August 25, 2021 Migrants help their home countries by building trade ties and by sending back both cash and political knowledge.
Groups like the Taliban have seized power elsewhere. Will the Taliban face similar difficulties governing? Raphael Lefevre - August 24, 2021 The research shows how hard it is to go from armed rebellion to leadership
Baroness, ‘Collapse’: The Week In One Song Christopher Federico - August 20, 2021 Afghanistan’s government collapses.
5 ways the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan will hurt Pakistan Fahd Humayun - August 16, 2021 Pakistan’s relationship with its own religious groups — and with Washington — just got more complicated
What are the Taliban’s next moves? Thiemo Fetzer, Pedro Souza, Oliver Vanden Eynde, and Austin L. Wright - August 9, 2021 Here’s the research on earlier withdrawals from Afghanistan.
The Taliban has seized more cities, despite U.S. efforts to build a strong Afghan military. What happened? Rachel Tecott - August 8, 2021 Persuading partners to emulate the U.S. military approach doesn’t necessarily work, new research finds
Can the U.S. and India depend on each other? Christopher Clary - August 1, 2021 Here are the takeaways from the July 2021 bilateral meetings.
Northern Afghanistan once kept out the Taliban. Why has it fallen so quickly this time? Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili - July 27, 2021 Political and ethnic tensions have fueled new discord — and the Taliban has capitalized on these grievances
Olympic officials resisted pressure to ban Iran from the Tokyo Games, but they’ve banned teams before Thandiwe Keet, Andrew Bertoli, and Aleksandra Smajevic - July 27, 2021 In these 9 cases, sporting authorities tried to ban a country from international competition — sometimes for years
The Taliban isn’t the only challenge for the Afghanistan government Dipali Mukhopadhyay - July 7, 2021 The U.S. withdrawal leaves these big questions for the Ghani administration
What would persuade South Asians to get vaccinated against covid-19? Syeda ShahBano Ijaz - May 21, 2021 New research suggests a way to change minds.
The U.S. is pulling out of Afghanistan. Don’t expect an al-Qaeda reboot. Daniel Byman - April 30, 2021 Here’s why the country won’t necessarily become a base for international terrorist attacks
Five things to watch as the U.S. prepares to exit Afghanistan Asfandyar Mir - April 25, 2021 For Afghans, the conflict enters a new phase
Killing Joke, ‘Exit’: The Week In One Song Christopher Federico - April 16, 2021 An exit from Afghanistan.
Afghans want peace. New data show they’re open to a surprising number of options. Renard Sexton and Christoph Zurcher - March 29, 2021 Our survey found Taliban power-sharing was not a dealbreaker.
Negotiating peace the same old way doesn’t work. Here’s what does. Séverine Autesserre - March 21, 2021 Over 20 years of research, these three things emerged as key to building a lasting peace
Trump changed how the U.S. assigns the label ‘terrorist.’ Can the Biden administration change it back? Samuel M. Hickey and Manuel Reinert - February 11, 2021 Trump changed ‘designation’ from a foreign policy tool to one aimed at influencing American public opinion
Why the Taliban agreed to let more girls in Afghanistan go to school Jori Breslawski - January 5, 2021 Afghan girls outside a temporary shelter in Kabul last month.
A covid-19 vaccine might be tough to distribute in countries at war Jori Breslawski - November 12, 2020 Misinformation is just one of the challenges
What will America’s commitment to Afghanistan look like after the election? Asfandyar Mir - November 1, 2020 The peace negotiations are in flux, and the Taliban has ramped up the violence
How a possible Biden victory is shaping international politics, even before Nov. 3 Scott Wolford and Cathy X. Wu - October 21, 2020 Americans aren’t the only ones watching the 2020 presidential election closely
A closer look at Congo’s Islamist rebels Judith Verweijen and Daniel Fahey - September 28, 2020 Claims about links to the Islamic State may hamper civilian protection
Why Trump’s alleged comments about soldiers brought so much outrage Lauren Prather and Danielle Gilbert - September 11, 2020 This study examines who Americans think deserves government support.
The military is making changes in response to Black Lives Matter protests. That’s good for fighting wars. Jason Lyall - July 27, 2020 New research looks at ethnic and racial inequalities in armies across 250 different wars
Russia’s disinformation campaigns are targeting African Americans Žilvinas Švedkauskas, Michel Salzer, and Chonlawit Sirikupt - July 23, 2020 Russia is masking its involvement by outsourcing its disinformation operations to West Africa
At the heart of Trump’s Taliban bounty crisis are questions about the President’s Daily Brief Michael Poznansky - July 2, 2020 Presidential decision making relies on good intel
Why didn’t the U.S. rebuke Russia for its Taliban bounty deal? Four things to know. Asfandyar Mir - July 1, 2020 The Trump administration’s response seems unusual, on a number of levels
Despite U.S. sanctions, the International Criminal Court will keep investigating alleged war crimes in Afghanistan Stephen Chaudoin and Kelebogile Zvobgo - June 16, 2020 The U.S. public may not agree with Trump’s move
The Taliban’s political leaders signed a peace deal — but its military commanders could put that at risk Zachary Karabatak - March 15, 2020 The two arms don’t necessarily share the same incentives for peace
Why the International Criminal Court will investigate possible U.S. war crimes — even if the Trump administration says it can’t Kelebogile Zvobgo - March 8, 2020 My research suggests Americans support the investigation
If the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, will its military contractors stay? That’s not clear. Deborah Avant - February 28, 2020 Here’s what we know about this invisible army.
Trump wants a deal with the Taliban. Will it hurt him at home? Michaela Mattes and Jessica Weeks - February 28, 2020 Our research looks at how Americans view hawks and doves.
Trump and Modi will meet in India this week. Here’s what to expect. Christopher Clary - February 23, 2020 India is a key strategic partner — but trade, Kashmir and Pakistan complicate the relationship
The U.S. may be close to a peace deal in Afghanistan. Here are 3 big takeaways. Asfandyar Mir - February 20, 2020 How can the U.S. prevent a civil war and international terrorism while getting out of its longest war?
Does Trump need Congress’s approval to go to war with Iran? Andrew Rudalevige - January 4, 2020 That depends on whether Congress wants to try to stop him.
This recent poll shows how Americans think about the war in Afghanistan Shibley Telhami and Connor Kopchick - January 3, 2020 The Afghanistan Papers showed how the U.S. government misled the public. Will that change minds?
The London Bridge knife attacker was a bad risk for release. Here’s why. Mary Beth Altier and Emma Leonard Boyle - December 20, 2019 Our research helps reveal which terrorists can be rehabilitated — and which might not be.
Don’t expect Afghanistan to have a Western-style government. This explains why. Romain Malejacq - December 17, 2019 It’s a delusion to think warlords will quietly fade away
If you’re surprised by what’s in the Afghanistan Papers, you haven’t been paying attention Jason Lyall - December 12, 2019 In these five key areas, scholarly research could have helped policymakers and strategists make better decisions
Biden plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Here’s what we learned about America’s longest war. Elizabeth N. Saunders - December 11, 2019 Here are experts’ key takeaways on the war in Afghanistan, drawn from the Afghanistan Papers.
Yes, aid workers are getting killed more often. But why? Emily K. M. Scott - November 26, 2019 More and more, humanitarian workers get killed in their own countries.
In Somalia, can al-Shabab be defeated? Here’s why a nonmilitary option might succeed. Christian Taylor - November 5, 2019 It’s critical to keep defectors from rejoining.
No, Trump probably won’t start a war to distract from his difficulties. Here’s what he’ll do instead. Valerie Morkevičius and Danielle Lupton - October 16, 2019 Expect an even more chaotic foreign policy
Afghanistan holds elections Saturday. Here’s what to know about its democratic process. Dipali Mukhopadhyay - September 26, 2019 This election could enable the Afghan state to better serve its citizens and hold space against extremism for the international community.
Afghanistan’s election on Saturday could be bloodier than expected. This explains why. Elise Burr and Andrew Shaver - September 25, 2019 Until now, the Taliban had good reason to avoid killing civilians as they tried to vote. That’s changed.
Here’s why the Taliban might still want to negotiate with the U.S. Rebecca Best and Navin Bapat - September 12, 2019 It’s riven by factions and losing loyalists to the Islamic State
Trump’s nominated a new national security advisor. Don’t expect that to change much about Trump’s foreign policy. Paul Musgrave - September 10, 2019 Goodbye to John Bolton. Hello to Robert C. O’Brien.
Here’s how airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed paramilitary groups in Iraq threaten post-ISIS stability Renad Mansour - September 8, 2019 What a rift in the understanding between formal and de facto armed groups could mean for Iraq
Trump canceled his secret meeting with the Taliban. The negotiations were in trouble anyway. Jason Lyall - September 8, 2019 Four big obstacles to peace remain
U.S. military confrontation with Iran would be unpopular. Here’s why. Jason Brownlee - August 19, 2019 Survey data shows when Americans are – and aren’t – up for intervention.
Here’s how India’s decision to cut Kashmir’s autonomy will affect South Asia — and the world Asfandyar Mir - August 8, 2019 Watch these four key relationships.
Iran’s cooperation with the Taliban could affect talks on U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan Ariane M. Tabatabai - August 8, 2019 Here’s what’s motivating the recently publicized ties.
The Treaty of Versailles was signed June 28, 1919. So why don’t countries formalize peace today? Tanisha Fazal - June 26, 2019 Here’s how peace treaties have changed in the past 100 years.
No, a downed drone does not give Trump the authority to start a war. He still needs congressional authorization. Andrew Rudalevige - June 22, 2019 Two articles of the Constitution and two statutes offer guidance.
Trump pardoned a soldier convicted of murder. Is he hurting military effectiveness? Michael Robinson - May 14, 2019 Here are 4 takeaways from recent events in civilian-military politics.
Trump claims he’s the greatest hostage negotiator ever. So why did he make it harder to bring Americans home? Danielle Gilbert - April 29, 2019 The “cheif hostage negotiator” doesn’t seem to understand how American policy works.
Dragon power is awesome. But it can’t tell you how to rule. Joshua Schwartz - April 28, 2019 The ‘Game of Thrones’ dragons reveal what military power can — and cannot — achieve.
Would Trump label Mexican cartels terrorist organizations? Brian Phillips - March 26, 2019 This type of shift could have serious policy implications.
The U.S. is now negotiating with the Taliban. Would negotiations work with al-Shabab? Peter Mackenzie and Joanne Crouch - February 8, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83536" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Kenya Red Cross personnel help a
The point of the Afghanistan ‘peace deal’ is simple: The U.S. wants to get out James Lebovic - January 31, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83301" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Former insurgents surrender their weapons during
Hoping that peace comes to Afghanistan? Dream on. Barbara Walter - January 30, 2019 People react to cease-fires and peace settlements the same way
This is the one norm Trump didn’t break when he pulled troops out of Syria Alice Hunt Friend - January 6, 2019 Over the holidays, President Trump lashed out at outgoing Defense
Here’s why Russia keeps hosting Afghanistan peace talks that will almost certainly fail Samuel Ramani - January 2, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82023" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov opens
U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan raises big questions Asfandyar Mir - December 23, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81955" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A U.S. flag is seen at
The U.S. believes that kidnapped journalist Austin Tice is still alive. Here are 5 things to know about global kidnapping. Danielle Gilbert - December 4, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81014" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Debra Tice speaks about her son,
There’s another way to build peace. And it doesn’t come from the top down. Séverine Autesserre - October 23, 2018 [caption id="attachment_79254" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Women line up outside a polling
Privatizing the U.S. effort in Afghanistan seemed a bad idea. Now it’s even worse. Deborah Avant - September 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77550" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. troops wait for their helicopter
5 key lessons from the Taliban’s deadly resurgence in Afghanistan Jason Lyall - August 19, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76876" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An Afghan National Army soldier keeps
Why Pakistan’s election had such an ambiguous outcome Pradeep Chhibber and Adnan Naseemullah - August 9, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76517" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A portrait of Imran Khan, head
Malala is building more schools in Pakistan. That’s not likely to reduce support for extremism. Madiha Afzal - April 7, 2018 [caption id="attachment_71862" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai walks
Afghanistan’s road to peace won’t be an easy one Asfandyar Mir - March 30, 2018 Is there hope for an end to the long war
How to keep armed groups from using land mines Simon Hug, Livia Schubiger, Skrede Gleditsch, and Julian Wucherpfennig - February 28, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69864" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Workers clear a 270,000-square-meter field of
Russia and the U.S. just defused a potential crisis in Syria — and showed us how to back away from a war Austin Carson - February 20, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69449" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during
To win ‘hearts and minds’ in Afghanistan, some aid programs worked better than others Rebecca Wolfe and Jason Lyall - February 19, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69365" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Afghan youths look over the city
Russia is looking to engage with the Taliban. Here’s why. Samuel Ramani - January 15, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68101" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A U.S. soldier patrols in Asad
What’s behind the Islamist protests in Pakistan? Niloufer Siddiqui - December 8, 2017 [caption id="attachment_67061" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of different religious groups hold
The new U.S. plan in Afghanistan may add a local militia. That might be a bad idea. Govinda Clayton and Andrew Thomson - December 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66860" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Soldiers of NATO's Resolute Support Mission
Here’s why the Trump administration may actually want Congress to pass a new authorization for military force Andrew Rudalevige - November 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66466" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In this photo from Nov. 6, U.S.
The Islamic State is more like a street gang than like other terrorist groups Matthew Phillips and Matthew Valasik - November 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62026" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A member loyal to the Islamic