Maxwell School News and Commentary
Filtered by: International Affairs
McFate Weighs In on US Developing Portable Laser Weapons in South China Morning Post Article
“Everyone wants light and portable laser weapons but it’s far off. Essentially, you also need a portable power plant, which is unrealistic…Lasers are more hype than reality, and the U.S. is investing US$1 billion a year to bridge this gap. However, it may go on for years,” says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.
See related: China, Defense & Security, International Affairs
McDowell Comments on the Use of China’s Renminbi as a Global Currency in The Wire China
“China had economic motives to de-dollarize that predate sanction concerns,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science. “When the U.S. economy had a financial crisis, China ended up getting hurt. China figured, we should probably promote our own currency now.”
See related: China, Economic Policy, Government, International Affairs
Gueorguiev Quoted in NBC News Article on India Overtaking China as World’s Most Populous Country
What matters to China is consumer and investor confidence, "so it is not hard to see why Chinese officials are pushing back on the argument that a population decline spells economic decline," says Dimitar Gueorguiev, associate professor of political science.
See related: China, India, International Affairs
Campbell Article on the Sudanese Revolution Published in CounterPunch
"Progressive forces internationally must call for the arrest and trial of the military forces that have unleashed genocidal violence on the Sudanese peoples since 1989," writes Horace Campbell, professor of political science. "The Resistance Committees’ and the popular forces are calling for solidarity and non-intervention to push the process of transition from militarism to one where the peoples of Sudan can enter into new relations."
See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Middle East & North Africa
Murrett Talks to Newsweek About the Legacy of the Sinking of Russia's Black Sea Flagship, the Moskva
The visibility of losing their flagship for an entire fleet inevitably attracted attention, says retired Vice Admiral Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs. It proved that any and all Russian vessels approaching Ukraine's littoral waters were under threat, he adds.
See related: Conflict, Defense & Security, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
McFate Comments on China’s Military Capabilities in South China Morning Post Article
Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs, says China is far from being able to take the island. “China’s military is not ready to take Taiwan, which is why Xi Jinping ordered the military to be ready to take Taiwan by 2027, if told to do so,” he says.
See related: China, Conflict, East Asia, International Affairs
Murrett Discusses China’s Taiwan-Targeted Military Drills in Politico Article
That show of force was as much for “domestic consumption inside China” as it was for Taiwan, says retired Vice Adm. Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs. And the scale and intensity of the drills “were calibrated very, very carefully,” to minimize threat perceptions, he says.
See related: China, Conflict, East Asia, Government, International Affairs
McDowell Weighs in on Brazil-China Relationship in Washington Post Article
“When China and Brazil sign an agreement like this, it’s trying to put into place the infrastructure that would make it possible to use China’s currency, but that doesn’t mean that individual firms are going to choose that,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.
See related: China, Economic Policy, International Affairs, Latin America & the Caribbean
Maxwell Senior Francis Tang Honored by Overseas Press Club Foundation
The political science and international relations major hopes to bring ‘meaningful news to readers across the world.’
Gueorguiev Comments on China's Longest US Ambassador Vacancy in South China Morning Post
"China wants to get a sense, are you really serious about figuring out some way of turning down the heat or not," says Dimitar Gueorguiev, associate professor of political science. "And they have reason to be suspicious on where we're going with the electoral cycle in the U.S. and how risky it is."
See related: China, Foreign Policy, Government, United States