Maxwell School News and Commentary
Filtered by: Commentary
Gueorguiev and McFate Quoted in Radio Free Europe Article on China’s Control of Rare Earth Minerals
“What oil was to the 20th century, rare earth minerals are to the 21st,” says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs. “Microchips, green technology, and quantum computing all require rare earths, and China has the bulk of them. It's a national security imperative that goes beyond the stock market.”
See related: China, Federal, International Affairs, Trade, United States
McDowell Discusses the Mar-a-Lago Accord and the US Dollar in Deutsche Welle Interview
Part of the Mar-a-Lago Accord is essentially the goal to reduce U.S. debt service costs by forcing other countries to exchange existing U.S. bonds for 100-year, low- or no-interest bonds. “This is such an unprecedented idea. This is, in my opinion, the most kind of fantastical part of this,” says Daniel McDowell, Maxwell Advisory Board Professor of International Affairs.
See related: Economic Policy, Federal, International Affairs, Trade, U.S. Foreign Policy, United States
Koch Talks to KJZZ About Germany’s Cinematic Tradition of Stories Set in the Old West
“I think it was simply that across the communist world, they had become really enchanted by Western films. And the main reason that some people point to for this is that in 1960, “The Magnificent Seven,” that film was allowed into the Soviet Union, and it became this instant sensation,” says Natalie Koch, professor of geography and the environment.
See related: Europe, Media & Journalism
Banks Weighs In on Trump’s Get-Tough Approach to Student Protests in USA Today Article
Williams Banks, professor emeritus of public administration and international affairs, says chilling student protests risks quieting the country's conscience. Protests might be sometimes-inconvenient or messy, but young people have long provided a valuable values check about what the United States stands for, he says.
See related: Civil Rights, Federal, International Affairs, Law, Social Justice, U.S. Education, United States
Harrington Meyer and Silverstein Featured in The Atlantic Article on Grandparenting
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with our grandmothers,” says University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer. “But I think there’s plenty wrong with our welfare state.”
See related: Aging, Child & Elder Care, United States
As Trump's Budget Bill Moves Ahead in the House, Reeher Discusses What’s Next With LiveNOW from FOX
“The strategy is going to be walking a tight rope. You've got folks in the Freedom Caucus on the Republican Party in the House that want deeper cuts and more reassurances that these cuts are actually going to happen. And you've got moderate Republicans in the Senate that are worried about those cuts,” says Grant Reeher, professor of political science.
See related: Congress, Economic Policy, Political Parties, Taxation, United States
Lovely Speaks to China Daily About the Impact of President Trump’s Tariffs
“In some sectors, tariffs create no new jobs in the U.S., as trade is diverted to third countries rather than inducing new domestic production,” says Mary Lovely, professor emerita of economics.
See related: Canada, China, Federal, International Affairs, Latin America & the Caribbean, Tariffs, Trade, United States
Goodman Weighs In on French Politician Marine Le Pen’s Conviction in Associated Press Article
“I challenge the notion that there is a tsunami of support for Le Pen on this issue,” says John Goodman, assistant professor of political science by courtesy appointment. “Her appeal has been fast-tracked so it can be heard in the summer of 2026, well before the 2027 presidential election, and significantly faster than a typical criminal case.”
See related: Europe, Government, Law
Williams Article on Europe, Multilateral Nuclear Plans Published in Foreign Policy
“For 75 years, America’s NATO allies have relied on the U.S. nuclear arsenal to provide for the defense of Europe. This was never a terribly logical policy. The linchpin of the policy was a firm European belief in the steadfast commitment of Washington to the security of Europe. Today, that no longer holds,” says Michael Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Europe, Government, International Affairs, International Agreements, National Security
Monarch Speaks With Newsweek and NY Post About Trump’s Tariffs, Rising Prices
See related: Federal, International Affairs, Tariffs, Trade, United States