Garčević Publishes New Book on Montenegro-Serbia Relations
Professor Vesko Garčević of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University has published a new book examining the relationship between Montenegro and Serbia. The book, “Montenegro and Serbia: A Velvet Divorce?”, co-authored with Kenneth Morrison, presents the first comprehensive analysis of these two Balkan nations’ relationship from the late 1980s to…
Mako Nominated for Two University-Wide Teaching Awards
Professor Shamiran Mako has been nominated for two prestigious teaching honors: the 2025 Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2025 Provost’s Scholar-Teacher of the Year Award. These nominations recognize her exceptional contributions to both scholarship and teaching in international relations and Middle Eastern politics.
Longman’s Perspectives from Pre-Genocide Rwanda
Professor Timothy Longman’s review essay in Political Science Quarterly analyzes Marie-Eve Desrosiers’ book Trajectories of Authoritarianism in Rwanda, challenging the notion of authoritarian regimes as inherently stable. Through a case study of Rwanda’s pre-genocide regimes, Longman reveals the precariousness of authoritarian control and highlights how weakness led to extreme violence.
Rwanda’s Elections: A Façade of Democracy, According to Expert Tim Longman
Professor Tim Longman criticizes Rwanda’s presidential elections as neither free nor fair. He highlights voter intimidation, opposition suppression, and media censorship under Paul Kagame’s rule. Despite economic progress, Longman argues that Rwanda remains authoritarian, with the ruling party using genocide memory to justify its power.
Behind the Scenes: Dialogue on Democracy
A special pre-release screening of the documentary War Games: Six Hours to Save Democracy and a following panel discussion featuring film participants took place on April 23, 2024. The talk was moderated by Faizaan Firoz, one of the Dean’s Ambassadors for the Pardee School, and the event provided valuable insights into the filmmaking process and…
Insights from Portuguese Africa
The African Studies Center hosted Simmons University Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations Abel Djassi Amado March 18 for another in the Center’s Walter Rodney seminar series. Professor Amado, a BU PhD in Political Science and African Studies, spoke on “Anticolonial Nationalism in ‘Portuguese’ Africa and the Language Question.,” Professor Amado focused on…
Brulé Examines How Climate Crises Alter Women’s Political Representation
“Not only can climate change induce migration, but, I argue, climate shocks…can also destabilize gendered social systems…initiate political transformations… [and[ compel women to mobilize—as representatives and their supporters—to redirect local and national political agendas to respond to the vulnerabilities exposed by climate shocks.”
Mako Publishes Article on Disputed Territories in Iraq
By focusing on Iraq’s disputed territories, Professor Mako demonstrates how hybrid governance in areas of limited statehood can foster competition over territorial control by state and non-state actors at the local level, and between national and subnational governments.
Schmidt Explains “Discursive Institutionalism” During Federal University of Minas Lecture
Professor Schmidt discussed the philosophical foundations of “Discursive Institutionalism,” the many different methodologies it encompasses, and the nature of ideational and discursive power, plus considered different examples of its application to political economy and democracy.
Schmidt Ranked a Top Scientist in Law and Political Science
Research.com’s annual list is designed to offer the academic community more visibility and exposure to the influential research contributions made by those at the forefront of law and political science.
Brulé Quoted on Global Gender Equality and Anti-Feminist Backlashes
In citing Professor Brule’s research, The New York Times discusses the backlash that results if patriarchal bargains that make women’s autonomy dependent on men break down-from the U.S. to India.
Schmidt Delivers European University Institute Keynote on Discourse Analysis
Professor Schmidt discussed discourse analysis in the context of her analytic framework of “discursive institutionalism,” which focuses on the substantive content of ideas and the interactive processes of discourse in an institutional contex.
Brulé’s Women, Power, and Property Wins APSA Luebbert Prize
The APSA describes Brulé’s book as “packed with insight not just about gender but also about power. She shows how seemingly token institutional reform – gender reservations – can have profound knock on effects on the broader culture and distribution of power, an substantive policies.”
Schmidt Article Ranked Fifth in Web of Science Citation Index
Prof. Vivien Schmidt’s article was ranked fifth of all articles published in Political Science in the Web of Science citation index between 2010-2014 (out of a total of 29,881 articles).
Fighting for a ‘Food Democracy’
At this Center for the Study of Europe sponsored event, attendees learned how trying to make Germans eat vegetables nearly destroyed the Green Party.
Norton Awarded APSA Grant
Pardee School Professor Augustus Richard Norton has been awarded a research grant by the American Political Science Association.