The Watson Institute for International Studies
 
 
 
 
 Heard on Open Source
"I think the wisest people in dealing with the Cold War were those who tried to question their own motives." - Abbott Gleason, author of A Liberal Education 
THE INSTITUTE
Gusenbauerˇ Three international political figures will be back in residence at Watson and giving public talks in the coming days - former Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (at right), Chile's past President Ricardo Lagos, and former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
ˇ The Review of International Political Economy has established its new editorial headquarters at the Institute.
ˇ The Year of India, based at Watson, continues to build momentum, with major conferences, public lectures, exhibitions, and more to come before the close of the academic year.
Salman RushdieEVENT REPORTS 
ˇ The traditional space between the public and private is disappearing - not only in international relations but in literature as well, renowned author Salman Rushdie (at right) said in a recent Year of India lecture.
ˇ Understanding the present political upheaval in the Middle East requires revisiting American and Soviet policy in the region during the Cold War, according to Columbia University Professor Rashid Khalidi, who spoke last month at Watson.
ˇ In New York City, Mexican immigrants' articulations of rights are neither uniform nor straightforward, Lehman College anthropologist Alyshia Gálvez said in a recent talk.
RESEARCH
ˇ Associate Professor Peter Andreas has received a Richard B. Salomon Faculty Research Award from Brown related to his forthcoming book, Smuggler Nation: How Illicit Trade Made America.
ˇ Senior Fellow Sue Eckert has seen "lots of discussion but not much visible progress" since the UN Security Council voted to reform its procedures for imposing sanctions on terrorists, she recently told policymakers preparing for the G8 Summit in June.
ˇ New visiting fellow Christian Schneider will help expand the Institute's research on border politics, illicit markets, and other issues related to international flows with support from the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Graduate StudentTEACHING AND TRAINING 
ˇ A groundbreaking new global MBA program is being launched by Brown University and the IE Business School of Spain.
ˇ James Doyle (at right) and other Latin American Studies graduate students recently presented their research in political violence, urban development, and public health.
ˇ Rhode Island teens will discuss global issues with US Sen. Jack Reed and other policymakers on Monday as part of the Choices Program's national Capitol Forum.
COMMENTARY 
ˇ "The conversion of the mainstream to the 'two-state solution' has come in a form that ensures that it will never happen." - Professor Nathaniel Berman, writing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Zeek.
ˇ "We tried to bring out of the shadows a program that is having a profound impact on American academics working with the military." - Professor James Der Derian, discussing his co-produced Human Terrain documentary in the San Antonio Express.
ˇ "The obsession with a distant and glorious past seemingly precludes the lessons learned from recent history." - Visiting Fellow Irena Stefoska, speaking on Voice of America about Greece and Macedonia's rival claims to such cultural icons as Alexander the Great.
ˇ "Since every word or gesture of every US top official is seen and replayed, the room for misunderstanding grows." - Adjunct Professor Linda B. Miller, writing about the Obama administration's foreign policy in Argentia.
Farzana ShaikhMULTIMEDIA: Watch a video of Farzana Shaikh (at right), of Chatham House, speaking on Pakistani identity. ... Listen to an Open Source series of poets on Haiti. ... Read Institute Director Michael Kennedy's comments on media and religion on The Immanent Frame. ... Follow the progress of the Institute-supported participatory budgeting experiment in Chicago, on Watsonblogs. ... Find out how the Economist debate on financial innovation ended between Ross Levine, director of the Institute's Rhodes Center, and Nobelist Joseph Stiglitz.
CALENDAR: Former Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer will speak on Monday, March 22, on the global economic crisis and its impact in post-Communist countries. ... Anthropologist Catherine Lutz gives a book talk on Wednesday, March 24, on Carjacked: The Culture of the Automobile & its Effect on our Lives. ... Gusenbauer speaks again on Thursday, March 25, on an international rebirth of social democracy. ... The full list of Watson events is available here.
Past newsletters and other Institute information are available here.