International policy and diplomacy

How does the U.S. government choose whether to outsource its work abroad to contractors from the country of implementation or rely on international vendors? In a new study titled “Developing capacity and reducing risk? An analysis of federal...

During the war in Afghanistan, America’s longest war, the Taliban suffered high casualties and territorial losses against a well-funded and well-armed opponent. Despite these circumstances, the Taliban endured the lengthy war, and ultimately emerged...

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is planning to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week. The meeting could affect Brazil's relationship with the United States, due to the current circumstances in Ukraine.  "It is not possible for...

Major developments in the fight against ISIS took place in the past week, and the Ford School's Javed Ali, associate professor of practice, whose area of expertise is national security. Early in the week, a 42-year-old American woman, Allison...

The Ford School and its research centers will be hosting a variety of events during February, Black History Month, examining a range of topics concerning the struggles for racial equity. The Center for Racial Justice, Weiser Diplomacy Center and...

Sudanese civilians continue to protest the military coup, calling for democratic and free elections. Susan Page, professor of practice, weighed in on the situation. "The military and security forces have no shame. They continue to use live bullets...

Japan has taken on a role in Asian affairs as a "courteous power", according to a new book by Ford School professor John Ciorciari, director of the Weiser Diplomacy Center and International Policy Center, and co-author Kiyoteru Tsutsui of Stanford...

Ford School of Public Policy experts can discuss the Biden administration's diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The move sends a message to protest human rights abuses in China while still allowing U.S. athletes to compete.  John...

University of Michigan graduate students and their faculty adviser are attending the two-week COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. The students will observe the negotiations, attend side events and interact with various experts. U-M has sent...

Thirty-two Ford School students participated in the second annual International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise (ISCNE) on October 1 and 2, co-hosted by the U.S. Army War College and the Weiser Diplomacy Center. Designed for graduate students,...

A warm welcome to Shannon Farrell, who will serve as the new Diplomat in Residence (DIR) for the North Central region. She will sit at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan and will offer advice and guidance to...

Following a recent meeting between American and Brazilian diplomats that diverged into a discussion about democracy, Melvyn Levitsky discounted the threat of a potential military coup. "I knew the Brazilian military very well. And although I...

The United States has finally left Afghanistan, leaving behind thousands of Afghans fearing for their lives due to connections with the U.S. John Ciorciari, associate professor of public policy and director of the Weiser Diplomacy Center and...

John Ciorciari, associate professor of public policy and director of the Weiser Diplomacy Center and International Policy Center, spoke to CNBC about Afghanistan's fall to the Taliban after President Biden withdrew the U.S. military from the...

With stunning speed, the Taliban has overthrown the Western-backed government of Afghanistan, bringing a chaotic end to a two-decade effort by the United States and others to remake the country. More than 3,500 U.S. and allied troops and tens of...

Theary Seng, a human rights lawyer, has been charged with treason in Cambodia for attempting to build a democratic system and defending human rights.   “Theary has been a courageous champion for democracy and social justice in Cambodia for many...

Susan D. Page, professor of practice in international diplomacy, recounted South Sudan's journey to independence on the Deep Dish podcast from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. “On July 9th, it will be the 10th anniversary of south Sudan’s...

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a persistent problem all over the world. Some of the worst countries for GBV are located in Latin America. For example, Argentina  recorded the third-highest number of femicides in 2018, a rate of 1.1 per 100,000...

A group of state and national lawmakers urged President Biden to discuss the release of Paul Whelan, a Michigander currently being held in Russia, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week. John Ciorciari, associate...

Farouk Ophaso was honored by the Public Policy & International Affairs Program (PPIA)—a program designed to build diversity in public service—as one of their 40 Changemakers to mark their 40th anniversary. The University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford...

Ahead of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State's visit to Cambodia, foreign policy experts debated what the visit could mean. Many pointed to the relationship between Cambodia and China, including John Ciorciari, associate professor of public policy...

In speaking about his new book, “Sovereignty Sharing in Fragile States,” Ciorciari discusses what sovereignty sharing is, defining it as "consent-based agreements between a national government and international actors to share domestic authority,"...

“It matters in the sense that members of Congress and the president will be worried about the public reaction to the surge might affect the willingness to support either of these bills,” said Ann Lin, as a surge of migrants — including unaccompanied...

By Jack Eichner (BA '21) This week marks one year since the University of Michigan’s campus shut down. Questions swirled as students had to adjust to virtual learning while simultaneously adapting to new living situations in a rapidly evolving...