Weatherhead Center for International Affairs

Is social media responsible for what happens to users? — Harvard Gazette Landmark suit to examine 1996 law, questions about mental health, other harms, role of website design.

In this Gazette interview, Glenn Cohen explains why the current trial on social media addiction with Meta and Google is testing tech’s insulation from liability—and may reshape the public’s relationship with social media. https://loom.ly/BH8n7pU

"The US and Israeli attack on Iran was not a sudden war. It was the final act of a crisis that had been built step by step over weeks," writes Evren Balta. "But the fact that a war is predictable does not mean its outcome is manageable." Read more: https://loom.ly/61zat9M

Book cover for Billionaire Backlash and publisher quote set against duotone red background.

Scandals don’t just hijack the news cycle—they can be used to fight back. From VW to Cambridge Analytica to Samsung, the authors of Billionaire Backlash show how public outrage at corporate abuse can force policy change and revive democracy. https://loom.ly/7BfaJ5s

Two-toned grey background with image of man pointing at a presentation screen in front of an audience. There is also an aerial image of the Knafel Building. The words, "Upcoming events, week of March 1, 2026" are typeset in black.

Check out our events for the week of March 1, 2026.
https://loom.ly/ZzN_5bc

<em>Population and Development Review</em> | Population Council Journal | Wiley Online Library In this study, we propose and evaluate a new framework for understanding “lowest-low” fertility in East Asia, emphasizing the link between the desire for children and marriage. Recognizing that delay....

My job market paper has finally found a home. In this paper, we examine the role of fertility desires as a new explanation for the decline in marriage in East Asia, where parenthood is an integral component of normative family expectations.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Celebrating Ramadan while living in fear Muslims around the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. But for immigrant communities in the U.S., those celebrations are being tempered by fears of ICE.

Muslims around the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. But for immigrant communities in the US, those celebrations are being tempered by fears of ICE. Hear Nancy Khalil, former Weatherhead grad student, on WBUR's On Point: https://loom.ly/fOxZ5p8

Zoom screenshot of five panelists at a seminar.

Venezuela is at a crossroads: post-Maduro doesn’t yet mean democracy. Panelists at our Tuesday Seminar with DRCLAS warn the window is closing—real change depends less on Washington and more on Venezuelan civil society’s power to organize, mobilize, and resist. https://loom.ly/v_51GAE

Who was ‘El Mencho’? What drug lord’s killing means for Mexico The US-backed operation that killed 'El Mencho' sparks a wave of violence across the country.

I was interviewed by @aljazeera.com on El Mencho's killing in #Mexico. My key message: Kingpin arrests matter symbolically, but globally networked illicit supply chains are built to withstand leadership loss. @socsci.ox.ac.uk
Article: www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/...

My first preprint is up!

Qualitative Methods in the Digital Era: How computation entangles fieldwork?

Drawing on 8 years collecting multiple types of data on Brazil’s environmental state, I reflect on how abductive fieldwork is changing.

Comments welcomed

osf.io/preprints/so...

Atul Gawande sits in conversation with Erez Manela, with a beige/red video player icon overlaid.

If you missed our Jodidi Lecture with Dr. Atul Gawande—on the dismantling of USAID—the video is now available on our YouTube channel: https://loom.ly/bAfQY2I

Meet scholars and practitioners who are studying the means to sustain peace after conflict, in this new video series from the Global Scholars Network on Identity & Conflict. Insights from Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Lebanon, Pakistan, Chile, and more. https://loom.ly/3zd73UQ

How Urban Planning Plays a Vital Role in Supporting Older Adults Aging in Place - Harvard Global Health Institute Professor Forsyth addresses key questions about policy, planning, and the role of the built environment in supporting culturally sensitive, socially connected, and resilient systems of care for older ...

How can urban planning support older adults aging in place?

In our latest article, Prof. Ann Forsyth, of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, answers questions on how housing, transit & public space design can boost independence, safety & connection.

Read more: 📌 bit.ly/4tUnSHB

We are looking forward to hosting our terrific panelists and moderator!
erezmanela.bsky.social
dsallentess.bsky.social
davidrarmitage.bsky.social
emleake.bsky.social

A satirical illustration shows personifications of Britain, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and America with their respective flags, each making statements about independence and sovereignty. The image is titled "The Belligerent Plenipo's" and it is from the Library of Congress.

Join us next week! On March 4 at 12pm on zoom, we'll host a Weatherhead Forum on the impact of the American Revolution and US Declaration of Independence on international affairs over the past 250 years. To register: https://loom.ly/8hEhxBk

Stability as strategy: Japan’s moment for global leadership Rising anti-China sentiment may have contributed to Takaichi’s strong mandate.

Read Director Christina Davis' op-ed, "Stability as strategy: Japan’s moment for global leadership," in @japantimes.co.jp. www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...

Two-toned green background with and image of people watching a panel of speakers at the front of a room with a projection screen behind them. There is another image of a spiral stairwell. The words "Upcoming events, week of February 22, 2026" are typeset in white at the top.

Check out our events for the week of February 22, 2026.
https://loom.ly/qTLcPQE

Announcing the 2026 Political Economy of Climate and Environment (PECE) Conference!

When: 9/2/2026

Where: Harvard

CFP: www.pece-conference.org/cambridge-20...

Submit your papers or apply to attend: forms.gle/6y7YUoxJ6HTsz4cy8

Sponsored by @weatherheadcenter.bsky.social and the Sala Institute

Learn more about: Threatened Reactions to Indigenous Population Growth Project Title: Threatened Reactions to Indigenous Population Growth Marco Aviña, Harvard University Marco Aviña is a Ph.D. candidate and a James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Ph.D. Scholar in Inequality and Wealth Concentration in the department of government at Harvard University. Marco studies how diversity, inequality, and exclusion shape public opinion and political behavior. His dissertation examines the nexus between race and class in the U.S.

Research grantee Marco Aviña studies how diversity, inequality, and exclusion shape public opinion and political behavior. Read more about his project here:

Trump Is Playing Good Cop/Bad Cop With Europe The United States is conducting diplomacy by way of the "Law and Order" television show.

Because Trump’s enduring aim is to extract concessions and tributes from friend and foe alike, sowing as much division as possible is an obvious move, writes columnist @stephenwalt.bsky.social.

The Predatory Hegemon Ever since Donald Trump first became U.S. president, in 2017, commentators have searched for an adequate label to describe his approach to U.S. foreign relations. Writing in these pages, the political...

@stephenwalt.bsky.social warns that Trump’s grand strategy—best described as predatory hegemony—could make the United States less secure and prosperous in the long run.

Two-toned crimson background with an aerial image of the Harvard Campus and another image of two men sitting in chairs with one man speaking to the audience. The words, " Upcoming events, week of February 15, 2026" are typeset in white.

Check out our events for the week of February 15, 2026.
https://loom.ly/3L9yf7c

Wide angle shot of Atul Gawande speaking from the podium in front a packed lecture all.

Atul Gawande gives lecture from podium, with his hand outstretched.

Atul Gawande and Erez Manela are seated in leather chairs at the front of a lecture hall.

Group shot of Atul Gawande and former USAID staff.

Thank you to Dr. Atul Gawande for sharing his take on the dismantling of USAID one year later. The results are grim, but there is always reason for hope. And many thanks to all the people who showed up to the event—you made it a success! Video coming soon in case you missed it.

Group of two dozen people standing in front of yellow autumn foliage.

Join the Weatherhead Scholars Program at Harvard next year! We invite leaders from the military, diplomacy, government, nonprofits & business. Research, connect, network. Apply by March 5: loom.ly/AlcAtvU

A digital collage displays statistics on child and adult deaths from various diseases due to discontinued funding, with bold numeric data and text boxes overlapping across the image.

Join us TODAY at 4:30pm—in person only—at Tsai Auditorium to hear Dr. Atul Gawande talk about USAID one year after its dismantling. We recommend getting there early for a seat! Register here: https://loom.ly/Z_QCcQ4

Thursday: www.hks.harvard.edu/events/break...

Tomorrow: www.hks.harvard.edu/events/pride...

Our research cluster on global LGBTQI+ human rights is sponsoring several events this week—including tonight, tomorrow, and Thursday. Check them out! https://loom.ly/R8nMeD0

Nuclear Arms Control Era Comes to End Amid Global Rush for New Weapons

ICYMI: NYT overview of the expiration of New START, with a brief quote from yours truly (and quotes from many others): www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...

Two toned gold background with an arial image of a modern office building and another of a large auditorium filled with audience members and two speakers at the front of the room.

Check out our events for the week of February 8, 2026.
https://loom.ly/y3HvU4w

Unification Past and Future?: Northern Ireland and Historical Case Studies Join us in collaboration with the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights on February 9 for a lunchtime conversation to discuss possible futures for Ireland and Northern Ireland, drawing on Germany and othe...

Great event on Monday 2/9 including Center Director Melani Cammett! Panelists will discuss possible futures for Ireland and Northern Ireland, drawing on Germany and other historical case studies that offer insight on building a shared political community after division and conflict.