Humanities & Society

The markets essentially shrugged when the U.S. removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a special operation. But that could change if the U.S. follows through on other geopolitical threats, says political scientist Timm Betz at Washington University in St. Louis.

Faculty experts in political science, history and law at Washington University in St. Louis discuss the recent capture of the Venezuelan president and offer context about President Donald Trump’s latest challenges to international order.

The unfolding crisis in Venezuela, as well as President Trump’s subsequent threats to countries including Greenland, Colombia, Mexico and Iran, threaten international relations and embolden adversaries. David Carter, an expert in international relations and territorial conflict at Washington University in St. Louis, explains why.

Historically, public opinion has constrained presidents’ use of unilateral power. But political scientist Dino P. Christenson, at Washington University in St. Louis, explains why public opposition to President Trump’s actions in Venezuela is unlikely to sway him.

The Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management has recognized Shiran Victoria Shen, an assistant professor of political science in Arts & Sciences, for her environment policy research.

When it comes to curbing gun violence in America, the field of public health should consider focusing less on the guns themselves and more on the human emotions that make people reach for guns in the first place, says a researcher from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dan Butler, a political scientist in Arts & Sciences, brings civic lessons to life through Lego bricks. He created a series of stop-motion videos that turn pop culture into lessons on the U.S. government for high school students.

A new paper from Andrea Katz, associate professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis and expert on constitutional law and presidential power, disputes a long-standing claim that America’s founders agreed the president holds an unrestricted power to fire executive officials.

Research from a psychologist at Washington University in St. Louis has found that anger is the emotion that can drive abrupt shifts in political attitudes.

The Missouri Legislature has passed a plan to redraw the state’s congressional maps, potentially handing a Democrat-leaning seat to Republicans and giving Republicans a 7-1 district advantage. Partisan mid-decade redistricting, once very rare, could become the new normal, says an expert on voting rights at Washington University in St. Louis.