Watson School at Brown
@watsonschoolbrown.bsky.social
The Watson School of International and Public Affairs seeks to promote a just and peaceful world through research and teaching on the world’s most pressing economic, political and social policy challenges.
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Watson School of International and Public Affairs launches with ambitious plans for the coming year and beyond
Brown's first new school in over a decade, the Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs, launches on July 1. Plans for the new School include broadening the scope of research, e...
home.watson.brown.edu
The Thomas J. Watson Jr. School at @brown.edu officially launches today, bringing together top faculty and policy experts to tackle global challenges through interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
home.watson.brown.edu/news/2025-07...
home.watson.brown.edu/news/2025-07...
Techno-nationalism, Manufactured Messianism and Saving the Party-State One Chip at a Time — Why is technology so central to Xi's China? Benjamin Ho unpacks the political narrative behind China's high-tech ambitions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8pgn-62HJo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8pgn-62HJo
October 8, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Techno-nationalism, Manufactured Messianism and Saving the Party-State One Chip at a Time — Why is technology so central to Xi's China? Benjamin Ho unpacks the political narrative behind China's high-tech ambitions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8pgn-62HJo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8pgn-62HJo
The Watson School is now an affiliate of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, joining an international community dedicated to strengthening professional education in international affairs.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/llOU50ZVylQ
Learn more: https://ow.ly/llOU50ZVylQ
Welcoming New Affiliate: Brown University’s Watson School - APSIA
APSIA welcomes Brown University’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs as a new affiliate in its global network.
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October 7, 2026 at 6:10 PM
The Watson School is now an affiliate of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, joining an international community dedicated to strengthening professional education in international affairs.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/llOU50ZVylQ
Learn more: https://ow.ly/llOU50ZVylQ
WATCH LIVE: China’s Covid Response: Lessons for China’s Health Governance and Implications for the World — Joan Kaufman of Harvard Medical School examines China's Covid response and what the world can expect if the next disease threat emerges there.
https://www.youtube.com/live/xy_k1yjuV00
https://www.youtube.com/live/xy_k1yjuV00
China’s Covid Response: Lessons for China’s Health Governance and Implications for the World
From a public health perspective, China’s Covid response was excellent. Many infectious disease control best practices were put into place and China’s abilit...
www.youtube.com
October 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM
WATCH LIVE: China’s Covid Response: Lessons for China’s Health Governance and Implications for the World — Joan Kaufman of Harvard Medical School examines China's Covid response and what the world can expect if the next disease threat emerges there.
https://www.youtube.com/live/xy_k1yjuV00
https://www.youtube.com/live/xy_k1yjuV00
What Has Happened to Indian Democracy? Yogendra Yadav, Ashutosh Varshney and Yamini Aiyar discuss the current state of Indian democracy, its challenges, and its future, moderated by Patrick Heller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjoy8hAHtgU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjoy8hAHtgU
What Has Happened to Indian Democracy?
Join Yogendra Yadav, Ashutosh Varshney, and Yamini Aiyar for a panel discussion on the current state of Indian democracy, its challenges, and its future, moderated by Patrick Heller.
www.youtube.com
October 7, 2026 at 2:30 PM
What Has Happened to Indian Democracy? Yogendra Yadav, Ashutosh Varshney and Yamini Aiyar discuss the current state of Indian democracy, its challenges, and its future, moderated by Patrick Heller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjoy8hAHtgU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjoy8hAHtgU
Turkmenistan grows its arsenal of Chinese air defences as Russia’s role shrinks — Lyle Goldstein tells South China Morning Post Post why Turkmenistan is turning to China for air defenses.
https://ow.ly/teN450ZUZqO
https://ow.ly/teN450ZUZqO
Turkmenistan grows its arsenal of Chinese air defences as Russia’s role shrinks
Amid regional instability, Central Asian nations look beyond Moscow for arms as the war in Ukraine drains Russian stocks.
ow.ly
October 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Turkmenistan grows its arsenal of Chinese air defences as Russia’s role shrinks — Lyle Goldstein tells South China Morning Post Post why Turkmenistan is turning to China for air defenses.
https://ow.ly/teN450ZUZqO
https://ow.ly/teN450ZUZqO
From a comic about Providence’s former Chinatown to tenant advocacy work, Aidan Choi ’26 uses art to drive change. Now pursuing a dual MPA/MPH degree through the Watson School and Brown University School of Public Health he’s building toward a career in public service.
https://ow.ly/ioOg50ZUGaS
https://ow.ly/ioOg50ZUGaS
Aidan Choi: Bringing together art, policy and public health to create positive change
The Brown University MPA/MPH student is drawing on his undergraduate background in the humanities, social sciences and community engagement to help inform and empower vulnerable Rhode Islanders.
ow.ly
October 6, 2026 at 4:40 PM
From a comic about Providence’s former Chinatown to tenant advocacy work, Aidan Choi ’26 uses art to drive change. Now pursuing a dual MPA/MPH degree through the Watson School and Brown University School of Public Health he’s building toward a career in public service.
https://ow.ly/ioOg50ZUGaS
https://ow.ly/ioOg50ZUGaS
Asian Americans at a Crossroads: Model Minority and the Perpetual Foreigner — Elizabeth OuYang traces the history of the "perpetual foreigner" stereotype and how it still shapes perceptions of Asian Americans in civilian and military life today.
https://ow.ly/9hE050ZUFHp
https://ow.ly/9hE050ZUFHp
October 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Asian Americans at a Crossroads: Model Minority and the Perpetual Foreigner — Elizabeth OuYang traces the history of the "perpetual foreigner" stereotype and how it still shapes perceptions of Asian Americans in civilian and military life today.
https://ow.ly/9hE050ZUFHp
https://ow.ly/9hE050ZUFHp
The G7 Is Releasing Emergency Fuel Reserves. How Much Will It Help Americans? — In TIME, Jeff Colgan discusses how the G7's release of oil and fuel products could affect American consumers.
https://ow.ly/WwyJ50ZUzjM
https://ow.ly/WwyJ50ZUzjM
The G7 Is Releasing Emergency Fuel Reserves. How Much Will It Help Americans?
The International Energy Agency will coordinate the release of 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products over the next four months amid a global fuel shortage.
ow.ly
October 5, 2026 at 6:01 PM
The G7 Is Releasing Emergency Fuel Reserves. How Much Will It Help Americans? — In TIME, Jeff Colgan discusses how the G7's release of oil and fuel products could affect American consumers.
https://ow.ly/WwyJ50ZUzjM
https://ow.ly/WwyJ50ZUzjM
Think Trump’s $1.5 trillion Pentagon request is outrageous? This’ll blow your mind — In Mother Jones, The Costs of War Project's Heidi Peltier says the true scale of the military budget is much larger than reported.
https://ow.ly/AugN50ZTZ1u
https://ow.ly/AugN50ZTZ1u
Think Trump’s $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget request is outrageous? This'll blow your mind.
We already spend at least that much on the US military each year, and maybe a lot more.
ow.ly
October 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Think Trump’s $1.5 trillion Pentagon request is outrageous? This’ll blow your mind — In Mother Jones, The Costs of War Project's Heidi Peltier says the true scale of the military budget is much larger than reported.
https://ow.ly/AugN50ZTZ1u
https://ow.ly/AugN50ZTZ1u
AI and public policy: How they’re shaping each other — Watson faculty fellows Serena Booth and Suresh Venkatasubramanian join Dean John Friedman to talk AI, from its risks and opportunities to how we govern it.
Watch on YouTube: https://ow.ly/tOFv50ZTwrN
Watch on YouTube: https://ow.ly/tOFv50ZTwrN
October 2, 2026 at 6:00 PM
AI and public policy: How they’re shaping each other — Watson faculty fellows Serena Booth and Suresh Venkatasubramanian join Dean John Friedman to talk AI, from its risks and opportunities to how we govern it.
Watch on YouTube: https://ow.ly/tOFv50ZTwrN
Watch on YouTube: https://ow.ly/tOFv50ZTwrN
WATCH LIVE: Techno-nationalism, Manufactured Messianism and Saving the Party-State One Chip at a Time — Benjamin Ho explores how China's pursuit of high-tech goals has become a story of "manufactured messianism" that reinforces the Communist Party's hold on power. https://ow.ly/2QnV50ZRBw9
China Chat Techno-nationalism, Manufactured Messianism and Saving the Party-State One Chip at a Time
Since coming into power, President Xi has made the pursuit of high-tech goals a key priority in China’s geopolitical objectives. This pursuit of technologica...
ow.ly
October 2, 2026 at 4:00 PM
WATCH LIVE: Techno-nationalism, Manufactured Messianism and Saving the Party-State One Chip at a Time — Benjamin Ho explores how China's pursuit of high-tech goals has become a story of "manufactured messianism" that reinforces the Communist Party's hold on power. https://ow.ly/2QnV50ZRBw9
The cycle of hate: How Canada and the U.S. entered a cycle of hostility and how they can break it — Prerna Singh co-authored an opinion piece for The Conversation on how a "10-year cycle of hate" explains deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Canada.
https://ow.ly/UA9050ZTCEe
https://ow.ly/UA9050ZTCEe
The cycle of hate: How Canada and the U.S. entered a cycle of hostility and how they can break it
The psychology of hate helps explain how threats, poliitcal rhetoric and historical narratives can transform a displomatic dispute into lasting hostility.
ow.ly
October 2, 2026 at 2:30 PM
The cycle of hate: How Canada and the U.S. entered a cycle of hostility and how they can break it — Prerna Singh co-authored an opinion piece for The Conversation on how a "10-year cycle of hate" explains deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Canada.
https://ow.ly/UA9050ZTCEe
https://ow.ly/UA9050ZTCEe
New Trending Globally #podcast: How should we govern a technology as powerful and fast-moving as AI? Dean John Friedman talks with Watson faculty fellows Serena Booth and Suresh Venkatasubramanian about AI's opportunities, risks and the concern over "existential risk."
https://ow.ly/MrLG50ZTvMO
https://ow.ly/MrLG50ZTvMO
AI and public policy: How they’re shaping each other
Quickly and easily listen to Trending Globally: Politics and Policy for free!
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October 1, 2026 at 6:01 PM
New Trending Globally #podcast: How should we govern a technology as powerful and fast-moving as AI? Dean John Friedman talks with Watson faculty fellows Serena Booth and Suresh Venkatasubramanian about AI's opportunities, risks and the concern over "existential risk."
https://ow.ly/MrLG50ZTvMO
https://ow.ly/MrLG50ZTvMO
A recent The Boston Globe article cites the Climate Solutions Lab's energy tracker, which shows diesel prices surging to record highs since the war involving Iran began, with Rhode Island's average reaching $6.33 per gallon.
https://ow.ly/c0HF50ZTcWF
https://ow.ly/c0HF50ZTcWF
October 1, 2026 at 4:40 PM
A recent The Boston Globe article cites the Climate Solutions Lab's energy tracker, which shows diesel prices surging to record highs since the war involving Iran began, with Rhode Island's average reaching $6.33 per gallon.
https://ow.ly/c0HF50ZTcWF
https://ow.ly/c0HF50ZTcWF
Trump’s AI pact is voluntary and unenforceable: Former White House tech adviser — In an interview with CNBC, Suresh Venkatasubramanian discussed the need for regulation and independent oversight of AI.
https://ow.ly/vOmv50ZTcRW
https://ow.ly/vOmv50ZTcRW
Trump's AI pact is voluntary and unenforceable: Former White House tech adviser
Brown University's Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a former Assistant Director at the White House Office of Science and Tech Policy says AI policy should focus on protecting people from current, tangible harms through regulation and independent oversight, not hypothetical science-fiction style existential risks.
ow.ly
October 1, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Trump’s AI pact is voluntary and unenforceable: Former White House tech adviser — In an interview with CNBC, Suresh Venkatasubramanian discussed the need for regulation and independent oversight of AI.
https://ow.ly/vOmv50ZTcRW
https://ow.ly/vOmv50ZTcRW
Mind the Gap: How China’s Civilian Shipping Could Enable a Taiwan Invasion — Does China lack the sealift to invade Taiwan? Retired Navy Capt. Thomas Shugart says look at its commercial shipping fleet.
Watch the latest China Chat: https://ow.ly/w09250ZT8gh
Watch the latest China Chat: https://ow.ly/w09250ZT8gh
September 30, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Mind the Gap: How China’s Civilian Shipping Could Enable a Taiwan Invasion — Does China lack the sealift to invade Taiwan? Retired Navy Capt. Thomas Shugart says look at its commercial shipping fleet.
Watch the latest China Chat: https://ow.ly/w09250ZT8gh
Watch the latest China Chat: https://ow.ly/w09250ZT8gh
Trump, China and the question of selling arms to Beijing — Lyle Goldstein tells The Hill that if war between the U.S. and China is unlikely, trade in lower-end weapons between the two countries becomes conceivable.
https://ow.ly/Xpsn50ZT2Gs
https://ow.ly/Xpsn50ZT2Gs
September 30, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Trump, China and the question of selling arms to Beijing — Lyle Goldstein tells The Hill that if war between the U.S. and China is unlikely, trade in lower-end weapons between the two countries becomes conceivable.
https://ow.ly/Xpsn50ZT2Gs
https://ow.ly/Xpsn50ZT2Gs
Brown 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding by highlighting the role research universities play in fostering open, democratic societies. This fall brings new courses, faculty-led book discussions & talks by visiting fellows. Explore the new programming: https://ow.ly/BMSU50ZSNjO
September 29, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Brown 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding by highlighting the role research universities play in fostering open, democratic societies. This fall brings new courses, faculty-led book discussions & talks by visiting fellows. Explore the new programming: https://ow.ly/BMSU50ZSNjO
#RhodesCenter #podcast: The ties that bind, and the ties that blind: Central bankers in moments of crisis — Mark Blyth talks w/ Aditi Sahasrabuddhe about her book on how relationships among central bankers helped avert global financial collapse from the 1920s to 2008.
https://ow.ly/Xxhy50ZOJ1p
https://ow.ly/Xxhy50ZOJ1p
The ties that bind, and the ties that blind: Central bankers in moments of crisis
Quickly and easily listen to The Rhodes Center Podcast with Mark Blyth for free!
ow.ly
September 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM
#RhodesCenter #podcast: The ties that bind, and the ties that blind: Central bankers in moments of crisis — Mark Blyth talks w/ Aditi Sahasrabuddhe about her book on how relationships among central bankers helped avert global financial collapse from the 1920s to 2008.
https://ow.ly/Xxhy50ZOJ1p
https://ow.ly/Xxhy50ZOJ1p
Unequal Contagion: Citizenship, Democracy, and the Politics of COVID-19 in India — Poulami Roychowdhury's new edited volume examines how long-standing inequalities in India shaped the pandemic's effects and were, in turn, intensified by the government's response.
https://ow.ly/9LMY50ZQhWo
https://ow.ly/9LMY50ZQhWo
Unequal Contagion: Citizenship, Democracy, and the Politics of COVID-19 in India
Poulami Roychowdhury's new edited volume examines how long-standing inequalities in India shaped the pandemic's effects and were, in turn, intensified by the government's response.
ow.ly
September 28, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Unequal Contagion: Citizenship, Democracy, and the Politics of COVID-19 in India — Poulami Roychowdhury's new edited volume examines how long-standing inequalities in India shaped the pandemic's effects and were, in turn, intensified by the government's response.
https://ow.ly/9LMY50ZQhWo
https://ow.ly/9LMY50ZQhWo
What Has Happened to Indian Democracy? Yogendra Yadav, Ashutosh Varshney and Yamini Aiyar discuss the current state of Indian democracy, its challenges, and its future, moderated by Patrick Heller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjoy8hAHtgU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjoy8hAHtgU
What Has Happened to Indian Democracy?
Join Yogendra Yadav, Ashutosh Varshney, and Yamini Aiyar for a panel discussion on the current state of Indian democracy, its challenges, and its future, moderated by Patrick Heller.
www.youtube.com
September 28, 2026 at 2:35 PM
What Has Happened to Indian Democracy? Yogendra Yadav, Ashutosh Varshney and Yamini Aiyar discuss the current state of Indian democracy, its challenges, and its future, moderated by Patrick Heller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjoy8hAHtgU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjoy8hAHtgU
China’s next carrier could be its longest – what are Beijing’s plans?
Lyle Goldstein told the South China Morning Post that China's next aircraft carrier could be larger and nuclear-powered, but would still depend on a growing fleet of supply ships.
https://ow.ly/kegI50ZRw8u
Lyle Goldstein told the South China Morning Post that China's next aircraft carrier could be larger and nuclear-powered, but would still depend on a growing fleet of supply ships.
https://ow.ly/kegI50ZRw8u
China’s next carrier could be its longest – what are Beijing’s plans?
Analysts say the vessel’s hull and potential nuclear propulsion hint that China’s carrier fleet could be used further afield.
ow.ly
September 25, 2026 at 6:01 PM
China’s next carrier could be its longest – what are Beijing’s plans?
Lyle Goldstein told the South China Morning Post that China's next aircraft carrier could be larger and nuclear-powered, but would still depend on a growing fleet of supply ships.
https://ow.ly/kegI50ZRw8u
Lyle Goldstein told the South China Morning Post that China's next aircraft carrier could be larger and nuclear-powered, but would still depend on a growing fleet of supply ships.
https://ow.ly/kegI50ZRw8u
What an AI slowdown would mean — Suresh Venkatasubramanian told Politico that few would disagree AI systems should be developed carefully, but "the devil is in the details."
https://ow.ly/jIAm50ZRuMZ
https://ow.ly/jIAm50ZRuMZ
September 25, 2026 at 4:40 PM
What an AI slowdown would mean — Suresh Venkatasubramanian told Politico that few would disagree AI systems should be developed carefully, but "the devil is in the details."
https://ow.ly/jIAm50ZRuMZ
https://ow.ly/jIAm50ZRuMZ
Congrats to Poulami Roychowdhury, recipient of a 2026 Seed Award from Brown University's Division of Research! She'll examine how welfare, security and representation shape women's political preferences.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/HzBu50ZR1Og
Learn more: https://ow.ly/HzBu50ZR1Og
September 25, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Congrats to Poulami Roychowdhury, recipient of a 2026 Seed Award from Brown University's Division of Research! She'll examine how welfare, security and representation shape women's political preferences.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/HzBu50ZR1Og
Learn more: https://ow.ly/HzBu50ZR1Og
Silicon Valley AI academy seeks ‘main character’ students — John Friedman told Inside Higher Ed that traditional campuses give students classroom tools and ambitious peers that an industry-taught academy may struggle to replicate at scale.
https://ow.ly/yE2350ZR1Hi
https://ow.ly/yE2350ZR1Hi
Silicon Valley AI Academy Seeks ‘Main Character’ Students
The venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is launching an unaccredited academy that promises to show young people how to excel in the AI era for the price of Ivy League tuition. But one critic says it’s yet another “techno-fascist” power grab.
ow.ly
September 24, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Silicon Valley AI academy seeks ‘main character’ students — John Friedman told Inside Higher Ed that traditional campuses give students classroom tools and ambitious peers that an industry-taught academy may struggle to replicate at scale.
https://ow.ly/yE2350ZR1Hi
https://ow.ly/yE2350ZR1Hi