Good Authority

Can the new E.U. rules actually fight corruption? Can the new E.U. rules actually fight corruption? One big challenge is that national systems still determine the enforcement of anti-corruption measures.

Can the new E.U. rules actually fight corruption?

One big challenge is that national systems still determine the enforcement of anti-corruption measures.

Read the latest from @mertkartal.bsky.social and Emma Birkitt: goodauthority.org/news/can-the...

Why high-level U.S.-Russia talks are bad diplomacy U.S. diplomacy in Europe and Marco Rubio's bilateral talks with Russia aren't really about ending the war in Ukraine, or a lasting peace.

The Trump/Rubio attack began immediately. The DOGE/Musk assault on USAID, abetted by Rubio, the threat of mass firings, and the obvious sidelining of expertise in State itself. See Rubio's early trip to Riyadh to meet Lavrov. @goodauth.bsky.social 2/

goodauthority.org/news/why-hig...

Can the U.S. pressure Israel to end the war? U.S. military aid and support have been critical to Israel’s war effort. But can the U.S. press Israel to protect civilian lives in Gaza?

Regional allies knew what was coming. In 1991 there was a concerted effort to keep Israel from participating in the war and provide it with defense (Patriot missiles) instead. @djpressman.bsky.social @goodauth.bsky.social 7/

goodauthority.org/news/can-the...

Roxanne L. Euben speaks with Good Authority about her new book, Driven to Their Knees: Humiliation in Contemporary Politics. Read the full interview here

More Republicans now support “strong leaders” who “bend the rules” New survey data shows again how partisanship weakens a commitment to democracy.

More Republicans now support “strong leaders” who “bend the rules.”

New survey data shows again how partisanship weakens a commitment to democracy.

See the data, here: goodauthority.org/news/more-re...

Taking out cartel leaders doesn’t reduce drug flows or violence Taking out cartel leaders doesn’t reduce drug flows or violence. The “kingpin strategy” might even make things worse.

Taking out cartel leaders doesn’t reduce drug flows or violence.

The “kingpin strategy” might even make things worse.

Read @hsulli.bsky.social's latest on how militarized drug war strategies can backfire: goodauthority.org/news/taking-...

Taking out cartel leaders doesn’t reduce drug flows or violence Taking out cartel leaders doesn’t reduce drug flows or violence. The “kingpin strategy” might even make things worse.

It's hard to believe that this was just last week given what's happened since, but I wrote up a short piece on Mexico killing a major cartel leader for @goodauth.bsky.social

Humiliation is pervasive in politics – and potent Humiliation is pervasive in politics – and potent. Stacie Goddard talks with political theorist Roxanne Euben about her new book.

Humiliation is pervasive in politics – and potent.

Good Authority editor Stacie Goddard talks with political theorist Roxanne Euben about her new book.

Read our latest "Good Chat" here: goodauthority.org/news/humilia...

This is a really helpful @jeffcolgan.bsky.social breakdown of the oil connection to interventions that helps go beyond simplistic "blood for oil" narratives. @goodauth.bsky.social th

Is oil behind the U.S. attack on Iran? Is oil behind the U.S. attack on Iran? To understand the Trump administration’s military targets, take a closer look at the petrostate pattern.

See also @jeffcolgan.bsky.social on @goodauth.bsky.social goodauthority.org/news/is-oil-...

Is oil behind the U.S. attack on Iran? Is oil behind the U.S. attack on Iran? To understand the Trump administration’s military targets, take a closer look at the petrostate pattern.

Is oil behind the U.S. attack on Iran?

To understand the Trump administration’s military targets, take a closer look at the petrostate pattern.

Read the latest from @jeffcolgan.bsky.social: goodauthority.org/news/is-oil-...

Is oil behind the U.S. attack on Iran? Is oil behind the U.S. attack on Iran? To understand the Trump administration’s military targets, take a closer look at the petrostate pattern.

On Iran, see the larger context.

Five of the seven countries that the Trump admin has militarily attacked since Jan. 2025 are significant oil producers, even though petrostates are rare.

It's not a coincidence. I explain why @goodauth.bsky.social

goodauthority.org/news/is-oil-...

Trump may strike Venezuela. His team makes that very risky. Take a close look at who is advising the president on U.S. policy.

Also, for your student who asked about the experience article, the answer is yes. Wrote this for @goodauth.bsky.social on Venezuela, but just find-and-replace with Iran.

goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...

Can foreign policy issues really affect elections? Can foreign policy issues really affect elections? Our surveys from 2023-25 show Americans are anxious about global affairs, but not necessarily paying close attention.

Can foreign policy issues really affect elections?

Our surveys from 2023-25 show Americans are anxious about global affairs, but not necessarily paying close attention.

See the data here: goodauthority.org/news/can-for...

Is exile a dead end – or a launching pad for opposition? A recent New York Times investigation offers a glimpse into the life of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. After losing […]

Is exile a dead end – or a launching pad for opposition?

New research finds that exile prolongs and escalates revolutions.

Read the latest from @isadesisto.bsky.social & @ernugent.bsky.social: goodauthority.org/news/is-exil...

Is exile a dead end – or a launching pad for opposition? A recent New York Times investigation offers a glimpse into the life of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. After losing […]

@isadesisto.bsky.social + I have been investigating the role of exiles in contentious politics back home. This @goodauth.bsky.social piece draws on a working paper in which we find exile involvement escalates revolutions -- they're longer and more violent: goodauthority.org/news/is-exil...

Can election forecasting make people better citizens? A simple game might make people more interested in campaigns – and participating in U.S. elections.

Can election forecasting make people better citizens?

Here's a simple game that might make people more interested in campaigns.

A new piece from @egojunk.bsky.social: goodauthority.org/news/can-ele...

Just dropped: @profsaunders.bsky.social explains why, if Trump were to consider striking Iran, he would face few meaningful constraints. A must-read on war powers and U.S. foreign policy.

The Insiders’ Game How elites shape the use of force in American foreign policy

What that means: Trump is *VERY BAD* at playing the Insiders' Game! But I wondered in my @goodauth.bsky.social piece today if the game was still playable. Someone (Caine?) thought it was worth a try. TBD if this kind of constraint still works in Trump 2.0 3/3
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

Really cool overview of how Jackson influenced American politics and political science!

Jesse Jackson transformed the study of Black politics Jesse Jackson transformed the study of Black politics. Beyond his legacy as a civil rights leader, Jackson inspired empirical research on Black opinion and political behavior.

Jesse Jackson transformed the study of Black politics.

Beyond his legacy as a civil rights leader, Jackson inspired empirical research on Black opinion and political behavior.

Read about his legacy from @brownphdgirl.bsky.social and @cmslaughter.bsky.social: goodauthority.org/news/jesse-j...

This bilateral arms control treaty expired in February 2026, raising big questions about future options to curtail nuclear arsenals.

Good to Know: As New START expires, what’s next? The New Start bilateral arms control treaty expired in February 2026, raising big questions about future options to curtail nuclear arsenals.

In our new “Good to Know,” we ask: As New START expires, what’s next?

This explainer covers:

- What is New START?
- What has been the impact of arms control?
- What’s next?

Read and learn: goodauthority.org/news/good-to...

Fewer people think the American dream is alive – but they disagree on why Fewer people think the American dream is alive – but they disagree on why. A new book argues that politics influences how we explain inequality.

Fewer people think the American dream is alive – but they disagree on why.

A new book argues that politics influences how we explain inequality.

Read the latest from @johnsides.bsky.social: goodauthority.org/news/fewer-p...

Good Authority - Political Science Insights to Illuminate the News Political scientists draw on their expertise and the discipline’s research to provide in-depth analysis and inform the political conversation.

Measuring corruption, UN voting data, and global economic order are recent topics at Good Authority. Stay connected so you don’t miss anything.

• Read on our website: goodauthority.org
• Subscribe on Substack: goodauthority.substack.com
• Get updates by email: mailchi.mp/d99298093d4e...

Why measuring corruption is important – but also difficult As the latest corruption rankings make global headlines, here’s what these indices can and cannot measure.

Measuring corruption is important – but also difficult.

As the latest corruption rankings make global headlines, here’s what these indices can and cannot measure.

Read from @mertkartal.bsky.social: goodauthority.org/news/why-mea...

The world isn’t moving away from the U.S. The U.S. is moving away from the world. The Guardian has posted a beautiful data journalism piece based on a report from Focaldata showing that since Donald Trump […]

The world isn’t moving away from the U.S.

The U.S. is moving away from the world.

@erikvoeten.bsky.social explains in his latest piece that data shows most countries haven’t changed. The U.S. has.

Read: goodauthority.org/news/the-wor...

The Guardian has a striking map suggesting Trump has pushed the world, especially Europe, toward China.

It’s visually compelling. But misleading. The world isn’t moving away from the U.S. The U.S. is moving away from the world. as I show on @goodauth.bsky.social. goodauthority.org/news/the-wor...

Why Iran’s conscript army didn’t side with protesters Why Iran’s conscript army didn’t side with protesters. Authoritarian regimes can enforce army loyalty – even when soldiers are required to serve.

One thing that’s missing from a lot of the conversation I hear about what’s going on in Iran is why we haven’t seen more dissent or defection from the military. Emily Stranger and I explain why in @goodauth.bsky.social

goodauthority.org/news/why-ira...

there are a lot of things that Americans think are important for being a good citizen, engaging in compromise is not one of them ... my latest post with @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/most-am...