Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Illinois) to speak at GVPT commencement ceremony

Via BSOS:

Although now in her third term representing Illinois’ 17th congressional district, Rep. Cheri Bustos never envisioned herself as a politician while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland.

Trump’s supporters don’t care about his flip-flop on Syria. GVPT Professor Sarah Croco and graduate student Jared McDonald checked.

Via Professor Croco and Jared McDonald in the Washington Post's Monkey Cage:

On April 6, President Trump authorized an airstrike against a Syrian air base in response to President Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons on civilians. This was an abrupt about-face for Trump. In one tweet in September 2013, he chided then-President Barack Obama for being a “very foolish leader” for contemplating an attack on Syria, warning that “many bad things will happen the U.S. gets nothing.”

GVPT Distinguished Lecture with Youk Chhang, Thursday, May 9, at 2 pm

The Department of Government and Politics, College Park Scholars, International Studies and the Baha’i Chair for World Peace present a lecture by Youk Chhang.  Youk Chang is the director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia.  His speech will be about "Finding Justice in the Cambodian Genocide: Mistakes, Consequences and Questionable Ethics".

Date, time, and location:

May 9, 2017
McKeldin Library Special Events Room (6th floor)
2:00-3:30 pm
A light reception will follow the talk

See departmental flyer for more information.

GVPT Distinguished Lecture with Dr. Jacob T. Levy, Thursday, May 4, at 3:30pm

On Thursday May 4th at 3:30 please join the department of Government and Politics in welcoming Dr. Jacob T. Levy.  Dr. Levy's lecture is entitled “Justice in Babylon: Disagreement, Conflict, and Alienation in Political Life".

Date, time, and location:

Thursday, May 4, 2017
3:30 – 4:45pm
Marie Mount Hall, Maryland Room
(light refreshments will be available)

For more information see the departmental flyer for the event.

Fresh UMD/Nielsen Scarborough Poll on Issues Facing Trump Presidency

The Maryland Critical Issues Poll was conducted from April 12th-17th, 2017 and fielded by Nielsen Scarborough. The poll covers multiple issues ranging from the Trump Presidency to the border wall, the role of Russia in the U.S. election, immigration, and much more. Below please find links to the actual questionnaire, a report on the key findings, and a graphic study of the poll. 

(Via Professors Shibley Telhami and Stella Rouse, the director and assistant director of the Critical Issues Poll):

The Sadat Forum with Thomas Friedman

The Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development and the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences hosts The Sadat Forum with Thomas Friedman in conversation about his new book Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations and its implications for our times with Shibley Telhami. This event, followed by a book signing and a reception, will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2017 from 4 – 5:30 p.m. in the Colony Ballroom, Adele H. Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland College Park, MD.

RSVP at your earliest convenience via go.umd.edu/sadatforum2017

GVPT Professors Cunningham and Birnir Awarded Global Religion Research Initiative Grants

Notre Dame's Global Religion Research Initiative recently announced the recipients of grant funding for 2017.  Two GVPT faculty members won first round awards.

The Global Religion Research Initiative provides scholars interested in pursuing questions "related to the structure, practice, and influence of religions worldwide with resources to complete their work."