Paul Musgrave, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UMass Amherst, writes in an opinion piece that the symbolism of America’s currency is outdated and lacking in diversity, especially when compared to the currency of other nations. “The designs could be refreshed to include a wider range of U.S. accomplishment, having Harriet Tubman joined by cultural figures like James Baldwin, political trailblazers like Dalip Singh Saund and scientists like Sally Ride, would better reflect this sprawling, dynamic country,” Musgrave writes. (Foreign Policy, 2/9/21; Coin World, 2/22/21)

Online Dispute Resolution Forum 2021 Virtual Gathering March 1st-2nd 10am-1pm & 4pm-7pm EST (U.S). 

The National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution is hosting its annual international Online Dispute Resolution Forum. This spring it will be a two day online conference in part to celebrate the new edition of the seminal volume of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) scholarship, ODR Theory and Practice. The agenda will feature many of the authors of chapters in the new book, as well as a deep dive on AI, Dispute System Design, and ODR. Check out the agenda for the ODR Forum. 

Some highlights include: A Keynote on Artificial Intelligence (AI), bias, and ODR, the first readout from a Pew-funded academic ODR research project (the University of Arizona’s Innovation for Justice Program); a talk from the CEO of Niti Aayog, the policy think tank of the Government of India that is leading the charge on Republic of India’s national ODR rollout; alongside many other presentations from the global leaders in ODR.

We hope to see you there! To register (for free) and add your name to the mailing list, please fill out this form.

Peter Haas, Professor of Political Science at UMass Amherst, and Jon Western, Professor of International Relations and Five College Professor of International Relations at Mount Holyoke College recently published and article entitled: "Complexity is the new global ontology for world politics". This article summarizes the characteristics of complexity and its implications for informed US state policy making. We conclude with some suggestions about administrative reforms to improve US policy making to address global complexity.

Amel Ahmed, Associate Professor of Political Science at UMass Amherst, is quoted in an article exploring Senator Josh Hawley’s prospects for a presidential run in 2024, following the January 6 Capitol Building invasion many say he helped incite. “Republicans are trying to figure out the place of Trump and Trumpism in their future. And in that process, Hawley has given himself the least room to maneuver,” she says. (The National Interest, 2/7/21)