Charli Carpenter, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Human Security Lab, has written a new article about Ukraine's ban on men being prevented from leaving the country. The article cites a lab survey that finds a number of practical and strategic considerations for the country to consider lifting its ban on allowing men aged 18-60 to leave the country with their families. (Insider, Worlds Politics Review, 08/03/2022)

Professor Angelica Bernal published an article, with Joshua Holst, on the criminalization of protest in Ecuador in the NACLA Report (North American Congress for Latin America). In this article, Bernal & Holst discuss the aftermath of Ecuador's National Strike, focusing on the criminalization of protesters. The National Strike of June 2022 was a historic moment for the country's Indigenous movement, who in the face of intense repression and violence, proved themselves a still powerful and effective force in Ecuadorian politics. No sooner was the peace accord signed that the conservative government of Guillermo Lasso began a familiar campaign against Indigenous leaders and protesters, starting with charges against CONAIE president Leonidas Iza for "illegal disruption of public services" for road blockades and interruption of petroleum production. In this article, we contextualize and discuss the current criminalization and its impact on the 90-day dialogue process. (NACLA, 08/04/22)

Raymond La Raja, Professor of Political Science and Associate Director of the UMass Amherst Poll, is quoted in a news article examining the expenditures on which former President Donald Trump and his allies spent a quarter of a billion dollars in donations received based on their claims of fighting “widespread election fraud.” “Small donors make impulse decisions to support something based on their emotions, and they’re just preying on these emotions to raise money, and it’s fabricated,” La Raja said. (USA Today, MSN.com)

There is growing concern among Massachusetts residents about the U.S. economy, with 78% of poll respondents saying the economy is fair or poor. “Last year when asked to identify the most pressing issue facing the commonwealth, the overwhelming majority of residents pointed to the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Tatishe Nteta, associate professor of political science and director of the poll. “Today, with inflation reaching a 30-year high, gas prices hovering at a record $5 a gallon and the nation on the brink of a recession, the economy is on residents’ minds.” (The Lowell Sun, The Wall Street Journal, Mediaite, Boston Herald, News Office release; News Office release)