Trump’s Greenland Threats Reveal the Costs of Overt Aggression ArticleJanuary 22, 2026 Trump’s Greenland Threats Reveal the Costs of Overt Aggression By normalizing coercion over cooperation, the United States forfeits trust, fractures alliances, and invites a more dangerous world. Jan 22, 2026 Damian Murphy, Robert Benson
Illiberal International: The Transatlantic Right’s Challenge to Democracy In the NewsJanuary 20, 2026 Illiberal International: The Transatlantic Right’s Challenge to Democracy In a chapter published in the European Center for Populism Studies’ report “Populism and the Future of Transatlantic Relations: Challenges and Policy Options,” Robert Benson investigates the transatlantic dimensions of far-right political mobilization, tracing the networks linking populist and authoritarian actors across Europe and the United States. Jan 20, 2026 European Center for Populism Studies Robert Benson
Trump’s 28-Point Peace Plan Will Invite the Next War ArticleNovember 21, 2025 Trump’s 28-Point Peace Plan Will Invite the Next War The Trump administration’s leaked “peace plan” hands Moscow strategic victories, forces Ukraine to swallow unilateral concessions, and sets the stage for a deadlier future war. Nov 21, 2025 Robert Benson, Damian Murphy
What will the situation in Russia and Ukraine look like five years from now? In the NewsNovember 21, 2025 What will the situation in Russia and Ukraine look like five years from now? Robert Benson joined a symposium for NOTUS, in which he describes how the Russia-Ukraine conflict may look five years from now. Nov 21, 2025 NOTUS Robert Benson
Trump’s Sanctions on Russia Are Serious—Enforcement Will Decide Whether They Work ArticleNovember 18, 2025 Trump’s Sanctions on Russia Are Serious—Enforcement Will Decide Whether They Work President Trump’s new sanctions finally target the heart of Russia’s war machine, but only aggressive, disciplined enforcement will decide whether they actually bite. Nov 18, 2025 Robert Benson
Beyond participation trophies: The EU’s credibility crisis in the Western Balkans In the NewsOctober 6, 2025 Beyond participation trophies: The EU’s credibility crisis in the Western Balkans In an op-ed published by Euractiv, Robert Benson argues that the EU cannot credibly preach democracy abroad while tolerating stagnation in its own neighborhood. Oct 6, 2025 Euractiv Robert Benson
A Green Light for Authoritarianism: How the Trump Administration Fuels Global Autocracy ArticleSeptember 19, 2025 A Green Light for Authoritarianism: How the Trump Administration Fuels Global Autocracy When U.S. support retreats, autocrats escalate their attacks, leaving democratic institutions vulnerable. This creates a global environment where authoritarianism can thrive. Sep 19, 2025 Dan Herman, Robert Benson
The Turnberry trap: Trump, Europe and global reordering In the NewsSeptember 3, 2025 The Turnberry trap: Trump, Europe and global reordering In an op-ed published by Politico Europe, Robert Benson argues that President Trump's recent trade deal with the European Union represents an alarming global reordering—one that empowers bullying, sows division, and destabilizes international norms. Sep 3, 2025 Politico Europe Robert Benson
The Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting: Preventing a Surrender Summit ArticleAugust 12, 2025 The Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting: Preventing a Surrender Summit Trump’s planned Alaska meeting with Putin risks becoming a “surrender summit” that pressures Ukraine into abandoning NATO aspirations and accepting imposed neutrality, rewarding Russian aggression. Aug 12, 2025 Robert Benson, Damian Murphy
The Authoritarian Playbook in Action: What Global Cases Tell Us About Trump’s 2025 Military Deployments ArticleAugust 12, 2025 The Authoritarian Playbook in Action: What Global Cases Tell Us About Trump’s 2025 Military Deployments The cases of Canada, South Korea, and Turkey illustrate a dangerous escalatory pattern: When elected leaders rely on the military to resolve domestic challenges, they often accelerate democratic backsliding. Aug 12, 2025 Dan Herman, Robert Benson, Vishal Gogusetti
America’s Window To Stop Russia Is Closing ArticleJuly 31, 2025 America’s Window To Stop Russia Is Closing Trump’s hasty ultimatum and symbolic tariffs will not deter Putin; only rapid weapons deliveries and enforceable energy sanctions can shift the battlefield and force Moscow to meaningfully negotiate, creating the conditions for a Ukraine ceasefire. Jul 31, 2025 Robert Benson
NATO’s 76th Summit Is a Reckoning—Not a Celebration ArticleJune 18, 2025 NATO’s 76th Summit Is a Reckoning—Not a Celebration President Donald Trump’s second term has begun, and the NATO alliance faces its most existential threat yet. Jun 18, 2025 Robert Benson