Sanford Summer Reading & Listening

Peter Feaver: Thanks for Your Service

In "Thanks for Your Service," Peter D. Feaver, Director of the Duke Program in American Grand Strategy and Sanford professor, explores the basis for high public confidence in the US military, attributing it to perceptions of competence, ethical standards, and detachment from political divides, yet also highlighting its dependence on partisan views and social desirability bias, ultimately revealing potential implications for policymaking and the democratic civil-military relationship.

Noah Pickus: The New Global Universities

In "The New Global Universities," Noah Pickus, Sanford Professor of the Practice, analyzes higher education around the world: lessons from the creation of eight new colleges and universities in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. 

Higher education is perpetually in crisis, buffeted by increasing costs and a perceived lack of return on investment, a campus culture criticized for stifling debate on controversial topics, and a growing sense that the liberal arts are outmoded and irrelevant. The New Global Universities offers a counterargument, telling the story of educational leaders who have chosen not to give up on higher education but to reimagine it.

Shelley Liu: Governing After War

In "Governing After War," Shelley Liu, Sanford Assistant Professor, explores important questions that remain (but often go unasked) after wars end.

Serial war or extended peace? What are the best indicators for peace after rebel victory? To better understand the potential stability and likely political legacies of rebel governments, we need to evaluate not why rebels are fighting (they are often fighting for legitimate ends) but how they organize during conflict. The book explores how wartime processes affect post-war state-building efforts when rebels win a civil war and come into power. 

Frank Bruni: The Age of Grievance

Frank Bruni, Eugene C. Patterson Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy, best-selling author, and celebrated New York Times columnist, has built a career that spans the political, cultural and culinary topics of our day. In his latest book, "The Age of Grievance", Bruni examines the origins of our current discontent in an age defined by acrimony and angst. The Age of Grievance debuted at #6 on the New York Times bestseller list. 

The twists and turns of American politics are unpredictable, but the tone is a troubling given. It’s one of grievance. More and more Americans are convinced that they’re losing because somebody else is winning. More and more tally their slights, measure their misfortune, and assign particular people responsibility for it. The blame game has become the country’s most popular sport and victimhood its most fashionable garb.

How did we get here? What does it say about us, and where does it leave us? The Age of Grievance examines these critical questions and charts a path forward.

BONUS: See a list of Bruni's media appearances for this book in the Sanford story. 

Sanford's Policy 360

Policy 360: New Episodes on Democracy, Security and Discourse

Sanford’s Policy 360 podcast explores pressing global issues with insightful discussions led by Duke University scholars and distinguished guests.

In America’s ‘High But Hollow’ Military Support, civil-military relations scholar Peter Feaver explores the changing landscape of American opinions of the U.S. military.

Towards More Civil Discourse faculty members Stephen Buckley and Sue Wasiolek attempt to tackle the crucial yet challenging topic of fostering constructive dialogue amid polarization, particularly on college campuses.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Maria Ressa sheds light on her courageous journalism and the fight for press freedom in the Philippines in an inspiring conversation covering technology, humanity and democracy.

With each episode, Policy 360 offers nuanced perspectives on navigating complex policy landscapes. Learn more about Policy 360.

Sanford's Ways & Means

**New Season** Ways & Means: Why many college students' ballots are getting tossed — and what could be done about it

As we head into the 2024 elections, Ways & Means explores why many North Carolina college students’ votes did not count in the last few elections and how to prevent this from happening again in 2024, featuring democracy history expert Gunther Peck alongside Duke student research team members Ameya Rao, Hannah McKnight, and Kathryn Thomas. They are joined by Tiffany Crawford, a Master of Public Administration student at North Carolina Central University.

This episode is based on their research, featuring a crucial examination of the impact of provisional balloting on the voting rights of students, particularly at North Carolina Central University. Despite the historical civil rights efforts in Durham, young Black voters face disproportionate disenfranchisement through high rates of provisional ballot rejection. Systemic racism and age-related discrimination compound voting challenges, exacerbated by flawed voter registration and election administration. The study proposes reforms to safeguard voting rights, highlighting the urgent need to address structural barriers young citizens face, especially students of color.

John Harwood: BeDeviled

Veteran journalist John Harwood, a 2023-2024 Distinguished Fellow at Duke's Polis Center for Politics, interviews politicians and voters, academics, and activists about the 21st-century divisions imperiling our national experiment in self-government. 

BeDeviled made international headlines with its first episode, an interview with President Biden. Since then, it has continued to interview historic modern-day figures, with guests including Liz Cheney and Trump whistle-blower Cassidy Hutchinson. 

William Darity, Jr.: "Uncounted Millions: Reparations Now"

Can reparations be a reality for all Black Americans? In New York, the governor has signed a bill creating a task force to consider reparations for formerly enslaved people. It’s the third state to do so. But beyond local considerations, does this debate have real momentum at a national level? In the final episode of “Uncounted Millions: The Power of Reparations,” we take a look at public opinion polling on reparations, along with the dollars and cents of making this a reality across the country.

Trymaine is joined by Sanford professor William Darity, Jr. and other experts. 

Bronwen Dickey "Vox: Today Explained"

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says his government will ban a type of dog called the American Bully XL — a relative of the pit bull. Political editor Tom McTague and Sanford Adjunct Instructor and writer Bronwen Dickey explain the complex politics and charged history of an iconic dog.

Sarah Bermeo and Kerilyn Schewel "Building the Future: Freedom, Prosperity, and Foreign Policy with Dan Runde"

In this episode of Building the Future, guest host Noam Unger is joined by Sarah Bermeo and Kerilyn Schewel, co-directors of the Duke Program on Climate-Related Migration, as they draw on their research in Central America and Ethiopia to discuss the effect of climate on migration, forecast models, adaptation funding, and aid allocation.

Robyn Caplan on "WUNC: Due South"

The phrase “tech policy” can sound esoteric or even a bit boring. But from child safety and parental rights to AI to privacy laws, this is the stuff the impacts everyday people — every single day.

Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks to a panel of experts, including Sanford Assistant Professor Robyn Caplan, about why legislation has stalled in Congress, how state legislation on tech issues could impact you and your family, and how North Carolina's policies compare with other states.

Plus, the experts weigh in on how they use and manage technology in their own lives.

Sanford Data Broker Team on "The Lawfare Podcast: Data Brokers and the Sale of Data on U.S. Military Personnel"

On November 6, researchers at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy issued a report on Data Brokers and the sale of Data on U.S. Military Personnel that illuminates the national security risks arising from the sale of these data. Lawfare Senior Editor Stephanie Pell sat down with the three of the report’s authors: Justin Sherman, a senior fellow at the Sanford School of Public Policy who leads its data brokerage research project, Hayley Barton, a Master of Public Policy and Master of Business Administration student at Duke University and former research assistant on Duke’s data brokerage research project, and Brady Allen Kruse, a Master of Public Policy student at Duke University and research assistant on Duke’s data brokerage research project.

BONUS: Read more about this research and its media/policymaker coverage in the Sanford story.  

Deondra Rose on "WUNC: Due South"

The North Carolina Super Tuesday Primary is upon us. The March 5th election will have a significant influence on the composition of the next Congress, Legislature, and boards of education across North Carolina.

Join WUNC and Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii for an hour-long special to contextualize the candidates, issues, and importance of the primary.

Featuring Deondra Rose, Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Public Policy at Sanford, and other political experts from around North Carolina. 

Frank Bruni: New York Times

Frank Bruni is a celebrated journalist and writer with a career that spans politics, global affairs, pop culture, and culinary critique. He writes for the New York Times about myriad topics, including his life experiences, opinions, and, most importantly, his dog Regan. 

Eric Deggans: NPR

Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic, also serving as media analyst and guest host for the network.

Deggans has been a journalist for more than 30 years; he is also the author of "Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation," a look at how prejudice, racism and sexism fuel some elements of modern media. Deggans Adjunct Instructor of Journalism & Public Policy with the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy. 

You can read Deggans' column and hear him regularly on all NPR stations. 

David Graham: The Atlantic

David A. Graham is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covers U.S. politics and global news. Graham's articles include timely reporting about social, political and global events, as well as opinions analyzing the current dynamics of policies and policymakers.

As a self-described "jazzbro", Graham will also occasionally write about his love for jazz, as recently shown in this story. 

Graham previously edited The Atlantic‘s politics section and has reported for Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and The National. He lives in Durham, North Carolina and is currently an Adjunct Instructor of Journalism & Public Policy with the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy. 

David Schanzer: Perilous Times

David Schanzer, Professor of the Practice in the Sanford School of Public Policy Director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security, draws upon his decades of experience in domestic and international conflict in his column on Substack. With thousands of subscribers, Schanzer is often cited by the media and contributes to reports from international news outlets regularly. 

With his legal background, and ability to assess events with historical context, Schanzer's "Perilous Times" is worth the free subscription.