The Conversation

Five types of gun laws the Founding Fathers loved

Written by Saul Cornell, Paul and Diane Guenther Chair in American History, Fordham University

Were muskets in 1777 better regulated than assault rifles in 2017?Jana Shea/Shutterstock.com

The Second Amendment is one of the most frequently cited provisions in the American Constitution, but also one of the most poorly understood.

The 27 words that constitute the Second Amendment seem to baffle modern Americans on both the left and right.

Ironi...

To Uber or not? Why car ownership may no longer be a good deal

Written by F. Todd Davidson, Research Associate, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin

Younger Americans tend to be comfortable relying on ride services and foregoing car ownership. BeyondDC, CC BY-NC-ND

Every day there’s more news about the inevitable arrival of autonomous vehicles. At the same time, more people are using ride-hailing and ride-sharing apps, and the percentage of teens getting their driver’s license contin...

Ancient Greek wisdom for today’s leadership crisis

Written by Emily Anhalt, Professor of Classical Languages and Literatures, Sarah Lawrence College

What makes a good leader?

This question confronts us at every election and with every domestic and international policy decision. As a professor of classical languages and literature for more than 30 years, I marvel at our insistence on addressing this question as if it were brand new.

Centuries ago, myths helped the Greeks learn to reject...

Why are Russian media outlets hyping the Mueller investigation?

Written by Cynthia Hooper, Associate Professor of History, College of the Holy Cross

It seems that Russian state media is starting to chip away at Trump's burnished image.Maxim Apryatin

Four major Russia investigations are underway in Washington, along with at least six related federal inquiries.

Anxiety currently swirls around the Kremlin’s manipulation of popular social media platforms Facebook, YouTube and Instagram....

Need another reason to help Puerto Rico? It's a key US economic and military asset

Written by Lilian Bobea, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Bentley University

Three weeks after Hurricane Maria ripped through Puerto Rico, half of the population still lacks fresh water and medicine, and almost 80 percent doesn’t have electricity. The scarce resources arriving from international private sources are quickly running out. Satellite communication remains limited.

Despite this crisis, President Donald...

The pull of energy markets – and legal challenges – will blunt plans to roll back EPA carbon rules

Written by Hari Osofsky, Dean, Distinguished Professor of Law, Professor of International Affairs, Professor of Geography, Pennsylvania State University

Grid operators set the prices for energy markets and are structured to take the lowest prices – a disadvantage for coal and nuclear power.CC BY

On Oct. 10, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt formally announced a repeal of the Clean Power Plan, regulation intended to curb greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal- and natural gas-fired power...

Under the Trump administration, US airstrikes are killing more civilians

Written by Steven Feldstein, Frank and Bethine Church Chair of Public Affairs & Associate Professor, School of Public Service, Boise State University

Smoke from an airstrike rises in the background as a man flees during fighting between Iraqi special forces and IS militants in Mosul, Iraq, on May 17, 2017. AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo

When President Donald Trump took office in January, it was unclear whether the bombast from his campaign would translate into an aggressive new strategy against...

Sexual harassment: 5 essential reads

Written by Danielle Douez, Associate Editor, Politics + Society, The Conversation

Harvey Weinstein in 2013.Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Editor’s note: On Friday, Oct. 13, “Third Rail with OZY” will ask: Is sexual harassment inevitable in the workplace?

This roundup of stories from The Conversation archive explores sexual harassment.

1. Delayed disclosures

More women are stepping forward to share their experiences of...

Sent to Haiti to keep the peace, departing UN troops leave a damaged nation in their wake

Written by Siobhán Wills, Professor of Law, University of Ulster

On Oct. 15, 2017, the United Nations will withdraw its peacekeeping troops from Haiti, ending its 13-year mission there.

One might expect mixed feelings about the soldiers’ departure. After all, since the arrival of the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in June 2004, after former President Jean-Bertrande Aristide was forced out...

Until youth soccer is fixed, US men's national team is destined to fail

Written by Rick Eckstein, Professor of Sociology, Villanova University

Defender Matt Besler sits on the field after losing to Trinidad and Tobago in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match.Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo

David beating Goliath is very exciting – unless you’re a fan of Goliath.

The United States has 330 million people and a massive youth soccer system, yet its men’s national soccer team just got...