The Duck of Minerva

Amanda Murdie

Amanda Murdie is Professor & Dean Rusk Scholar of International Relations in the Department of International Affairs in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia. She is the author of Help or Harm: The Human Security Effects of International NGOs (Stanford, 2014). Her main research interests include non-state actors, and human rights and human security. When not blogging, Amanda enjoys hanging out with her two pre-teen daughters (as long as she can keep them away from their cell phones) and her fabulous significant other.

Recent Posts

Researcher Trauma and Our Discipline

by Amanda Murdie | 20 April, 2017 |

The following is a guest post by Cyanne Loyle, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Indiana University.  With the devastating passing of Will Moore, many of us in Conflict Studies have begun to discuss the impact of our work on our mental health. Talking is important. So is seeking help when needed. But there is more that we can be and should be doing. In January, I wrote a piece on research-related trauma and conflict studies.  Will helped with this article.  He thought it was high time that the field and the discipline had a serious discussion of mental illness. In this article,...

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An Academic Woman’s Rant of the Week: Service Discrepancies

by Amanda Murdie | 12 April, 2017 | ,

There’s a new article today on Inside Higher Ed that talks about recent research in the journal Research in Higher Education on discrepancies in faculty service loads.  Not surprisingly, the article finds that “women faculty perform significantly more service than men.” I think this is known; it’s why a lot of women are counseled to just say “no” whenever possible.  As the article states, women are just more likely to “take care of the academic family.”  Groan. What is, perhaps, somewhat surprising are the differences in the types of service that women and men perform.  Women are more likely...

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You have plans tonight at ISA! The Duckies at 7:30pm

by Amanda Murdie | 23 February, 2017 |

Hi all, Today's the day! The ISA Online Media Caucus (OMC) Online Achievement in International Studies Awards Reception is TONIGHT.  It's the best party in town with the best people.  Food and drink will be tremendous. If you miss it, SAD. Seriously, 7:30 pm in Holiday 1.  Come to see your friends win prizes, watch some AMAZING ignite-style speakers, and hobnob with a whole host of people who use social media to tell the world about their work. And, if you don't have plans this afternoon, come to the Online Media Caucus – Live Tweets for (Political) Science panel.  We'll be chatting about...

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Announcement: Online Achievement in International Studies Reception and Winners of the Duckies

by Amanda Murdie | 3 February, 2017 |

On behalf of the Online Media Caucus of ISA, I’m happy to announce the following shortlist (in no particular order) for this year’s Online Achievement in International Studies Awards (The Duckies):   Best Blog (Group) in International Studies Progress in Political Economy (PPe) Political Violence at a Glance Best Blog (Individual) in International Studies Peter Trumbore Raul Pacheco-Vega Best Blog Post in International Studies Gareth Bryant for 10 Talking Points from Jason W. Moore’s 'Capitalism in the Web of Life' Elizabeth Saunders  for What a President Trump Means for Foreign Policy...

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Donald Trump is Nothing but a Bad Nixon Remake

by Amanda Murdie | 26 January, 2017 |

The following is a guest post by Dani Nedal, PhD Candidate at Georgetown University and Predoctoral Fellow at Yale University.  The surprising political ascent of Donald Trump has prompted two contradictory reactions. One is the impulse to declare Trump, and everything about him, “unprecedented” (nay, unpresidented!). The other is to search through history for the appropriate analogies that help explain his rise to power and prepare us for his presidency. Comparisons have been drawn with Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and distant figures like Caligula. Others reject the fascism angle and compare...

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It Works on 24 but Not in Real Life: Peer-Reviewed Evidence That Torture Will Increase Terrorism

by Amanda Murdie | 25 January, 2017 |

Dear My Not-So-Fictional Family Members of Facebook, Greetings. We really haven’t hung out since that family reunion in 1996 but it’s been great to reconnect on Facebook.  I love the pictures of your dog and it’s cool to see how much you now look like our grandfather.  We have different political beliefs; I think we both know that now.  I’ve turned into one of those Birkenstock-wearing liberals who likes science and “wastes my time” marching for rights that you think women already have. Your political beliefs are the polar opposite of that and today you’ve expressed how happy you are that...

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Trump’s Treatment of the Press: A Harbinger of Bad Things to Come

by Amanda Murdie | 23 January, 2017 |

Over the weekend, the Trump Administration had some interesting discussions with and about the press.  First, talking at CIA headquarters on Saturday, President Trump remarked that he is in a “war” with reporters, who are the “most dishonest human beings on Earth.”  Later that same day, his Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, accused the media of “shameful and wrong” reporting on the unbigly audience sizes at the inauguration.  And, in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Trump Senior Advisor Kellyanne Conway not only spoke of “alternative facts” about the inauguration’s audience size...

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Trump’s Russian Cyber-Hack Controversy: New era of post-Civil-Military Relations?

by Amanda Murdie | 18 January, 2017 |

The following is a guest post by Jahara W. Matisek.  Jahara “FRANKY” Matisek is a Major in the U.S. Air Force, with plenty of combat experience flying the C-17 and an instructor pilot tour in the T-6. He is an AFIT Ph.D. Student in Political Science at Northwestern University, a recent Summer Seminar participant in the Clements Center for National Security, and Coordinator for the War & Society Working Group at the Buffett Institute. Upon completion of his doctoral studies, Major Matisek will be Assistant Professor in the Military & Strategic Studies department at the U.S. Air Force...

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Before you leave for the holiday season: Nominate your friends for The Duckies!

by Amanda Murdie | 20 December, 2016 | , ,

Grades are in, reviews submitted, and I'm headed out for the holiday season.  I hope you are wrapping up the semester and/or enjoying a well-deserved break.  Please remember to submit your nominations for the 2017 Duckies before the end of the year. And, please remember to attend the The Duckies at ISA: Thursday, February 23rd at 7:30 pm.  The ISA Online Media Caucus (OMC) is very thankful to have the support of Sage in hosting the reception. Send your nominations to onlinemediacaucus@gmail.com.  Duckies will be awarded in the following categories: Best Blog (Group) in International Studies...

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Kiss 2016 Goodbye: Call for Nominations for the Duckies

by Amanda Murdie | 1 December, 2016 | ,

Thankfully, The Disaster that was 2016 will soon be behind us.  I’m sure hoping 2017 will be better!  With all the uncertainty of 2017, I am assured of one thing: ISA 2017 is right around the corner and will be AMAZING. My favorite part of ISA for the last several years is the Online Achievement in International Studies Reception and Awarding of the Duckies!  This year, the event will be held on Thursday, February 23rd at 7:30 pm.  I’m excited about our Ignite speaker lineup – more information will be released on this soon.  The ISA Online Media Caucus (OMC) is very thankful to have the...

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