News

In "Turning the Taliban Against Al Qaeda," an op-ed appearing in the New York Times, Scott Atran discusses current and future U.S. and NATO strategies for negotiations between the Afghan government and Taliban leaders. Atran also appeared on a...

A new book by Scott Atran, "Talking to the Enemy: Faith, Brotherhood, and the (Un)Making of Terrorists," is now available from HarperCollins Publishers. According to the publisher, "Talking to the Enemy" offers readers a startling look deep inside...

Sales tax holidays for certain goods lead to significantly higher sales on the goods, but also substantially reduce tax collection revenue. The findings appear in a new report by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, which is in the...

Scott Atran spoke to the Associated Press about the fallout from an Israeli attack on a flotilla of Turkish aid ships headed for the Gaza Strip. The flotilla, also carrying pro-Palestinian activists, ignored warnings that the Gaza shore was under an...

These are difficult days for fundraisers no matter how worthy the cause. But this March, the Ford School community beat the odds with a very successful 13th edition of its annual Charity Auction. Thanks to the generosity of the Ford School community...

Scott Atran spoke with Newsweek about Iranian support for the country’s nuclear program. Atran frames the issue using a concept from social psychology known as 'sacred value,' or a value that transcends what might be considered rational benefit-cost...

In "To Beat Al Qaeda, Look to the East," an op-ed written for the New York Times, Scott Atran explains social structure commonalities between Al Qaeda and the Taliban and discusses how the U.S. can use these similarities to defeat violent extremism...

Each year, the New York Times Magazine showcases ideas on research and issues that have shaped the past 12 months. Research by Dean Yang and Sharon Maccini exploring the long-term impact of early-life rainfall was selected as a "big idea" in social...

In early October, the Ford School and the Department of Economics hosted an academic conference honoring the career contributions of Alan V. Deardorff. The conference, which brought many of the world's leading trade economists to Ann Arbor, was...

Indonesian women born into rural communities in rainy years grow taller, stay in school longer, and live in households with greater wealth than women born in years with lower rainfall, according to new research by the Ford School's Dean Yang and...

The 2009 Ford School Charity Auction hit home with amazing results, raising $12,000 for Operation Homefront. The annual charity auction, in its 12th year, is an entirely student-run event that raises money for a different local, national, or...

[Read New York Times op-ed] [Listen or watch Alan’s recent lecture: Looking for Al Qaeda: The Evolution of Terror...

Brian Jacob, director of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, and researchers from the University of Maryland investigated the correlation between gun shows and gun-related deaths. Their research showed no evidence that gun shows lead to...

The Spring Charity Auction is the most important student-led annual event at the Ford School. This year's was the biggest, best-dressed and most lucrative so far. Over $15,000 was raised in a single night to help fund the Direct Action Centre for...

Established in 1914 as the Institute of Public Administration, the Ford School became the School of Public Policy in 1995 and was re-named in honor of President Gerald R. Ford in 1999. The Ford School has experienced unprecedented growth over the...