NEWS
Aug 02, 2012 - STUDENT VOICES
New research details how the deadly bird flu virus could spread to humans. The information could lead to important vaccines that prevent a pandemic — or it could become a potential weapon of bioterrorism. In a recent Baker Institute Blog, Meredith Jackson, a rising junior at Rice University and a summer intern for the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program, writes that modern science must balance power and responsibility when deciding whether to make such information public. In the end, she says, “to prepare and protect the world from future pandemics, we must encourage the free exchange of scientific knowledge." Read the July 19, 2012, blog “What Spider-Man and scientists have in common.”
Jul 16, 2012 - SCHOLARLY POV
The Texas voter ID law (SB14), passed in 2011 and presently under review by the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., erects a substantial barrier to participation for hundreds of thousands of Texans, political science fellow Mark Jones writes in a recent op-ed. "The law would effectively disenfranchise a large number of citizens who lack the photo identification required by the law and are unable or unwilling to invest the time and money necessary to obtain the election identification certificate (EIC) offered by the state," he says. Viewed in its most favorable light, SB14 is "an attempt by Republican leaders to satisfy a longstanding demand of GOP activists," Jones adds. At its worst, it is "a concerted effort to gain electoral advantage vis-à-vis the Democratic Party through vote suppression."
Jul 12, 2012 - STUDENT VOICES
Why aren’t more U.S. students considering careers in science? In a recent Baker Institute Blog, Rishi Suresh, a high school intern in the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program, writes that dry and predictable high school science classes cause students to turn to other fields believed to be more interesting. Schools could start to reverse the trend by allowing students to conduct lab experiments that do not have a predetermined result, Rishi says. This will “foster the curiosity that often accompanies scientific experiments in the real world."
Jul 03, 2012 - SCHOLARLY POV
In a recent op-ed, Vivian Ho, James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics, and Elena Marks, Baker Institute Scholar in Health Policy, urge the business community to back Texas' participation in the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Medicaid expansion program. A Supreme Court ruling on the ACA gives states the option to extend Medicaid to those with incomes
below 133 percent of the federal poverty level — an individual earning
less than $15,000 a year or a family of four earning less than $31,000.
Expanded Medicaid coverage would reach 1.5 million of the poorest Texans and inject almost $400 billion into the Texas economy, Ho and Marks write. "Without coverage, the uninsured will often seek care in expensive hospital emergency rooms, the cost of which is shifted to taxpayers and other insured patients through higher premiums."
Read "Texas must take advantage of Medicaid expansion" in the June 30, 2012, Houston Chronicle.
Jul 03, 2012 - A SHIFT IN U.S. DRUG POLICY?
Last spring, the Baker Institute Drug Policy Program hosted “The War on Drugs Has Failed. Is Legalization the Answer?,” a conference on the wisdom, efficacy, economic sense and justice of U.S. drug policies. A recently published conference report by William Martin, who leads the Drug Policy Program, examines the presentations and recommendations offered by the participants — respected defenders of current policy, leading advocates for reform and academic researchers seeking pragmatic policies focused on reducing the death, disease, crime and
suffering associated with drug use. Other conference participants included John Coleman, former key administrator at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and president of Drug Watch International; Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance and widely regarded as the leading figure in the movement to reform U.S. drug policy; and Gary Hale, the Baker Institute nonresident fellow in drug policy and former chief of intelligence in the DEA's Houston Field Division. All acknowledged the legitimacy of considering changes in existing policy, from tinkering at the margins to a sweeping overhaul.
Highlights include a keynote address by television and radio broadcaster Rick Steves, who urged Americans to look to Europe for proven alternatives to prohibition and punishment of non-medical use of marijuana. Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos denied the War on Drugs has failed; what is needed, she said, is careful examination of and concentration on transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. Conservative Republican judge Michael McSpadden said he worked to reduce the charge for trace amounts of a controlled substance to a misdemeanor; a felony arrest was too harsh a penalty for the offense.
Jul 02, 2012 - STUDENT VOICES
The Arab Awakening unleashed the power of ordinary citizens seeking a better life. But the victories of the "people's revolution" appear to be temporary as efforts to establish effective new governments drift and falter, writes Marc Sabbagh, a recent graduate of Rice University and a Master of Arts candidate at Johns Hopkins University's Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, in the Baker Institute Blog. In Egypt, for example, “any unifying factor that drove the February 2011 revolution, including the patriotism of the early days of the uprising, has disappeared in the confusion and lack of direction that now permeates [the country’s] politics,” he says.
Read Sabbagh’s June 20, 2012, Baker Institute blog post, “After the Arab Spring: A crisis of leadership."
Jun 28, 2012 - Supreme Court Upholds Health Care: Now What?
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 28 upheld key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature legislation designed to increase access to health care and rein in costs. “This is the most dramatic legislation to influence health care in America
since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s,” said Vivian Ho, James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics. “The court’s decision today means well over 30 million people who are uninsured today will get access to affordable health insurance and therefore health care.” The justices upheld the ACA’s controversial individual mandate, which requires most Americans to get insurance or pay a penalty (which the court considers a tax), and partially upheld an expansion in Medicaid coverage. Texas, which joined a lawsuit challenging care health reform as unconstitutional, is now under pressure to comply with the law, said Elena Marks, Baker Institute Scholar in Health Policy. "The state has not yet developed health insurance exchanges, which will be a government-administered marketplace where small businesses and families can buy insurance,“ she said. Ho agreed. With more than 6 million people uninsured in Texas — the most in the nation— “we’ve now got a gargantuan task ahead of us,” she said. If Texas is unable to meet ACA deadlines, the federal government will step in to assist — not an ideal situation if the federal design isn't the right fit for Texas, she said. While the ACA is "the best possible solution in light of an extreme problem we're facing," Ho said, she would like to see payment reforms that improve value by driving down health care costs and improving quality. To that end, the Baker Institute Health Policy Program on July 13 will host a conference on comparative effective research (CER), which examines how different treatments, tests, or procedures for specific conditions have worked for others, and at what cost. The aim of CER is to identify high quality treatments at a reasonable price. Today’s ruling marks the start of an era in which the promise of affordable health care for all is within reach, Ho said. “This is a huge shift in both how the private and public markets are going to work. There are a lot of details to work out, but a decade from now, I expect to see more Americans with access to higher quality, affordable health care.”
"We must take advantage of Medicaid expansion" by Baker Institute health economics chair Vivian Ho and health policy scholar Elena M. Marks (June 30, 2012)."U.S. Supreme Court paves way for health reform," which quotes Baker Institute health economics chair Vivian Ho (June 29, 2012).
Jun 26, 2012 - SCHOLARLY POV
In a recent blog post, immigration studies scholar Tony Payan explains how the June 25 Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s immigration law is a “balanced response” that addresses the concerns of both the federal and state government. While the high court reaffirmed that states do not have sovereignty to enforce illegal immigration laws, it also upheld parts of the Arizona law such as the “show me your papers provision,” which gives state and local law enforcement agencies the right to ask for immigration documentation from someone who is stopped for any other violation. Ultimately, Payan notes, the ruling encourages the U.S. Congress to act on creating a more effective federal immigration policy.
Jun 22, 2012 - SCHOLARLY POV
In a recent blog post, William Martin, Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy, discusses New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in public view. Martin presents evidence supporting the governor's argument that current policies disproportionately target blacks and Latinos, while costing the state millions of dollars annually and leaving communities vulnerable to other crimes. "While police officers haul offenders off to book them, often drawing overtime pay in the process, they leave their beats unprotected from
more serious crime and place unnecessary burdens on courts, jails and
other parts of the criminal justice apparatus," he writes. In addition to the facts, Martin also notes that Cuomo also has political backing: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Police
Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and the city’s five district attorneys have all
announced their support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal.
Jun 21, 2012 - JAMES A. BAKER, III, AND HILLARY CLINTON ON FOREIGN POLICY
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, honorary chair of the Baker Institute, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat down with journalist Charlie Rose on June 20 for a wide-ranging conversation on U.S. foreign policy. Baker said that the biggest threat to America right now isn’t Iran or China, but the need to “get our economic house in order.” Clinton agreed, saying that much of her time as secretary of state is spent “reassuring” government and business leaders that the U.S. economy is improving. Clinton also noted that despite partisan politics, Democrats and Republicans in Congress were able to reach compromises with the president during the last three administrations. That is not the case with the Obama administration, she observed. Baker concurred. “I don’t disagree with that at all,” he commented. “I hate to tell you this, but based on my political and civil service experience, it ain’t happening before November.” The interview, held in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Department in Washington, D.C., is the second in a series of conversations Rose is conducting with Clinton and previous secretaries of state. The “Conversations on Diplomacy” series aims to examine foreign policy in the context of present challenges and options, as well historical lessons and experiences. The event will be part of the United States Diplomacy Center, which will bring the story of American diplomacy to life through state-of-the art technology, compelling artifacts and interactive exhibits.
Jun 15, 2012 - CANADIAN OIL SANDS
A recent paper co-authored by two Baker Institute Rice scholars encourages the United States to support the development of oil sands in Canada. Dagobert Brito, Peterkin Professor of Political Economy, and Robert F. Curl, Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor Emeritus of Natural Sciences and professor emeritus of chemistry, write that increased oil trade with Canada would decrease the U.S. trade deficit, while also creating jobs in the U.S. petrochemical industry. Canadian oil would also provide a secure energy source for the United States in the future. Brito and Curl also allay concerns about additional carbon dioxide emissions from the use of the sands. With the rise of gas as an energy source, coal usage will be reduced, along with any of the carbon emissions released from its production. Ultimately, they say, the benefits of Canadian oil sand development to the United States outweigh the risks.
Jun 08, 2012 - SCHOLARLY POV
In a recent Baker Institute blog, George Abbey, Baker Botts Senior Fellow in Space Policy, discusses the historic flight of the SpaceX Dragon — the first privately built spacecraft to rendezvous with the International Space Station. Abbey notes the successful mission will spur greater competition between private companies interested in space aviation.
“Its significance may be that, like their predecessors in the 1920s and 1930s, young, bright entrepreneurs are forming companies to take on the challenges of aviation — although today, their sights are set on spaceflight,” he says.
Read the June 7, 2012, blog “A new generation of space entrepreneurs.”
May 22, 2012 - ONLINE DIPLOMACY
Internet governance policy has rapidly risen from a relatively marginal issue for the United States' foreign policy establishment to a significant component of the country's international affairs and national security strategy, according to a new paper from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. The study, "From Tunis to Tunis: Considering the Planks of U.S. International Cyber Policy 2005-2011," investigates how and why the Internet, the wider cyberspace and information technology have come to matter a great deal to the
departments of Defense and State as well as other key agencies. "We have witnessed how the United States has managed an enormous shift in how the politics of digital international communications impact its international statecraft," said Christopher Bronk, the paper's author and a Baker Institute fellow in information technology policy. "Federal agencies have made an important
pivot on recognizing the value of what remains a vague catchall term, 'cyber.'" Bronk bookends his study with the 2005 World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS), which took place in Tunis, Tunisia, and led to the creation of the global Internet Governance Forum, and 2011's Arab Spring revolutions, which were sparked in Tunis. In between these milestones, he shows how the U.S. adopted, refined and grew its strategy in the face of a number of pivotal events — Internet crackdowns in Burma (2007) and Iran (2009); likely state-sanctioned cyberattacks against Estonia (2007) and the Republic of Georgia (2009); the impact of the WikiLeaks data breach; the Stuxnet worm's apparent damage to the Iranian nuclear enrichment program; and the role of social media in the Arab Spring revolutions. Bronk points to the FBI's rapid-response Cyber Action Team's work in aiding the governments of Turkey and Morocco in their joint investigation of the 2005 Zotob worm as well as U.S. embassies' increasing use of Twitter to transmit critical official statements as examples of this adoption and transformation in real time. As a final thought, Bronk raises the question as to whether a connection exists between the events of the WSIS and Tunisia's revolution. "While there may not be any, it is at the very least a novel coincidence." Bronk previously served as a career diplomat with the Department of State, where his last assignment was in the Office of eDiplomacy, the department's internal think tank on information technology, knowledge management, computer security and interagency collaboration.
May 22, 2012 - THE ARAB AWAKENING AND THE INTERNET
Over the course of 2011’s momentous Arab Spring uprisings, young women in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen used social media and cyberactivism to carve out central roles in the revolutionary struggles under way in their countries, according to a new study commissioned by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The study, “Unveiling the Revolutionaries: Cyberactivism and Women’s Role in the Arab Uprisings,” explores the activism of several key figures, including Egypt’s Esraa Abdel Fattah, who became widely known as “Facebook girl,” as well Libya’s Danya Bashir, Bahrain’s Zeinab and Maryam al-Khawaja and Tunisia’s Lina Ben Mhenni, who became known as the uprising’s “Twitterati,” dubbed by influential media and pundits as “must-follows.” The paper was written by Courtney Radsch, a doctoral candidate in international relations at American University and an internationally recognized expert on social media, citizen journalism and activism in the Middle East. Exploring such contexts as political rights and elections, the public sphere, sexual violence against women as well as post-revolution developments, Radsch shows how these and other women transcended and broke with traditional gender roles and communication methods to help organize virtual protests as well as street demonstrations; these women also played bridging roles with the mainstream media and helped to ensure that the 24-hour news cycle always had a source at the ready. “Not only have cyberactivism and social-media platforms shifted the power dynamics of authoritarian Arab governments and their citizenry, but it has also reconfigured power relations between the youth who make up the majority of the population and the older generation of political elite, who were overwhelmingly male and often implicated in the perpetuation of the status quo,” Radsch said. “While women and men struggle valiantly to bring about political change, these women cyberactivists stand out for their use of new media technologies and access to platforms that transcended national boundaries and created bridges with transnational media and activist groups.” Radsch cautions against viewing her findings outside of current developments in the Middle East; she points to widespread, post-revolution crackdowns on pro-reform activists in countries swept up by the Arab Spring. “The struggle to consolidate revolution and enact meaningful reforms remains a challenge that young women will continue to be involved in, and (they will) undoubtedly continue to use new media technologies to participate in and influence the future trajectory of their countries,” she said.
May 18, 2012 - Baker Institute fellows and scholars travel around the world for summer research
Graduation is over at Rice University and most students have left for the summer. But that doesn't mean school is completely out. As the interactive map
above illustrates, summer is a prime time for Baker Institute fellows
and scholars interested in researching and connecting with colleagues
outside of the classroom and around the world. Over the next three months, our fellows and scholars will crisscross the
United States, visiting San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York.
Their global footprint will be even more impressive — trips are planned
to Turkey, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Mexico, China and many
other countries. In some cases, scholars and fellows will attend conferences and
programs; in other cases, they will be networking for future
collaborations. Some will also be conducting research for future
projects. "I am going to Japan to present at a stem cell conference to give our stem cell policy program and the Baker Institute more visibility, as well as to build
foundations for future collaborations," said Baker Institute science and
technology policy fellow Kirstin Matthews. "The summer is a really good time for me to focus on research because, unlike the rest of the year, I'm not teaching classes." 
May 14, 2012 - STUDENT VOICES
As I entered the office of Joan Neuhaus Schaan, Baker Institute fellow in homeland security and terrorism, last December, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I initially envisioned myself sitting behind a computer filtering through loads of scholarly articles. In reality, my internship was much more dynamic. Two years ago, I interned for my congressman in Washington, D.C., and moving from the Hill to a think tank introduced me to a different perspective of policymaking. As a Baker Institute research intern, I gleaned information from numerous media outlets, watched films spotlighting the drug-induced violence in Mexico and the United States, interviewed my college classmates to grasp their understanding of my research issue, and attended events pertaining to my research. The experience trained me to think holistically about an issue. Instead of reading several press releases of a specific event, I undertook proactive methods of research by peering through a multidimensional lens. I pursued every opportunity I had to engage in the sphere of policy that intrigued me most — U.S.-Latin American affairs. Understanding the distinctions between how U.S. citizens along the border and Mexico’s lower and middle classes evaluated the drug war violence in Mexico emboldened me to think more critically about potential policy that would assuage the concerns of all affected groups. Neuhaus Schaan proved to be an immensely helpful mentor, guiding me every step of the way as I refined my research topic in hopes of placing a personal mark on the Baker Institute. In addition, I enjoyed working with staff members for Congressman Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, as we prepared for the congressman’s speech at the Baker Institute regarding Mexico’s drug war. After McCaul’s address, I had the honor of joining Neuhaus Schaan and several of her friends to discuss U.S. policy over dinner. As I listened to a former FBI agent and two former U.S. military members discuss how the United States had dealt with similar international conflicts in the past, I was surprised by the hard realities of managing threats to U.S. homeland security. By the time I began to write a paper as part of my internship, addressing legislation introduced by the U.S. Congress that aimed to curb the violence along the U.S.-Mexico border, I was well-versed in the problems facing the Mexican people. I sincerely believe that my experience interning at the Baker Institute enriched my ability to conduct effective research on some of today’s most poignant policy issues. Blake Delaplane is a Rice University undergraduate majoring in political science and policy studies.
May 11, 2012 - SCHOLARLY POV
Political science fellow Mark P. Jones recently wrote a guest column for The Texas Tribune in which he analyzes current Texas legislative races between Republican candidates who are current or former state legislators. Jones studied the roll-call voting records of current or former state legislators currently involved in four House and two Senate races along the liberal-conservative scale, and compared their results relative to the rest of the state's GOP legislators. His analysis shows that the current House races display substantial ideological contrasts between the
candidates, but the Senate contests involve only modest to nonexistent
ideological differences. He notes: "If the House races are true battles for the ideological soul of the Texas GOP, then the Senate contests are mere skirmishes between competing conservative elites featuring candidates with relatively similar ideological profiles."
May 09, 2012 - U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONS
Baker Institute founding director Edward P. Djerejian is part of an independent Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)-sponsored task force calling for improved U.S.-Turkey relations. In its May 2012 report titled "U.S.-Turkey Relations: A New Partnership," the task force advocates for a relationship that reflects "not only common American-Turkish
interests, but also Turkey's new stature as an economically and
politically successful country with a new role to play in a changing
Middle East." Djerejian was one of 23 experts asked to participate in the task force. The group is chaired by former secretary of state Madeleine K. Albright, who is also an ex officio member of the Baker Institute advisory board, and former national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley, and is directed by Steven A. Cook, CFR's Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies. "U.S. Turkey Relations: A New Partnership."
May 03, 2012 - Baker Institute interns honored with prestigious scholarships and fellowships
Learn more about how you can support the Baker Institute's student initiatives through the Student Leadership Fund. For Rice University students, the path to the world of public policy often leads through the Baker Institute. In the 2011-2012 academic year, seven institute interns won prestigious grants, including scholarships from the Fulbright, Marshall and Truman foundations. "I am delighted that the achievements of these outstanding Rice students have been recognized by prestigious scholarships and fellowships," said Baker Institute founding director Edward P. Djerejian. "They reflect not only the academic excellence of our students, but also the educational value of the internships and guidance provided by Baker Institute research fellows." Baker Institute interns who have received awards are: Fulbright Scholarship Marshall Scholarship Truman Scholarship Watson Fellowship Zeff Fellowship The students credit their experiences in the institute's student
programs with fostering their research and policy interests, and many
noted the support they received from fellows and scholars. "One of the
truly unique draws of the Baker Institute is not just that it has
distinguished statesmen and scholars, but that they are extremely
accessible to undergraduates," Rekhi said. "That has helped me a lot as a
student, and I’m sure it will help many students to come."
Payton Odom ’09 (Jesse Jones Leadership Center Summer in D.C. Policy Research Internship Program)
Francesca Schley ’12 (administration)
Kareem Ayoub ’12 (Public Diplomacy and Global Policymaking Program)
Benjamin Chou ’13 (Jesse Jones Leadership Center Summer in D.C. Policy Research Internship Program)
Rahul Rekhi ’13 (Jesse Jones Leadership Center Summer in D.C. Policy Research Internship Program)
Rachael Petersen ’12 (Jesse Jones Leadership Center Summer in D.C. Policy Research Internship Program)
Dylan McNally ’12 (Latin America Initiative)
May 01, 2012 - STUDENT VOICES
The White House came under fire this spring for a new law requiring employers, including faith-based organizations, to offer health insurance that fully covers the cost of birth control. President Obama subsequently announced an “accommodation” for religious groups, shifting the cost of contraceptives from religiously affiliated charities and universities to health insurance companies; it is unclear how self-insured religious groups will be treated.
The Baker Institute Student Forum (BISF) discussed the policy implications of the controversy at “Contraception Coverage and Religious Freedom," the spring installment in a series of BISF debates. What policies work best, or are at least viable, when the interests of religious institutions, women and the government converge? Watch the April 3, 2012, video as students from the BISF, the Rice Conservative Forum and the Rice University Young Democrats wrestle with these timely issues.
