# Epicenter ![Two-toned gold and brown graphic of the angles on a building.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-03/epicentermainimage-Hero-Homepage.jpg?itok=Oe38C2Kh) ## Our Mission ### Epicenter is the Weatherhead Center's online source for original commentary and analysis on issues that transcend borders. ## Recent Posts [### The New Battlefield: Poland and Europe’s Struggle Against Hybrid Warfare ](/articles/new-battlefield-poland-and-europes-struggle-against-hybrid-warfare) June 08, 2026 **Russia’s stealthy, nefarious transgressions against Poland are on the rise. Is this a tactic to threaten EU and NATO countries for supporting Ukraine?** ![Illustration of rows of random numbers and letters with the word "attack" highlighted in blue, near a red bullseye.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/Illustration-HybridWarfare-CyberAttack.jpg?h=ac680857&itok=-DckS2CF) [### One Thousand Years of Capitalism ](/podcast/ep19-one-thousand-years-of-capitalism) April 30, 2026 **Sven Beckert, a history professor at Harvard, has written an epic book about the history of capitalism over roughly a millenium: it’s called** ***Capitalism: A Global History*****. Beckert believes the only way to understand one’s place in the world is through**... ![Graphic shows headshots for Sven Beckert and Senthil Nathan plus podcast title and logo.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/ep19-SBeckert-16x9%20Still.png?itok=SSoIo94Y) [### The Power of Sports to Unite and Divide ](/articles/power-sports-unite-and-divide) April 15, 2026 **A reflection on competition and the way sports can provide social cohesion and parallel political life, yet enhance feelings of inequality.** ![Close-up profile of rugby scrum.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/RugbyScrum-Unsplash.jpg?h=1c0f1144&itok=6gusBw-p) [### War, Work, and the Fragile Ladder of Dignity ](/articles/war-work-and-fragile-ladder-dignity) April 02, 2026 **There’s more to employment than just making a living. A leader who works at the nexus of business and international development explores the understudied yet fundamental concept of dignity in the workplace.** ![Illustration of a person colored teal sitting on a platform between two flights of stairs, looking toward an orange sunset ahead while on the side of the staircase behind them there are blue clouds and sky.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/Illustration-SNathan-Horizontal.jpg?itok=d4KQW_gA) [### How Societies Heal After Conflict ](/multimedia/how-societies-heal-after-conflict) February 20, 2026 **A consortium of scholars and practitioners are working to identify the factors that both help and obstruct long-term peace after conflict.** [Michelle Nicholasen](/people/michelle-nicholasen) ![Paper crane and its shadow against a tinted green background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/Epicenter%20Teaser%20Image.png?h=38c3d79c&itok=992v5cV7) [### Why Venezuela? ](/articles/why-venezuela) December 19, 2025 **The last time the US invaded a Latin American country was in 1989, in Panama; will Venezuela be next?** [Michelle Nicholasen](/people/michelle-nicholasen) ![Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, wearing a straw hat and holding a stick, speaks at a microphone among an outdoor crowd with people raising up their left hands.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Maduro-AP25345060472614.jpg?h=71478ac3&itok=1iYEGNxe) [### Under the Mask of Peacebuilding: Miscalculations and the Fight over Resources in Ukraine ](/articles/under-mask-peacebuilding-miscalculations-and-fight-over-resources-ukraine) October 29, 2025 **Will the minerals agreement with the US be a bad deal for Ukraine? Looking at past deals, a team of scholars demonstrate that accuracy in accounting is crucial.** ![A male and female professional are both seated at a table signing documents in front of their respective flags (US and Ukraine).](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/Ukraine%E2%80%93United_States_Mineral_Resources_Agreement_Signing.jpg?itok=3hUXZL92) [### How Athletes’ Taxes Can Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis ](/article/how-athletes-taxes-can-solve-affordable-housing-crisis) October 23, 2025 **A visiting scholar and former NFL and MLB player introduces an innovative solution to the global housing crisis: harnessing the billions of dollars in taxes that athletes and entertainers contribute annually.** ![Illustration of housing development sitting in the middle of an athletic field and stadium.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/16_9%20%281920x1080%29.png?itok=4pBTfNBg) [### How Transnational Anti-LGBTQ+ Networks Operate: A Case Study in the Caribbean ](/article/how-transnational-anti-lgbtq-networks-operate-case-study-caribbean) September 30, 2025 **A rising scholar seeks reasons why there are drastically different rights for LGBTQ+ people across the island region where he grew up.** ![Mural of gay pride history timeline.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/Mural-of-Jamaican-LGBTQ%2B-History-at-EqualityJA.jpg?itok=9QKCBZbr) [ View All Posts arrow\_circle\_right ](/all-posts) ## Latest Podcast ## Latest Multimedia Videos ### How Societies Heal After Conflict A consortium of scholars and practitioners are working to identify the factors that both help and obstruct long-term peace after conflict. [ Watch the GSNIC Global Partner Interviews arrow\_circle\_right ](https://epicenter.wcfia.harvard.edu/multimedia/how-societies-heal-after-conflict) ![A paper crane and its shadow, with a teal-colored wall behind it.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-04/Epicenter%20Teaser%20Image.png?itok=JRV6WRTc) ## Series Open all sections Close all sections ### Insight on Syria expand\_more [### Insight on Syria: What Are Putin's Motives? ](/blog/insight-syria-putin-motives) April 03, 2018 Russia’s direct entry into the Syrian conflict in September 2015 was spurred by a plethora of motivations. Russian scholars Rawi Abdelal and Alexandra Vacroux unpack the various rationales. By Rawi Abdelal and Alexandra Vacroux Fourth in a series that... ![Image of Putin, Assad, and others](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/alamy-knjp7b-700.jpg?itok=S8iGsxmQ) [### Insight on Syria: The Unseen Challenges of Refugee Integration in Germany ](/blog/insight-syria-unseen-challenges-refugee-integration-germany) January 25, 2018 For Syrian refugees fortunate enough to reach Germany—a model among European countries for its commitment to refugees—the day-to-day realities and the uncertainty of their futures loom large. Third in a series that asks Weatherhead Center affiliates to... ![Image of Syrian Refugee](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/alamy-syrianrefugee-frpdr2.jpg?itok=BB4YlaNN) [### Insight on Syria: A Quagmire of Warring Religious Groups? Why the Western View is Misguided ](/blog/insight-syria-quagmire) September 26, 2017 Harvard political scientist Melani Cammett clarifies the role of sectarianism in the Syrian War. By Melani Cammett, Faculty Associate; Harvard Academy Senior Scholar. Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs, Department of Government, Harvard... ![Image of people and children of two Syrian Shiite towns.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/al-fuah_and_kafriya_700.jpg?itok=Gb4dQITK) [### Insight on Syria: Documenting the "Burden of War" on Syrians ](/blog/documenting-burden-war-syrians) July 26, 2017 Half of the population of Syria is either outside the country or is displaced. Weatherhead Center Faculty Associate Jennifer Leaning is co-directing a new Lancet Commission to investigate the public health consequences of this epic war. First in a series... ![Image of Syrian Kurdish refugees traveling](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/refugeestraveling.jpg?itok=B9bas2Aa) ### Background to Brexit expand\_more [### Background to Brexit: Populism, Nationalism, and the Politics of Resentment ](/blog/background-brexit-nationalism-populism-and-politics-resentment) July 21, 2016 Harvard sociologist Bart Bonikowski explains why Brexit has two important lessons for political analysis on both sides of the Atlantic Third in a series on what Weatherhead Center scholars think about the unfolding institutional, political, and economic... ![Image of raised fist made of people](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/fistimage_bbonikowski_populism2.jpg?itok=Z0d-BSgP) [### Background to Brexit: How to Leave the EU ](/blog/background-brexit-how-to-leave-eu) July 08, 2016 Establishing political order in the UK and EU after historic Brexit vote Second in a series on what Weatherhead Center scholars think about the unfolding institutional, political, and economic consequences of the June 23 United Kingdom referendum on... ![EU flag missing one star](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/euflag_missingstar700.png?itok=5Y_CkVya) [### Background to Brexit: One-Size-Fits-All Monetary Policy and the Eurozone Crisis ](/blog/brexit-jeff-frieden) June 22, 2016 Harvard political economist explains eurozone crisis and roots of Euroscepticism First in a series on what Weatherhead Center scholars think about the unfolding institutional, political, and economic consequences of the June 23 United Kingdom referendum... ![Map of the European Union and Eurozone Countries](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/europeanprojectmap_final_01.png?itok=u_lkbuVE) ### Trump's Impact on the World expand\_more [### Trump’s Impact on the World: Timothy J. Colton on Russia ](/blog/trumps-impact-world-timothy-colton) January 15, 2019 Harvard Professor of Government and Russian Studies Timothy Colton discusses the fraught relationship between the US and Russia under the Trump administration. This is the third blog post in a series of edited transcripts from a panel on Trump's... ![Image of Tim Colton and Melani Cammett at the orientation panel](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/tcolton-panelphoto2.jpg?itok=9jQgyKe7) [### Trump’s Impact on the World: Melani Cammett on the Middle East ](/blog/trumps-impact-world-melani-cammett) December 13, 2018 Harvard Professor of International Affairs Melani Cammett reviews the range of US policy stances in the Middle East and asks us to examine the difference between concrete policy shifts and skillful rhetoric. This is the second blog post in a series of... ![Image of Melani Cammett and Michele Lamont](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/mcammett-panelphoto1.jpg?itok=UFw5e8O6) [### Trump's Impact on the World: Christina L. Davis on Trade ](/blog/trumps-impact-world-christina-davis) November 16, 2018 Harvard Professor Christina L. Davis discusses President Trump's strategies on trade—some of which may not be as outlandish as many people think. This is the first blog post in a series of edited transcripts from a panel on Trump's presidency held during... ![Image of Christina Davis](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/cdavis-panelphoto1.jpg?itok=iixs6cS6) ### The Geopolitics of Energy expand\_more [### The Geopolitics of Energy: Powder Keg in the Eastern Mediterranean ](/blog/geopolitics-energy-powder-keg-eastern-mediterranean) September 08, 2022 The Russian oil boycott has not only shaken the global economy, but also exposes how overdue the world is for a transition to cleaner energy. Three scholars report on impacts of the boycott and emphasize the need for multilateral solutions that don’t... ![Worker in a section of pipe along the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/tanap-pipeline-700px.jpg?itok=A_CV9cUn) [### The Geopolitics of Energy: China’s Coal Regime ](/blog/geopolitics-energy-china%E2%80%99s-coal-regime) August 25, 2022 The Russian oil boycott has not only shaken the global economy, but also exposes how overdue the world is for a transition to cleaner energy. Three scholars report on impacts of the boycott and emphasize the need for multilateral solutions that don’t... ![Back of coal miner in gear walking down a dark tunnel](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/coalminer-china-flickr-700px.jpg?itok=30YeOsBf) [### The Geopolitics of Energy: The 1970s Oil Crisis ](/blog/geopolitics-energy-1970s-oil-crisis) August 01, 2022 The Russian oil boycott has not only shaken the global economy, but also exposes how overdue the world is for a transition to cleaner energy. Three scholars report on impacts of the boycott and emphasize the need for multilateral solutions that don’t... ![Back of a man in the 1970s standing to cars and holding a gas can](/sites/g/files/omnuum8931/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/epicenter/files/1970s-oilcrisis-usnatarchives-4272498928-700px.jpg?itok=ql8143-g)