Max Abrahms Associate Professor of Political Science m.abrahms@neu.edu 617.373.2796 @MaxAbrahms Expertise civil war, comparative politics, government response to terrorism, human security, insurgency, International Relations, Iran conflict, ISIS, NATO, nonviolent protest, Russia Ukraine war, terrorism Max Abrahms in the Press Article Newsweek U.S. Omits Iran and Hezbollah From Terror Threat List Max Abrahms, professor of political science at Northeastern University and member at the Council of Foreign Relations, believes that the omission signals a “quid pro quo” between Washington and Tehran. Article Russia just invaded Ukraine. What that could mean for energy prices, global security and more “Doomsday scenarios often speculate that Russia will try to occupy the country, topple the capital and kill tens of thousands of civilians. I do not believe that these scenarios accord with Putin’s track record,” said Max Abrahms, a specialist in international security studies at Northeastern University, in Boston. “Putin is not a strategic dunce or […] Article Fox News Russian threat to Ukraine could push Finland, Sweden to join NATO “NATO was created to counter the now defunct Soviet Union. A condition for ending the Cold War was for NATO to desist gobbling up countries in Russia’s sphere of influence. Hawks want to pretend that Russia is not genuinely concerned by NATO expansion, but this is not a serious argument,” Max Abrahms, international security expert […] Article U.S. News & World Report EXPLAINER: What is ISIS-K? Militant groups like the Taliban benefit from presenting a moderate face, says Max Abrahms, an expert in international security and professor at Northeastern University. Article CBS News Rockets launched at Kabul airport before final U.S. troop withdrawal CBS News’ Bradley Blackburn reports, and then Max Abrahms, a Northeastern University political science professor and senior fellow with the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, joins “CBSN AM” to talk more about the challenges. Article Fox News With Taliban victory, Afghanistan could become the ‘second school of jihadism’ “The cold truth is that Americans care much more about keeping safe from terrorism than the humanitarian nightmare unfolding in Afghanistan,” Max Abrahms, terrorism expert and professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Fox News. Article Reason Don’t Excuse Biden for His Botched Afghanistan Withdrawal It’s true that some of the chaos in Afghanistan was inevitable. “It was very obvious what was going to happen,” says Max Abrahms, a professor at Northeastern University and an expert in international security. “The nation building has been a failure. The Afghan government is seen as a stooge. And over the past few years, the Taliban […] Article ‘I did what I came to do’: Biden, Putin leave summit with agreements, but clear tensions remain Max Abrahms, a professor of political science and public policy at Northeastern University, said Putin’s remarks about both countries being “committed to discussions” about cybersecurity were a positive signal. Article Biden’s Syria airstrikes test US role as world’s police, get bipartisan support – and criticism “Biden wanted to respond to the incident in Iraq,” said Max Abrahms, a professor of political science and public policy at Northeastern University, “but he wanted to do it in a way that didn’t seem too heavy-handed … the more fundamental question that needs to be asked, and isn’t, is what are Iranian militias doing in Iraq? The […] Article Reason Americans Shouldn’t Be Treated Like ISIS Insurgents “Overreactions give people an incentive to become terrorists—not only by creating grievances but also by reducing the relative risks of turning to violence,” Northeastern University’s Max Abrahms, a professor of public policy, recently cautioned in Reason. “A standard assumption in political science is that terrorists are rational actors. Many people decide against becoming terrorists because they know that […] Max Abrahms for Northeastern Global News Here’s why the drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani could lead to more violence, not less Here’s why the drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani could lead to more violence, not less Taking out the leader of a militant group—such as Soleimani, who commanded Iran’s powerful Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps—often results in the group “paradoxically becoming even more violent, because lower-level members with even less restraint become empowered,” says Northeastern associate professor Max Abrahms. When corporations respond to terror attacks with acts of kindness—and when they don’t When corporations respond to terror attacks with acts of kindness—and when they don’t When targeted by terrorism, businesses tend to respond with charitable support. But the story changes when companies themselves are at risk. So the US has pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal. What does that mean to me? So the US has pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal. What does that mean to me? President Trump has withdrawn the United States from the landmark international nuclear deal with Iran, announcing that stringent economic sanctions against Tehran will be reinstated. “How we’re better off in terms of U.S. national security, I’m not entirely clear,” said political science professor and terrorism theorist Max Abrahms. The global implications of Trump’s Syria strike The global implications of Trump’s Syria strike Was the Trump administration’s military strike in Syria a symbolic show of force or something more? According to assistant professor Max Abrahms, a terrorism theorist at Northeastern, it seems that the U.S. retaliatory strikes “were intended only to be a warning about the costs of using chemical weapons.” The terror in Nice and security across the EU The terror in Nice and security across the EU France is reeling from its third major attack in 19 months after a lone terrorist sped a truck into a crowd of people gathered to watch Bastille Day fireworks. The attack killed at least 84 people and injured more than 200 others. We asked Northeastern experts to analyze these types of “lone wolf” terrorist attacks, the media’s use of graphic footage from the scene, and what the terror in Nice could mean for the European Union’s security procedures. Faculty experts examine a range of issues in Brussels attacks Faculty experts examine a range of issues in Brussels attacks The horrific bombings in Brussels on Tuesday have left another European city reeling after a terrorist attack. In the aftermath, we asked an interdisciplinary group of faculty members to offer insight into the events. 3Qs: The Islamic State threat and its political impact 3Qs: The Islamic State threat and its political impact Terrorism theorist Max Abrahms explains how the Islamic State group’s reach beyond its centralized area should not come as a surprise, and neither should its impact on politics here in the U.S. Northeastern experts analyze recent terror attacks abroad Northeastern experts analyze recent terror attacks abroad An interdisciplinary group of five Northeastern faculty experts reacted to and examined last week’s terror attacks in Beirut and Paris at a panel discussion Tuesday night. 3Qs: The Charleston massacre and domestic terrorism in America 3Qs: The Charleston massacre and domestic terrorism in America Max Abrahms says the Charleston massacre is an act of terrorism. Here, the terrorism theorist and Northeastern assistant professor of political science, explains why, and discusses the distinction between hate crimes and terrorism. Campus forum analyzes Paris attacks Campus forum analyzes Paris attacks Five Northeastern faculty members participated in an interdisciplinary forum examining January’s attacks in Paris and their place in the larger context of conflicts, terrorism, free speech, and inequality.
Article Newsweek U.S. Omits Iran and Hezbollah From Terror Threat List Max Abrahms, professor of political science at Northeastern University and member at the Council of Foreign Relations, believes that the omission signals a “quid pro quo” between Washington and Tehran.
Article Russia just invaded Ukraine. What that could mean for energy prices, global security and more “Doomsday scenarios often speculate that Russia will try to occupy the country, topple the capital and kill tens of thousands of civilians. I do not believe that these scenarios accord with Putin’s track record,” said Max Abrahms, a specialist in international security studies at Northeastern University, in Boston. “Putin is not a strategic dunce or […]
Article Fox News Russian threat to Ukraine could push Finland, Sweden to join NATO “NATO was created to counter the now defunct Soviet Union. A condition for ending the Cold War was for NATO to desist gobbling up countries in Russia’s sphere of influence. Hawks want to pretend that Russia is not genuinely concerned by NATO expansion, but this is not a serious argument,” Max Abrahms, international security expert […]
Article U.S. News & World Report EXPLAINER: What is ISIS-K? Militant groups like the Taliban benefit from presenting a moderate face, says Max Abrahms, an expert in international security and professor at Northeastern University.
Article CBS News Rockets launched at Kabul airport before final U.S. troop withdrawal CBS News’ Bradley Blackburn reports, and then Max Abrahms, a Northeastern University political science professor and senior fellow with the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, joins “CBSN AM” to talk more about the challenges.
Article Fox News With Taliban victory, Afghanistan could become the ‘second school of jihadism’ “The cold truth is that Americans care much more about keeping safe from terrorism than the humanitarian nightmare unfolding in Afghanistan,” Max Abrahms, terrorism expert and professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Fox News.
Article Reason Don’t Excuse Biden for His Botched Afghanistan Withdrawal It’s true that some of the chaos in Afghanistan was inevitable. “It was very obvious what was going to happen,” says Max Abrahms, a professor at Northeastern University and an expert in international security. “The nation building has been a failure. The Afghan government is seen as a stooge. And over the past few years, the Taliban […]
Article ‘I did what I came to do’: Biden, Putin leave summit with agreements, but clear tensions remain Max Abrahms, a professor of political science and public policy at Northeastern University, said Putin’s remarks about both countries being “committed to discussions” about cybersecurity were a positive signal.
Article Biden’s Syria airstrikes test US role as world’s police, get bipartisan support – and criticism “Biden wanted to respond to the incident in Iraq,” said Max Abrahms, a professor of political science and public policy at Northeastern University, “but he wanted to do it in a way that didn’t seem too heavy-handed … the more fundamental question that needs to be asked, and isn’t, is what are Iranian militias doing in Iraq? The […]
Article Reason Americans Shouldn’t Be Treated Like ISIS Insurgents “Overreactions give people an incentive to become terrorists—not only by creating grievances but also by reducing the relative risks of turning to violence,” Northeastern University’s Max Abrahms, a professor of public policy, recently cautioned in Reason. “A standard assumption in political science is that terrorists are rational actors. Many people decide against becoming terrorists because they know that […]