Experts in the News | Miller Center

How can we measure the health of democracy?

There are a number of metrics and indices developed to assess the vibrancy, stability, and health of democratic institutions and culture. But they often measure different things. This Democracy Dialogue will examine a few of the ways we measure the strength of freedom and democracy, exploring the health of democracy in America and around the world.

John Bridgeland

The Presidency

First ladies and war

Presidential spouses long have fought the good fight.

The Hill

News Analysis: Biden, recognizing the power of Zelensky’s plea to Congress, beefs up defense aid for Ukraine

Eric Edelman, a former ambassador to Finland and Turkey who served as undersecretary of Defense under President George W. Bush, questioned the White House’s logic in determining that delivering MIG-29 jets could be deemed by Putin as escalatory when it continues to supply Javelin missiles and other weapons that are being used against Russian forces. The Biden administration rebuffed Poland’s efforts last week to transfer such jets to Ukraine.

Eric Edelman

Local political expert weighs in on potential for Russian nuclear attacks and World War III

A nuclear war would be an unthinkable scenario. However, Russia continues to keep its nuclear arsenal on high alert and is now calling on China for help. And President Joe Biden brought up the possibility of World War III in a press briefing this week. Experts warn the Russian invasion of Ukraine could escalate to a dire situation. Todd Sechser is a professor of politics at the University of Virginia and a senior fellow at the Miller Center.

Todd Sechser

Stay vigilant: How Americans can protect themselves against Russian cyberattacks

What has the U.S. done since to shore up its defense? Kristen Eichensehr, a former special assistant to the legal adviser of the U.S. Department of State and current director of UVA’s National Security Law Center, said executive edicts have moved the nation to a stronger cybersecurity footing. “In the wake of SolarWinds, the Biden administration issued an executive order that was aimed at better securing U.S. government systems, which makes sense because that’s what was ultimately compromised with SolarWinds,” said Eichensehr, a Martha Lubin Karsh and Bruce A. Karsh Bicentennial Professor of Law. “So that’s doing things to harden the defenses and make more U.S. government systems more resilient.

Kristen Eichensehr

China’s New Strategic Opportunity in Europe

President Vladimir Putin’s historic blunder in Ukraine has created a crisis in Europe that is costly for China but at the same time opens for it an opportunity for a new role in global politics. The costs are real and will continue to grow as long as the Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine continues. China’s tactical opportunity to contribute to mediation creates a strategic opportunity to move beyond the strategy of peaceful rise in a given international environment to one of providing key coordination in a post-hegemonic world.

Brantly Womack