Today, Russell Berman analyzes the drivers of disruptive student behavior on certain college campuses in recent years; David Henderson argues that NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s championing of “collectivism” overlooks that ideology’s abundant historical failures; and Eyck Freymann and coauthor Harry Halem present a condensed version of the argument made in their recent book The Arsenal of Democracy.
Freedom Frequency
In a new piece at Freedom Frequency, Hoover Senior Fellow Russell A. Berman offers research that connects the prevalence of disruptive student protests during the Gaza conflict to the characteristics of certain universities and the students themselves. Setting aside potential outside instigation and the unknown influence of faculty, he finds that highly selective colleges and their students figured heavily in the news-making protests and encampments. These findings, he argues, have implications for university leaders who are trying to ensure protests stay within the bounds of free expression and acceptable conduct. Berman’s recommendations focus on clear and realistic grading, expanded work requirements for students, and consistent enforcement of disciplinary codes. Read more here.
History and Political Philosophy
Research Fellow and economist David R. Henderson argues at Defining Ideas that Zohran Mamdani, New York’s new mayor, gets his view of “the frigidity of rugged individualism” and “the warmth of collectivism” exactly backward. Collectivism, as amply documented throughout the 20th century, not only failed to provide what its subjects wanted and needed but was incapable of doing so, he argues, because of its contempt for economic reality. In particular, post–World War II economic disparities between East and West Germany and between North and South Korea prove that authoritarian rule suffocates prosperity—and civil liberties as well. Mamdani’s words reflect either willing disregard for the facts or a profound naivete, Henderson writes, encouraging New Yorkers to beware of the ideology driving their mayor’s actions. Read more here.
Confronting and Competing with China
Hoover Fellow Eyck Freymann and coauthor Harry Halem take to the pages of the Texas National Security Review to share insights from their recent Hoover Institution Press book, The Arsenal of Democracy. They argue that “the margin of deterrence against China is rapidly shrinking, driven not by a failure of US technological innovation, but by the American and allied defense industrial base’s inability to field and sustain cutting-edge capabilities at scale, at speed, and under constant pressure.” Halem and Freymann show that America’s most “time-sensitive industrial investments” should be “in munitions, to close a widening missile gap; drones, to compete with China's mass production; and submarines, to address the profound crisis in the attack submarine force’s industrial capacity and sustainment.” The piece emphasizes that achieving these goals will require a political recognition that “business as usual” will not suffice to sustain deterrence. Read more here.
State and Local Governance
At Defining Ideas, Visiting Fellow Matthew E. Kahn and coauthor Joseph Tracy say that in the wake of the devastating 2025 Los Angeles area wildfires, “there’s an opportunity to assist those families who want to rebuild while still allowing private equity to help finance the revival of these neighborhoods.” Kahn’s proposed solution would channel “investor capital toward shared-equity models that empower families rather than exclude them.” Such creative arrangements known as housing partnerships could not only unlock funds to reconstruct neighborhoods but also help local homeowners return and rebuild. The key is to share the burdens of mortgage, taxation, and repairs in return for a share of the gains (or losses) when the property is eventually sold. Equity “partners” would bring the capital to restore destroyed areas, strengthen fire-risk mitigation, and protect the stability of communities. Read more here.
Answering Challenges to Advanced Economies
In the latest episode of Capitalism and Freedom in the Twenty-First Century, host Policy Fellow Jon Hartley speaks with Luis Garicano about the latter’s career. Luis Garicano is a full professor at the London School of Economics, School of Public Policy. His research focuses on the impact of organization and technology on aggregate economic variables such as wage distribution, productivity, and economic growth. The conversation covers Garicano’s time as a member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2022, as well as his research on various private-sector firms. Garicano and Hartley also discuss Europe’s struggles with innovation and regulation, and the future of the euro. Watch or listen here.
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