Interviews, News, Commentary, and Testimony
Interview, “US expert talks of threats, opportunities of US proposal for Zangezur Corridor for regional states,” Tabnak News Service Iran” interview with Payman Yazdani, 22 July 2025. The text of the interview may be accessed from the Tabnak News Agency website HERE.
Interview, “US interests shift makes changes to NATO structure and goals necessary,”Tabnak News Service (Iran); interview with Payman Yazdani, 5 March 2025. The text of the interview may be accessed from the Tabnak News Agency website HERE.
Opinion Essay: “What awaits Sino-US ties in Trump 2.0 era”: China Daily (16 November 2024) available here and here.
Interview: “BRICS can discipline strategic interventions in international organs” Mehr News Agency, Tehran, (interview with Payman Yazdani), 14 September 2024. The text of the interview may be accessed from the Mehr News Agency website HERE
Interview: The States of US-China Relations on Dynamic Pathways of Global (Re)Ordering [访谈文本：全球秩序重塑中的中美关系现状], The Paper (Shanghai, China) (Interview by 朱润宇 (Runyu Zhu)) 30 August 2024 (English and Chinese version here).
Interview: “Discussing Challenges to Democracy, Cultural Responsibilities, and Constitutional Law in Kurdistan (Interview by Ferhad M. Hassan, editor in chief); Gulan Media (1 August 2023. Available [https://www.gulanmedia.com/en/story/306433/gulan-media-exclusive:-expert-larry-cat%C3%A1-backer-discusses-challenges-to-democracy,-cultural-responsibilities,-and-constitutional-law-in-kurdistan].
Quoted in Zhao Jia, “Scholars Around the World Praise China’s Shared Future Vision,” People’s Daily (Beijing); 30 September 2022. Access here.
Interview: “Overturning Roe v. Wade; and the Leak of the Draft Opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org.” The Crossover Podcast (hosted by Ricardo Kometar); 19 May 2022. The entire interview may be accessed HERE.
Interview: “Secularism and Privatization,” MNT Network (India) (21 November 2021) (Interview by Ravi Prakash (Advocate on Record at Supreme Court of India)). Available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYmvFckmbPY.
Interview: “Liberal democracy would have to conform itself to new facts,” Mehr News Agency (20 July 2021) (Interview by Payman Yazdani). Available https://en.mehrnews.com/news/176338/Liberal-democracy-would-have-to-conform-itself-to-new-facts.
Quoted in Payman Yazdani, “Why should China fully support Iran in Persian Gulf tensions.” Mehr News Agency (20 June 2020). Available https://en.mehrnews.com/news/146662/Why-should-China-fully-support-Iran-in-Persian-Gulf-tensions.
Interview: “COVID-19 revealing little parts of fundamental shifting of global ordering: Prof. Larry Backer,” Mehr News Agency, TEHRAN, 18 March 2020 (Interview with Payman Yazdani).
Work quoted in Philip P. Gura, “The Majority Report – Your Social Credit Score Is Showing,” The National Law Review (8 October 2019).
Quoted in Pan Mengqi, Ren Qi, and Dong Leshuo, “US exit from INF a ‘great blow’ to global security,” ChinaDaily Aug. 5, 2019, p. 12.
Interview: “No Trade War Likely” Tehran Times (April 7, 2018, pp. 1, 7) (also appears on line on the Mehr News Agency Website under the same title) (Interview by Payman Yazdani).
Interview: Prof. Backer: Nothing in NSS suggesting a strategic objective to reject JCPOA, Teheran Times 24 December 2017 (Interview by Payman Yazdani). Available http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/419642/Prof-Backer-Nothing-in-NSS-suggesting-a-strategic-objective.
Interview: “Motives behind Trump’s systematic unilateral decisions,” Mehr News Agency (Iran) Nov. 6, 2017. Available https://en.mehrnews.com/news/129196/Motives-behind-Trump-s-systematic-unilateral-decisions.
Quoted in Colleen Flaherty, “It’s a Tough Job, But Somebody’s Got to Do it,” Insider Higher Education November 3, 2017. Available at https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/11/03/how-two-institutions-are-trying-strengthen-shared-governance.
Interview: “Globalization of power components to change world’s polarization,” Mehr News Agency (Iran) (26 August 2017) (interview by Payman Yazdani), available http://en.mehrnews.com/news/127252/Globalization-of-power-components-to-change-world-s-polarization; Farsi language version (لری بیکر در گفتگو با مهر مطرح کرد؛
تأثیر جهانیسازی بر قطببندیهای جدید جهان/سقوط و ظهور هژمونها
Quoted in Katie Johnston, “Penn State Law hosts panel on diversity in legal education,” The Daily Collegian March 16, 2017)
Interviewed: “China would replace US in global trade” Mehr News Agency (March 5, 2017) (with Payman Yazdani).
Interview, “U.S.-Cuba Relations After the Death of Fidel Castro,” WWL First News With Tommy Tucker, New Orleans, La, Nov. 29, 2016.
Quoted in Michael Brush, “Opinion: What Fidel Castro’s Death Could Mean for Investors,” Market Watch, Nov. 28, 2016, available http://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-fidel-castros-death-means-for-doing-business-in-cuba-2016-11-26. Translated and reported in
卡斯特罗的去世对投资者意味着什么？http://finance.ifeng.com/a/20161128/15038116_0.shtml; and 卡斯特罗的去世对投资者来说意味着什么, available http://finance.qq.com/a/20161129/015016.htm.
Quoted in منطقهگرایی نشان شکست نظامهای امپریالیستی است Mehr News Agency (Iran) (13 January 2016). http://mehrnews.com/news/3023540.
Quoted in Payman Yazdani, China may negotiate entry into TPP once it is confirmed by U.S. Congress: legal scholar Teheran Times, Nov. 14, 2015, available http://www.tehrantimes.com/PDF/12416/12416-1.pdf; full article here: http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=250828.
Quoted in احتمال عضویت چین در«ترانس پاسفیک»/ اختلاف ایدئولوژیک آمریکا و چین Mehr News Agency (Iran), November 8, 2015, available http://mehrnews.com/news/2961756/.
Discussed in Chung Peng, “China and Magna Carta,” The Diplomat July 23, 2195, available http://thediplomat.com/2015/07/china-and-magna-carta/.
Quoted in Ashwani Kumar, “Dignity for all, This right is the test of true democracy,” The Tribune India, August 17, 2015. Available http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/dignity-for-all/120336.html.
Quoted in Richard Teitelbaum, “For SWFs, is ‘Doing Good’ Bade for Stakeholders,” Institutional Investor’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Center, March 23, 2015. Available http://www.sovereignwealthcenter.com/Article/3438746/For-SWFs-is-Doing-Good-Bad-for-Stakeholders.html.
Quoted in Richard Teitelbaum, “At GPFG, Norway’s Roster of ‘Excluded’ Companies Grows, Institutional Investor’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Center, February 27, 2015. Available http://www.sovereignwealthcenter.com/Article/3431504/At-GPFG-Norways-Roster-of-Excluded-Companies-Grows.html
Quoted in John Lauerman and Sophia Pearson, “Penn State Names Eric Barron Leader After Sandusky Scandal,” Bloomberg News 18 Feb. 2014. Available http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-17/penn-state-names-barron-leader-after-spanier-ousted-in-scandal.html.
Quoted in Jack Stripling, “The Fixer President: Leading a University Out of Turmoil,” Chronicle of Higher Education, ” Nov. 22, 2013. Available http://chronicle.texterity.com/chronicle/20131122a?pg=3#pg3.
Quoted in Bill Toland, Penn State gets tough on staying healthy, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, August 11, 2013. Available http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/penn-state-gets-tough-on-staying-healthy-698933/#ixzz2bmEgoQNF
Quoted in Karen Heller, Penn State’s Unpalatable Policy on Health, Philly Inquirer, July 25, 2013. Available http://articles.philly.com/2013-07-25/news/40773924_1_penn-state-health-incentives-health-care
Quoted in Colleen Flaherty, “Weigh in or Pay,” Inside Higher Education, July 22, 2013. Available http://www.insidehighered.207elmp02.blackmesh.com/news/2013/07/22/penn-state-faculty-object-details-new-preventive-health-care-plan#ixzz2ZnS3J2cC.
Quoted in Susan Snyder, “Group Says Faculty Reps Should be Added to PSU Board of Trustees,” Philly.com, March 13, 2013, available http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/campus_inq/Group-says-faculty-reps-should-be-added-to-PSU-board-of-trustees.html.
Quoted in Peter Hall, “Penn State faces long road in putting Sandusky scandal behind: In 2013, university will face a slew of challenges stemming from the Sandusky case,” Chicago Tribune, December 26, 2012. Available http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/mc-penn-state-sandusky-rebuilding-20121226,0,4769307,full.story.
Quoted in Bill Pennington, “Once Ubiquitous on Campus, ‘Paterno’ is No Longer Uttered”, The New York Times, Nov. 24, 2012. Available http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/25/sports/ncaafootball/paterno-once-ubiquitous-at-penn-state-is-no-longer-uttered.html?pagewanted=all.
Quoted on Debra Erdley, “Leader Searches Look to be Arduous at Penn State, Carnegie Mellon,” Pittsburgh Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012, available http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/2921828-74/president-university-penn-search-state-cmu-universities-schools-candidates-research.
Quoted in Charles Thompson, “Former Penn State President Graham Spanier, ex-Athletic Director Tim Curley Still Draw Pay,” The Patriot News, Aug. 6, 2012. Available http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/08/former_penn_state_president_gr_4.html.
Quoted in Eleanor Chute, “Penn State University: ‘More Than a Football Team,’” Pittsburgh Post Gazette, July 29, 2012. Available
Quoted in Mike Armstrong, “Sanctions Not a Death Blow to State College Economy,” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 28, 2012. Available http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-28/business/32890182_1_tripp-umbach-penn-state-mount-nittany-medical-center.
Quoted in Nicole Radzievich, Peter Hall and Christina Gallagher, “Paterno statue removed from Penn State stadium,” Allentown Morning Call, July 22, 2012. Available http://articles.mcall.com/2012-07-22/sports/mc-penn-state-removes-paterno-statue-20120722_1_statue-joe-paterno-paterno-library .
Quoted in Susan Snyder, “Spanier’s faculty status at PSU under scrutiny,” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 2012. Available
http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-20/news/32747915_1_sandusky-case-tenure-professor
Quoted in Mike Jensen, “Colleges Look at Management of Sports Programs in Wake of Freeh Report,” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 15, 2012, available http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/penn_state/162493536.html?viewAll=y
Quoted inJessica VanderKolk, Matt Carroll, Chris Rosenblum and Matt Morgan, “Region ‘trying to process’ findings,” Centre Daily Times, July 13, 2012, available http://www.centredaily.com/2012/07/13/3259849/region-trying-to-process-findings.html.
Quoted in Anne Danahy, ‘There May Be a Smoking Gun’ in Freeh Report, Centre Daily Times, July 10, 2012. Available http://www.centredaily.com/2012/07/10/3256573/there-may-be-a-smoking-gun.html.
Quoted in Adam Smeltz and Debra Erdley, Cracks have begun to form in the legacy of coach Joe Paterno, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, July 8, 2012, available http://triblive.com/news/2157736-74/paterno-state-penn-leaks-sandusky-legacy-university-report-former-freeh.
Quoted in Peter Hall, “Penn State, Sandusky questions could be answered in Freeh Report, Which Will Likely Fuel Lawsuits,” The Allentown Morning Call, July 8, 2012, available http://articles.mcall.com/2012-07-07/news/mc-penn-state-sandusky-freeh-report-20120706_1_state-president-rodney-erickson-larry-backer-sandusky.
Quoted in Jeremy Roebuck and Susan Snyder, “Independent Penn State Investigation Could Go Beyond Sandusky,” Sacramento Bee, July 8, 2012. Available http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/08/v-print/4617069/independent-penn-state-investigation.html. Also published as Freeh Probe May Go Far Beyond Sandusky, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 8, 2012. Available http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120708_Freeh_probe_may_go_far_beyond_Sandusky.html?viewAll=y.
Quoted in Juan O. Tamayo, “Cuban universities cut enrollment; foreign investors are leaving,” McClatchy Washington Bureau, May 17, 2012, available http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/16/v-print/149071/cuban-universities-cut-enrollment.html.
Quoted in Andrew McGill, “Analysis: Corbett not afraid to exercise muscle on Penn State board: The governor, guaranteed a seat on Penn State’s board of trustees, is one of only a few governors in history to be active participant,” Herald Mail.com, February 13, 2012. Available http://www.herald-mail.com/news/mc-penn-state-corbett-trustee-20120211,0,3601131.story.
Quoted in Jeff Gammage and Susan Snyder, “Burden of College Costs Falling More and More on Students,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 13, 2012. Available http://articles.philly.com/2012-02-13/news/31055055_1_state-aid-joni-finney-higher-education.
Quoted in Chris Arsenault, “Cuba’s Old Guard Faces New World,” Al-Jazeera, Jan. 29, 2012, available http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/01/20121282049195108.html
Quoted in J. Brady McCollough, “Death of Paterno Created Deep Void for Penn Staters,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jan. 29, 2012; A1, 6.
Quoted in Andrew McGill, “Penn State Faculty Says Its Time for Healing,” The Morning Call (Allentown, PA) Jan. 24, 2012, available http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/01/24/1966887/penn-state-faculty-says-its-time.html.
Quoted in Mike Jensen, “Professors Call for Basic Changes as Response to Sandusky,” Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 18, 2011, available http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-18/sports/30414948_1_trustees-college-sports-penn-state-s-faculty-senate.
Quoted in Juan O. Tamayo, “Corruption Investigation Reported in Cuba,” The Miami Herald, Aug. 8, 2011. Available http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/07/2350047/corruption-investigation-reported.html.
Discussed in Mike Hricik, Professor explains international business law, The Daily Collegian (Penn State University), Feb. 24, 2011, available http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2011/02/24/Law_school_event.aspx.
Referenced in Alice Barrett, Christina DeFeo, & Stephanie Lloyd, Hillary Clinton Visits Latin America: A Renewed Opportunity for Regional Cooperation or an Intensification of the kind of Neo–Cold War Rhetoric that has Categorized U.S Latin American Policy toDate? Council on Hemispheric Affairs, June 6,2010. Available http://www.coha.org/hillary-clinton-visits-latin-america-a-renewed-opportunity-for-regional-cooperation-or-an-intensification-of-the-kind-of-neo%E2%80%93cold-war-rhetoric-that-has-categorized-u-s-latin-american-policy-t/; and Secretary of State Clinton in Latin America, Scoop World Independent News (New Zealand), June 7, 2010. Available http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1006/S00131.htm.
Quoted in Scott Jaschik, No More Early Vacations, Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 28, 2010, http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/01/28/vacation.
Quoted in Vivian Wai-yin Kwok, China Finally Arrests Rio Workers, Forbes.com, Aug. 12, 2009.
Quoted in 小心低调，力拓案的中国启示录 (Washington Observer Aug. 19, 2009), http://www.washingtonobserver.org/financial_information_show.aspx?id=3237.
Appearance on WHTM (ABC Affiliate) Channel 6, Harrisburg, PA on the nomination of Judge Roberts to the Federal Supreme Court, July 20, 2005.
Solicited testimony on the effects of the proposed constitutional treaty for the European Union, to the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee, published at House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee, Aspects of the E.U.’s Constitutional Treaty, 14th Report of Session 2004-05, HC 38-xiv-II (April 6, 2005) at Vol. II, pages 119-122.
Quoted in David Luhnow, A Mexican Media Millionaire Now Faces Investigation in U.S., The Wall Street Journal, January 2004.
Back to Larry Catá Backer CV Page
Image credit here