News + Media

	précis June 27, 2022 From South Africa, a success story for democracy In a new book, MIT political scientist Evan Lieberman examines a quarter-century of post-Apartheid government and finds meaningful progress. He hopes readers will both absorb the substantive case for regarding South African democracy as a success, while also considering that speaking up about the value of democracy is a part of sustaining it.
	précis June 27, 2022 Briefings What Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means for the world; 3 Questions: The future of international education; Traveling the world to make a global impact; Mobilizing across borders to address global challenges; Congressional seminar introduces MIT faculty to 30 Washington staffers; Eleanor Freund receives Jeanne Guillemin Prize
	précis June 27, 2022 National narratives and the US-Iran conflict *In memory of John Tirman, the author of this feature story, who passed away suddenly on Friday, August 19, 2022. Read the obituary and tributes.* Iran and the US have differing interests and grievances about each other, but their often-deadly confrontation derives from the very different national narratives that shape their politics, actions, and vision of their own destiny in the world. In Republics of Myth, a new book published by the Johns Hopkins University Press, Hussein Banai, Malcolm Byrne, and John Tirman argue that a major contributing factor to this tenacious enmity is how each nation views itself. Featured here is an excerpt written by John Tirman. He served as executive director of and was a principal research scientist at CIS.
	In the News June 21, 2022 As war drags on in Ukraine, is it time to talk compromise? WBUR On Point "What is the US interest commensurate with the possibility of nuclear escalation?" Steven Simon, a Robert E Wilhelm Fellow at CIS, asks. "There really isn't one." As war drags on, is it time to talk compromise? Tune in to this edition of On Point featuring Simon, Anne Applebaum (The Atlantic), and Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze (Ukrainian Parliament from the opposition European Solidarity Party).
	In the News June 13, 2022 Could Trump’s hostility toward NATO allies be a winning strategy at home? Jim BraudeWGBH Greater Boston Even as it seems Trump's claims are untrue, could they be a winning strategy here at home? And what lies ahead for his London trip and meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin? Jim Braude was joined by Carol Saivetz, senior adviser at MIT's Security Studies Program and Gautam Mukunda, a Harvard Kennedy School fellow, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and author of “Indispensable: When Leaders Really Matter.”
	In the News June 11, 2022 Shangri-La Dialogue opens in Singapore Anand NaidooThe Heat Described as Asia’s premier security summit, military officials and diplomats from more than 40 countries met in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue. On Friday, a highly anticipated meeting took place between the Defense Ministers of China and the United States. Jim Walsh weighs in.
	Analysis + Opinion June 10, 2022 Science must overcome its racist legacy: Nature’s guest editors speak Melissa Nobles, Chad Womack, Ambroise Wonkam, and Elizabeth WathutiNature Top scholars, including MIT chancellor Melissa Nobles, are leading Nature on a journey to help decolonize research and forge a path towards restorative justice and reconciliation.
	News@E40 June 9, 2022 CIS honors Robert E Wilhelm ’62, founding supporter of its distinguished fellows program Michelle EnglishCIS CIS recently welcomed Robert Wilhelm, and his wife Gena Whitten, to campus to express our gratitude for his ongoing support for its most distinguished fellows program and to inaugurate a new conference room named in his honor.
	In the News June 9, 2022 America’s Iran follies Michael HirshForeign Policy After more than two decades of failed policies—fluctuating wildly between confrontation and cooperation—Washington and the West still find themselves facing down a hostile Iran. And today, though it is in dire shape economically, Tehran may be close to delivering the final rebuff, with experts saying it is just weeks away from achieving nuclear bomb capability.
	In the News June 7, 2022 Evan Lieberman on South Africa. Democracy in hard places Justin KempfDemocracy Paradox When you hear people talk in such disparaging tones, that everything is broken, that nothing is possible, you need to ask yourself, is that right? When you look around, the answer is no, explains Evan Lieberman.