News + Media

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December 8, 2016

Briefings

Posen named Kissinger Chair at Kluge Center; Lourdes Melgar awarded Robert E. Wilhelm Fellowship; Human rights journalist joins CIS; George W. Rathjens, 90, Professor Emeritus of Political Science.

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December 8, 2016

Activities

Joint Seminar on South Asian Politics; The International Policy Lab issues second call for proposals; CIS-funded Working Groups; Myron Weiner Seminar on International Migration; Security Studies Wednesday Seminars; Starr Forums.

Detail of the Sultanahmet Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"), in Istanbul

In the News

December 7, 2016

How political science helps combat terrorism

Emily Hiestand, Kathryn O'NeillSHASS News

“As humans, we have all sorts of cognitive biases that come into play when we try to evaluate the risks posed by terrorism as well as the trade-offs of various counterterrorism policies,” says Richard Nielsen, assistant professor of political science.

Washington, D.C.

News@E40

December 2, 2016

Applications for the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program due 1/9/17

Calling all applications for the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.  The program provides a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs.

précis

December 2, 2016

precis Interview: Lourdes Melgar

Lourdes Melgar, a CIS Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow, is using her time at MIT to write a book about Mexico’s energy reform. As Mexico’s deputy secretary of energy for hydrocarbons, she played a leading role in designing and implementing Mexico’s all-comprehensive energy reform. Melgar also served as under secretary for electricity and has held various diplomatic positions. She received her PhD (’92) in political science from MIT.

précis

December 2, 2016

Nosy Neighbors: Regional Interference in Great Power Interventions

Marsin Alshamary

If you ask an Iraqi what went wrong with the US-led military intervention, chances are they will blame their “bad neighbors.” Some will point to Iran for its infiltration of Shia political parties, others to Syria for allowing in a steady stream of foreign fighters, and still others will blame Turkey for meddling in Kurdish affairs.

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December 2, 2016

End Notes

End Notes features the professional achievements of our scholars, students, and staff. This includes recent awards, speaking engagements, and publications.

Moscow - St. Basil's Cathedral at Sunset Zoom/Josh Simerman

Analysis + Opinion

November 29, 2016

How to think about Russia

Barry R. PosenThe National Interest

Because the West is strong, and relative to Russia likely to get stronger, it is in a position to accommodate some Russian concerns, says Barry Posen, Ford International Professor of Political Science and director of the MIT Security Studies Program. Posen is among several experts featured in The National Interest on the future of US-Russia relations.

There are no plausible scenarios for which the first use of nuclear weapons might be useful. India’s nuclear forces are strictly to deter a WMD attack, and can, therefore, be oriented entirely for retaliation. (Illustration by C R Sasikumar)

Analysis + Opinion

November 18, 2016

Confusion is risky

Vipin Narang, Christopher Clary The Indian Express

After Manohar Parrikar’s comments on no-first-use policy, a prime ministerial clarification is called for. Since 1998, a key pillar of India’s nuclear policy has been a pledge not to use nuclear weapons first. After considering the utility of individually negotiated bilateral or multilateral agreements committing to no-first-use (NFU) of nuclear weapons, by August 1998, the then prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, opted to unilaterally announce that India would “not be the first to use nuclear weapons”.

The Wall And The Ban: Can Trump Really Accomplish Either?

Analysis + Opinion

November 16, 2016

The Wall and the Ban: Can Trump really accomplish either?

John TirmanWBUR

Anti-immigrant fervor fueled Donald Trump’s White House bid from the beginning, so a Trump presidency naturally worries undocumented immigrants in the United States.

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