News + Media

précis

May 1, 2009

Thinking clearly about China's economic statecraft

By William Norris

One of the most important phenomena characterizing the international environment today is the rise of China. At $3.4 trillion, China's economy is the third largest in the world and continues to grow rapidly.
 

précis

May 1, 2009

Activities

The Gaza Symposium, jointly organized by MIT and Harvard, hosted a series of panels on the role of U.S. and international actors, as well as human rights and international humanitarian law in the wake of recent events in Gaza; Ambassador Burns spoke on foreign policy Challenges for Obama; Bustani Seminar examines Ahmadinejad’s legacy; CIS announces two new working groups to encourage collaboration across disciplines to tackle global issues; MISTI held its annual gala dinner to honor 360 plus students; Admiral William J. Fallon, USN (RET), gave a public talk on Afghanistan along with Professor Fotini Christia; Economist Martin Feldstein was the featured speaker at a Starr Forum; CIS announces new program at McKibben event.

News@E40

April 28, 2009

CIS releases video: 'Mind, Hand, World'

Why have a Center for International Studies at MIT? What is the MISTI experience? How do CIS scholars impact policy makers? Why study war? How do we prepare students to compete in a global society? These are a few questions that are addressed in a new video about CIS entitled: Mind, Hand, World. The video, produced in collaboration with MIT's Academic Media Production Services, provides its viewers with an inspiring overview of the Center's aims in eight minutes. View Mind, Hand, World »

News@E40

April 23, 2009

Fallon and Christia on Afghanistan

On Thursday, April 30, Admiral Willam Fallon, USN (RET), will be giving a public talk on Afghanistan. Joining the discussion will be Fotini Christa, an expert on Afghanistan. Fallon joined the Center for International Studies for the 2008-09 academic year as a Robert E. Wilhelm fellow. Christia joined MIT last fall as an assistant professor of political science and a member of the Security Studies Program. The April 30 Starr Forum on Afghanistan commences at 4 PM in the MIT Wong Auditorium. The event is free and open ot the public. For more details, visit the event page.

News@E40

April 21, 2009

SSP scholar & students publish book

U.S. Military Innovation Since the Cold War, a new book about "how the US military reacted to the 'Revolution in Military Affairs' (RMA), and failed to innovate its organization or doctrine to match the technological breakthroughs it brought about," was published in April 2009. The book was edited by Harvey Sapolsky, professor of public policy and organization and recently retired from teaching political science and directing the MIT Security Studies Program (SSP), and SSP doctoral students Benjamin Friedman and Brendan Green.

 

Analysis + Opinion

April 19, 2009

Bold action needed on Iran

John TirmanBoston Globe

The reaction in Tehran to President Obama's remarkable video message last month and his speech in Turkey has been cautious, even abrupt, but it conveys something important. It tells us that we need to do more than speak pleasing words to transform 30 years of a bad relationship.

News@E40

April 16, 2009

Roadmap and rationale for U.S.-Iran relations

A months-long study of U.S.-Iran relations concludes that a new diplomatic approach by the United States to transform the relationship with Iran could produce a breakthrough that will boost security and prosperity for the entire region. The 50-page document by John Tirman, executive director and principal research scientist of the MIT Center for International Studies provides a roadmap and a rationale for the new approach. "Small gestures and better language are an improvement over the disastrous Bush policies," Tirman says, "but small steps are not enough. We need bold diplomacy for a breakthrough, and we can do so confidently because U.S. security is not at risk." The study was supported by the New Ideas Fund. Full text | News Release

News@E40

April 15, 2009

Summer courses on innovation, biosecurity

The Center's Security Studies Program is offering two courses during the 2009 summer session for professional studies. From Technology to Innovation: Putting Ideas to Work, offered July 13-16, explores innovations in both public and private organizations in an effort to identify best practices. Combating Bioterrorism/Pandemics: Implementing Policies for Biosecurity, offered July 27-29, looks at the challenges public health, law enforcement, and national security agencies face in ensuring biosecurity.

News Release

April 15, 2009

CIS scholar provides roadmap and rationale for US-Iran relations

A months-long study of US-Iran relations concludes that a new diplomatic approach by the United States to transform the relationship with Iran could produce a breakthrough that will boost security and prosperity for the entire region. The 50-page document by John Tirman of the MIT Center for International Studies provides a roadmap and a rationale for the new approach.

News@E40

April 10, 2009

CIS awards 18 summer study grants

The Center is pleased to announce the recipients of its summer study grants. The grants are being awarded to eighteen doctoral students in international affairs at MIT. Each will receive up to $4,500 for summer studies, which may be used for fieldwork, archival research, or home-based research and write-up. Criteria for the awards include the importance of the research question, the quality of the research proposal, and strong letters of support.

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