News + Media

	In the News September 18, 2008 Foreign policy and the next US administration MIT scholars Barry Posen, Taylor Fravel, and Carol Saivetz participated in a roundtable discussion on foreign policy and the next U.S. administration. This discussion was the first in a series of forward-thinking talks on pressing global issues in which MIT experts offer advice to the next U.S. president.
	In the News September 15, 2008 Q&A with Roger Petersen Roger Petersen, an associate professor of political science at MIT and a member of CIS, studies comparative politics with a special focus on conflict and violence. He has written two books: Resistance and Rebellion: Lessons from Eastern Europe and Understanding Ethnic Violence: Fear, Hatred, Resentment in Twentieth Century Eastern Europe. He also has an interest in comparative methods and has co-edited, with John Bowen, Critical Comparisons in Politics and Culture. In spring 2008, Petersen went on sabbatical to the Balkans for six months. Upon his return, he sat down with CIS to discuss his recent studies.
	In the News September 11, 2008 Who's winning the War on Terror? WBUR: On Point WBUR's On Point with Stephen Van Evera.
	In the News September 11, 2008 Lucian W. Pye, bold thinker on Asia, is dead at 86 Douglas MartinNew York Times Lucian W. Pye, an influential political scientist who marshaled a piercing intellect, psychoanalytic insights and plain intuition to take startling new perspectives on area studies, particularly concerning China and other Asian nations, died on Sept. 5 in Boston. He was 86.
	Audit September 1, 2008 Iran-US: the case for transformation Sanam Anderlini and John Tirman, MIT Thirty years of enmity, disruption, and brinksmanship have yielded very little worthwhile in the relationship between Iran and the United States. The policies in both capitals toward the other are essentially bankrupt and dysfunctional. Each clings to their quiver of grievances against the other, letting the past dictate the future to the detriment of both countries.
	In the News September 1, 2008 Q&A with Carl Kaysen Carl Kaysen joined the MIT faculty in 1976 and currently co-chairs the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Study Committee on International Security Studies. Among his many posts during his distinctive career was deputy special assistant for national security affairs to President Kennedy. Kaysen sat down with CIS in late July to discuss his current work, his advice to the next administration, and his proudest moments.
	Audit September 1, 2008 Does the “surge” explain Iraq’s improved security? There is a general consensus that the “surge” of additional troops into Iraq has been responsible for the significant decrease of violence in Iraq. Sen. John McCain has long advocated “sustained and substantial” troop increases, attacking Sen. Barack Obama’s position on drawing down forces. Obama for his part recently stated that the surge has “succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated” and “beyond our wildest dreams.”
	Analysis + Opinion August 20, 2008 All the oil we need Eugene Gholz and Daryl PressNew York Times While oil prices have declined somewhat of late, the volatility of the market and the political and religious unrest in major oil-producing countries has Americans worrying more than ever about energy security. But they have little to fear — contrary to common understanding, there are robust stockpiles of oil around the globe that could see us through any foreseeable calamities on the world market.
	Analysis + Opinion August 15, 2008 What counts as 'success' in Iraq? John TirmanBoston Globe A voluble attempt to describe the Iraq war as a success is widely apparent, and will increase as the Republican National Convention nears. John McCain is staking his campaign on this assertion. There is little doubt that the level of violence in Iraq has subsided noticeably in the last 12 months. But is this “victory”?
	In the News August 10, 2008 Q&A with M. Taylor Fravel Samuel P. JacobsBoston Globe In his new book, M. Taylor Fravel offers an intriguing argument about the relationship between instability within China and stability in the rest of the world.