News + Media

	In the News April 28, 2020 'War and disease travel together': Why the pandemic push for a global cease-fire is gaining ground Deirdre ShesgreenUSA Today Barry Posen quoted: "The disease caused by the coronavirus is weakening all of the great and middle powers more or less equally," he said. He said with no country likely to gain a meaningful military advantage from the pandemic, "the odds of a war between major powers will go down, not up."
	In the News April 28, 2020 Will the Covid-19 pandemic change national security? Peter DizikesMIT News As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to inflict huge damage around the world, international affairs experts are increasingly wondering: Will the virus make countries reconsider their national security strategies?
	In the News April 28, 2020 Low-yield warhead eliminates need for nuclear buildup, state says Dan LeoneDefense Daily Vipin Narang quoted: “What can the low yield [submarine launched ballistic missile] do that our current low yield nuclear systems cannot?” Vipin Narang of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology mused on Twitter. “Range and penetrate into downtown Moscow. Which doesn’t seem all that restrained.”
	Analysis + Opinion April 28, 2020 Don’t classify the FYDP; Budget transparency helps allies, taxpayers Miranda PriebeBreaking Defense Unclassified information about DoD’s current plans will help the country weigh options such as sustaining the current defense budget, shifting priorities within it or significantly shrinking it by rethinking the US approach to the world.
	News@E40 April 26, 2020 CIS awards 17 summer study grants Seventeen doctoral students in international affairs at MIT were awarded summer study grants. Each will receive up to $3,500. Sara Plana was awarded the first annual Guillemin prize. “The awards were made to an outstanding cohort of MIT students from across the Institute. We're so pleased that the appeal of these grants has broadened and students are responding,” said John Tirman, CIS executive director and principal research scientist.
	Analysis + Opinion April 25, 2020 Europe has kept down pandemic unemployment--and the US hasn’t. Here’s why. Anke Hassel, Kathleen ThelenThe Washington Post Over the last several decades, the United States has either shrunk its state capacity or failed to build it, especially around providing social benefits. In Europe, by contrast, governments have enough administrative capacity to deliver comprehensive help swiftly and directly.
	News@E40 April 23, 2020 MIT challenge: Africa takes on Covid19 MIT is hosting a series of open challenges to take action on the COVID-19 crisis. The MIT COVID-19 Challenge virtual event, Africa Takes on COVID-19, will begin May 1 and end May 3. This is part of a series of virtual hackathons with partners from across the MIT (including the MIT Africa Program) and healthcare ecosystems.
	In the News April 23, 2020 The rumors of Kim Jong Un’s “grave” illness, explained Alex WardVox Vipin Narang quoted: “What if he is technically ‘alive’ or there is litigation amongst potential successors as for whether he is alive or dead? Who can legally issue orders? What if there are contravening orders?” said Vipin Narang, an expert on North Korea’s nuclear program.
	Analysis + Opinion April 23, 2020 Do pandemics promote peace? Barry PosenForeign Affairs Covid-19 does nothing to mitigate such risks for world leaders—and a great deal to feed their reasonable pessimism about the likely outcome of even a conventional war, says Barry Posen in an essay in Foreign Affairs.
	Analysis + Opinion April 21, 2020 The Middle East in an era of great power competition Barry Posen and Stephen WaltMiddle East Institute How does or should the Middle East fit in America’s new grand strategy? Does the great power competition require a new approach toward the Middle East? Which approach best serves Washington’s new global plans? To answer these questions and more, the Middle East Institute (MEI) hosted a conversation with Barry Posen (MIT) and Stephen Walt (Harvard). Find the video and transcript here.