précis Magazine

 
magazine

précis, the MIT Center for International Studies magazine, features essays by our scholars, covers the wide range of Center activities, and tracks the accomplishments of our research community. It is published twice yearly, once during each academic semester.

If you have story ideas or would like to write an article, please contact the 2023-2024 graduate student editor Miriam Hinthorn or editor Michelle English.

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Fall 2023 ∕  Winter 2024
Evan Lieberman, Director, Center for International Studies Director's note

Evan Lieberman reflects on the last few months at CIS after his recent appointment as its new director. He began his term with a look back to the Center’s origins, born of the politics of the Cold War. More than seven decades later, this past continues to echo loudly as we confront a new, arguably much more complex set of realities, he says.

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Richard Nielsen and David Dolev précis Interview: MENA/MIT

MENA/MIT is a new regional program at the Center for International Studies that houses and connects activities and initiatives across MIT related to the Middle East and North Africa region. In this interview, Richard Nielsen and David Dolev discuss MENA/MIT engagement with the MIT community, its contributions to the Institute's educational and research objectives, and their goals for 2024.

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Nasir Almasri and Elizabeth Parker-Magyar PhD students offer insights on the war in Gaza

CIS recognizes the contributions of its PhD students to the growing body of relevant research to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The dissertations of Nasir Almasri and Elizabeth Parker-Magyar offer helpful perspectives on contributing factors and regional outcomes of the war.

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The Center hosted the delegates to a post-COP28 event that was sponsored by the newly formed Climate/MIT MIT delegation reflects on the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference

The Center hosted the delegates to a post-COP28 event that was sponsored by Climate/MIT, a newly formed initiative at CIS that is co-led by Drew Story, PhD, managing director of the MIT Policy Lab, and Madeleine Smith, managing director of the MIT-Denmark Program.

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Empowering the Teachers spring 2022 cohort with MIT Professor Tayo Akinwande (center) at Killian Court. Fellowship program empowers Nigerian academics

“Empowering the Teachers” provides an immersive and innovative training experience for young African academics. The program brings talented Nigerian academics at the postdoctoral level to MIT for a semester-long immersive experience, then sends them back out into the field to teach, research, and grow into influential leadership roles in their higher education system.

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The latest releases from the Center’s faculty, fellows, and scholars Book Review

Learn about the recently published books by the Center’s faculty, fellows, and scholars.

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MIT-Ukraine Program provides sanctuary to at-risk scholars; Foreign policy scholars examine the China-Russia relationship; Magnifying research impact with policymakers; Global Seed Funds help faculty collaborate and innovate around the world; Who will benefit from AI?; In memory of Lawrence McCray Briefings

MIT-Ukraine Program provides sanctuary to at-risk scholars; Foreign policy scholars examine the China-Russia relationship; Magnifying research impact with policymakers; Global Seed Funds help faculty collaborate and innovate around the world; Who will benefit from AI?; In memory of Lawrence McCray

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Compass pointed toward excellence End Notes

End Notes features an editor's pick of professional achievements of our scholars, students, and staff.

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Activities

Wargaming in Washington, DC; Global experiences over IAP; Starr Forums; Policy Lab in action; GDL offers summer research program; SSP Wednesday seminars; Military fellows offer courses over IAP; Myron Weiner Seminar Series on International Migration; Bustani Middle East Seminar

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Spring ∕  Summer 2023
Mai Hassan précis Interview: Mai Hassan

Mai Hassan is an associate professor of political science at MIT and the faculty director of the MIT-Africa Program. Her research interests include authoritarian regimes, bureaucracy and public administration, and contentious politics. Born in Sudan, she sat down with précis to discuss that nation’s current crisis, her work on authoritarian regimes in Africa, and the importance of international education at MIT.

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