Each year, CIS hosts several faculty-led research workshops and conferences. These activities aim to advance international studies, cultivate emerging areas of scholarship, and engage scholars and policymakers in interdisciplinary dialogue. They also serve as incubators for collaborative research, help shape global research agendas, and generate policy-relevant insights.
The Origins of State Strength and Economic Development: Insights from Historical Political Economy
How have conflict, coercion, and slavery shaped long-term state capacity and economic development? What role do local actors play in shaping state authority? How do external threats influence identities and governance outcomes? This workshop brought together leading scholars in historical political economy to explore the deep roots of state formation, economic development, and culture.
Global Climate Adaptation: Overcoming Political and Policy Challenges
This workshop explored the evolving landscape of climate adaptation in the context of recent COP outcomes, financial challenges, and shifting geopolitical dynamics. How can adaptation efforts progress amid these complexities? What bold strategies can drive equitable financing and policy innovation? Designed as a highly interactive forum, the workshop sought to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and generate new research directions, culminating in a report that outlines a forward-looking research agenda to drive impactful scholarship and policy engagement.
Amazonia Community Building: Co-Designing Research for Impact
The Amazon rainforest—Earth’s largest—plays a critical role in sustaining global biodiversity, regulating the climate, and supporting millions of lives. Addressing its urgent challenges, from deforestation to sustainable urban development, calls for collaborative, locally rooted solutions. This seminar explored how MIT researchers and Amazonian partners are co-creating knowledge and driving policy innovation for a more sustainable future. It also provided an opportunity for researchers focused on Amazonia—or those interested in the region or related topics—to briefly share their work and connect with MIT’s expanding network in this area.
