A bottom-up view of the state
Embedded with street-level bureaucrats, political theorist Bernardo Zacka reveals the complex moral landscape civil servants must navigate.
Department
Political Science
3 Questions: Stephen Van Evera revisits World War I
A century after its bitter end, the political science professor calls the Great War a wellspring of the 20th century's horrors and tragedies.
Analyzing the 2018 election: Insights from MIT scholars
SHASS faculty members offer research-based perspectives with commentaries, plus a Music for the Midterms playlist, and an election book list.
The aftermath of violence
Investigating the political and economic consequences of large-scale deadly conflict, Volha Charnysh discovers that community-level interactions make a big impact.
![“Even if you look at a clean study, the [outcome] is usually a composite of multiple components, any one of which could be actually causing the effect,” says Associate Professor Teppei Yamamoto.](/sites/default/files/styles/term_page__news_article/public/images/201810/MIT-Yamamoto.jpg?itok=JQxqhoCS)
Refining the “science” of political science
Teppei Yamamoto examines the methods of his discipline, to help scholars nail down cause and effect.
Why the “solid South” of midcentury U.S. politics was not so solid
Associate Professor Devin Caughey’s new book looks at a massive political shift that took place in a one-party region.
Q&A: Luisa Kenausis ’17 — A passion for policy
Alumna builds on her foundation in nuclear policy through a Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship.
Elections management in the U.S. is improving
An updated Elections Performance Index from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab evaluates the 2016 election.
Environmental regulation in a polarized culture
Doctoral student Parrish Bergquist investigates how politics affects environmental decision-making.
3Q: Barry Posen on the NATO Summit and state of the alliance
National security expert discusses US defense spending and considers whether the NATO alliance should remain a US priority.
An academic journey through solidarity and separatism
Doctoral student Elissa Berwick listens closely to the calls for independence rising from regions around the world.
Work of the future and the future of work for women in political science
Ford Professor Kathleen Thelen addresses challenges of the “gig economy” and gender equity issues in her field.
Eight from MIT receive 2018 Fulbright awards
Graduating students and alumni will conduct research abroad in 2018-19 academic year.
3 Questions: Vipin Narang on the North Korea summits
Nuclear strategy expert shares observations from the recent North Korea-South Korea summit and possible outcomes of the North Korea-U.S. summit.