Political Science

The SHASS Research Fund supports MIT research that shows promise of making an important contribution in the humanities, arts, or social sciences.

SHASS Research Fund names 10 recipients for 2018

January 3, 2018

Elizabeth Dekeyser is on a multi-year research project investigating the ways Islam shapes people’s sense of citizenship and allegiance to the French state.

An American in Paris

Doctoral student Elizabeth Dekeyser studies Muslim communities' sense of solidarity with the French state.

November 20, 2017

MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and Harvard Kennedy School launch collaborative international studies program

New initiative supported by $3.7 million in grants from the Charles Koch Foundation.

November 13, 2017

Richard Nielsen’s book, “Deadly Clerics: Blocked Ambition and the Paths to Jihad,” finds a certain portion of Muslim clerics who end up advocating for jihad — war against Islam’s foes — started out as mainstream clerics looking for state-sponsored jobs where they could use their intellectual training, only to become unemployed, disenchanted, and radicalized.

Why some Muslim clerics become jihadists

In his new book, political scientist Richard Nielsen proposes a “blocked ambition” hypothesis.

November 9, 2017

"A lot of good things have happened" since the 2000 election, said Charles Stewart III, the Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science. Those good things including better voting machines, modernized registration systems, and an increase in the professionalization of election administration.

Mens et Manus America examines election integrity

Political scientists Charles Stewart III and Eitan D. Hersh offer insights on data, technology, and election security in an era of rising concern.

October 30, 2017

“I found diaries from 7th grade where I asked a whole stream of questions about the universe and the ‘edge of the universe’ and its expansion,” says senior Talia Weiss.

Bridging the science-policy divide

For MIT senior Talia Weiss, physics and theater have provided a springboard for new interests in political science.

October 17, 2017

With International Policy Lab support, MIT Associate Professor Noelle Selin (third from left) led a delegation of MIT researchers to the first conference on the Minamata Convention on Mercury. There, the team disseminated mercury science policy briefs developed with IPL support. The team members, as pictured here: (l-r) Boston University Associate Professor Henrik Selin, Dartmouth College Research...

International Policy Lab issues new call for proposals

The IPL provides funding and policy outreach support to help MIT faculty and researchers connect with the policy world.

October 12, 2017

Left to right: Vipin Narang, associate professor of political science and a member of the Security Studies Program; Jim Walsh, senior research associate at the Security Studies Program; and Taylor Fravel, associate professor of political science, a member of the Security Studies Program, and acting director of the MIT Center for International Studies.

Nuclear and present danger

MIT security experts discuss how to lower tensions between the U.S. and North Korea.

October 4, 2017

Ketian Zhang, the daughter of Chinese Communist Party officials, studies Chinese foreign policy at MIT from a unique dual perspective.

Probing the behavior of an international bully

Political science doctoral student Ketian Zhang sheds light on China's use of coercion in foreign policy, hoping to span a deep divide.

October 4, 2017

2017 Phi Beta Kappa Society inductees (l-r) Abdullah Alsalloum, Rachel Osmundsen, and Nagisa Taxifar show off their certificates of membership.

High (achieving) society

The MIT chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society inducts 74 distinguished graduates of the Class of 2017.

September 15, 2017

"I’ve been fortunate to have great graduate students from the day I got here, and I’m very proud of how they’ve done," Vipin Narang says.

Making sense of nuclear threats

MIT political scientist Vipin Narang explains the strategies of new nuclear powers.

September 11, 2017