Government’s invisible hand in developing countries
Political scientist Noah Nathan’s new book, “The Scarce State,” explores the deep impact government can have even when it is seemingly absent.
Department
Political Science
Governing for our descendants
In a recent essay, Professor Lily Tsai shares ideas on how to include future generations, who will face the climate crisis we’ve created, in our definition of our collective society.
A transformative era ends at the Center for International Studies
Richard J. Samuels steps down as director; Evan Lieberman is named his successor.
Study offers a new view of when and how governments distribute land
In Kenya, property rights are granted more often by democratic regimes than by autocrats — but decisions tend to be politically motivated regardless of who’s in charge.
Championing health workers to lead vaccination efforts in Uganda
A survey to measure who was getting vaccinated against Covid-19 in Uganda finds health workers had an important role to play.
Illuminating the money trail
MIT political scientist In Song Kim shines a bright light on the dark art of political lobbying.
Tom Wolf PhD ’81: Government is a common endeavor from which all can benefit
Receiving the Robert A. Muh award, the former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf calls for a greater sense of collective purpose in politics.
A glimpse inside Intel
In MIT visit, CEO Pat Gelsinger sounds a bullish note on the future of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.
Tom Wolf PhD ’81 receives the 2023 Robert A. Muh Alumni Award
Former Pennsylvania governor honored for distinguished political career.
Four faculty receive MIT SHASS Research Fund awards for 2023
Funding will support development of multimedia play, innovative research projects.
Two from MIT named 2023 Marshall Scholars
Rachel Chae and Sihao Huang ’22 will pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom.
Three MIT seniors win 2024 Schwarzman Scholarships
Sara V. Fernandez, Amanda Hu, and Brigette Wang will spend the 2023-24 academic year at Tsinghua University in China studying global affairs.
Machinery of the state
Associate Professor Mai Hassan documents bureaucratic systems in Eastern Africa set up for coercion, as well as roadblocks to democratic government.
Celebrating open data
New prize program recognizes MIT researchers who make data openly accessible and reusable.
Urbanization: No fast lane to transformation
Associate Professor Noah Nathan is generating a body of scholarship on the political impacts of urbanization throughout the global South.