mit phd politics

MIT Political Science

Professor Andrea Campbell named MacVicar Faculty Fellow

PhD students Suzanne Freeman, Wright Smith and Ye Zhang selected to receive World Politics and Statecraft Fellowships

Professor Roger Petersen A careful rethinking of the Iraq War

Professor Richard Nielsen and David Dolev discuss new MENA/MIT regional program at the Center for International Studies

For all mankind :Political science major Leela Fredlund wants to ensure fairness and justice prevail in humanity’s leap to space 

Grad Student Spotlight Liberty Ladd Going above and beyond

MIT Election Data + Science Lab: Measuring a decade of improvements in election administration

March 22, 2024 The Election Center

March 15, 2024 MIT News Office

April 10 — Mathias Poertner, London School of Economics

April 16 — evaluating democracy on your terms: egotropic considerations of election changes, april 17 — visions of inequality:  from the french revolution to the end of the cold war:  a presentation based on his new book, april 23 — aala abdelgadir, university of pittsburgh.

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Requirements: Students must complete their primary program’s degree requirements along with the IDPS requirements. Statistics requirements must not unreasonably impact performance or progress in a student’s primary degree program.

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PhD Earned on Completion: Political Science and Statistics

IDPS/Political Science Chair : Teppei Yamamoto

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                                                                              Gallery of Publications

Shining a spotlight on local science journalism

The Knight Science Journalism program’s Victor K. McElheny Award honors outstanding local and regional journalists’ reporting on science, public health, tech, and the environment. More

Burchard Scholars gather to network, connect, and learn

The Burchard Scholars dinner series helps create conversations between academic disciplines. More

A civil discourse on climate change

The forum is the first in a series planned at MIT this year, part of an initiative meant to encourage the open exchange of ideas. More

Centering feminism: Investigating marginalized women and potential empowerment

Lerna Ekmekcioglu, MIT’s McMillan-Stewart Associate Professor of History and the director of MIT’s Women’s and Gender Studies program , researches a more inclusive feminism.  More

Former Gov. Tom Wolf PhD '81 receives the 2023 Robert A. Muh Alumni Award

He will deliver his award lecture "Collective Action: The Essence of Politics" at a public event on March 21, 2023 More

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY

A Sampler of MIT Research on U.S. Democracy  

A distilled selection of key research, news, and media commentaries from the past year on the state of U.S. democracy, from scholars in MIT's humanities and social science fields. What can leaders and We, the People do to sustain our democracy? Prepared for 6 January 2022.  More

Charles Stewart III on elections in a hyper-partisan era  

What can Americans do to protect our democracy? "The 2020 election showed the resilience of the fact-based part of the election administration system — election administrators, judges, and research institutions (including universities) — that have stood for the rule of law in the face of illiberal attacks on election administration. Opponents of fair elections recognize this and have attacked all parts of this fact-based bulwark." More

HONORS AND AWARDS

In Song Kim receives the 2021 Levitan Prize  

New project by the inventor of LobbyView.org will advance trade theory and the ability of citizens to influence public policy-making.   More

What must the U.S. do now to sustain its democracy?  

In the aftermath of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, MIT political scientists and historians discuss how to strengthen U.S. democracy. More

What’s Next? Challenges Ahead for the Biden Administration  

A series of essays by MIT SHASS scholars, including: Melissa Nobles, Taylor Fravel, Vipin Narang, Dick Samuels, Elizabeth Wood, Barry Posen, Richard Samuels, and John Tirman. More

ELECTION 2020

3 Questions: Adam Berinsky on the responsibilities of political leadership and how to assess election polls  

"It's the job of our leaders to stand up and challenge unsubstantiated rumors and outright falsehoods. Politicians have tremendous power to lead and to shape information, and voters need to remember this when they head to the polls — in this and every election." More

MAKING A JUST SOCIETY | RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

Unearthing the stories of yesterday’s George Floyds  

"When we call the victims’ descendants to share our findings, they tell us ‘I never thought I’d get this call.’ The scars remain, and luckily, because we have found documents, so does proof." — Melissa Nobles, Professor of Political Science; MIT Chancellor 2021 - ; Kenan Sahin Dean, MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences 2015-2021 More

DEMOCRACY AND DEI

Making A Just Society  

Resources from the MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. The Making A Just Society websection includes these categories: Research; Books; the MIT & Slavery Project; Indigenous Peoples; Undergraduate Courses; Free Online MIT Courses; Other MIT Resources; and Elective Affinities, relevant resources beyond MIT.   More | Series Landing Page

3Q with political scientist Adam Berinsky Impact of the pandemic on U.S. political life  

"As they do in wartime "people are willing to give the government broader latitude, even to curtail civil liberties, to address this pandemic crisis. But this effect is also short-lived. People are willing to give up some civil liberties for months, but not years." More

CLIMATE 2020 | HUMANISTIC PERSPECTIVES FROM MIT

Parrish Bergquist '19 | Civic Opinion  

"The political challenges of addressing climate change are at least as thorny as the technological challenges, though in different ways." More

3Q with historian and Russia expert Elizabeth Wood  

How do we understand Russia’s multi-layered interference in the 2016 Elections? MIT historian and Russia expert Elizabeth Wood analyzes Russia’s motives. More

3Q: In Song Kim’s LobbyView.org shines a bright light on Washington lobbying  

LobbyView.org makes it simple to follow the path of money in politics. More

MAKING A JUST SOCIETY

Looking at justice through the lens of political theory  

In Bernardo Zacka's 17.01 class, MIT students explore human values and competing theories of the just society More

Devin Caughey | On Contemporary Partisan Politics  

"There are no easy solutions to polarization, but one possible way to ameliorate it is to make political parties stronger . One of the ironies of contemporary American politics is that partisanship is strong, but parties are, in important respects, weak." More

ELECTION INSIGHTS 2018

John Tirman | On Reducing Gun Violence  

"A social movement to challenge America's reslient gun culture has rocked politics for the first time in a generation, and might shake up congressional complacency in the midterm elections." More

Racism, Violence, and Democracy  

Video of a panel discussion on November 16, 2016,​ sponsored by the MIT SHASS Center for International Studies. More

Election Insights 2106: Sally Haslanger on Gender Bias  

"As long as 'being presidential' and 'looking presidential' are about being and looking masculine, we will be unable to address what is ripping us apart as a country. Arguably, the androcentrism of our political system...is dangerous for the well-being of our republic." More

Election Insights: Ariel White on Racial Attitudes and Bias  

"There's evidence that government is less responsive to people of color. In my work with Julie Faller and Noah Nathan, we have found that election officials are less likely to respond to informational questions about voting eligibility when they're sent from Hispanic-sounding names than when they're sent by non-Hispanic white names. These officials didn't respond rudely to Hispanic questioners; they simply didn't write back as often, and didn't answer their questions as well."   More

Election Insights 2016: Andrea Campbell on Health Care  

"The 2016 election offers voters a stark contrast on health care. Who should get health insurance coverage in the future, and how should it be funded? The stakes are large — both for the nation...and for individuals." More

Election Insights 2016: Adam Berinsky on Electoral Polls  

Don’t be distracted by any single poll. The media tend to highlight polls that are surprising — those that paint a different picture of the state of the race than the pack of the others. Resist this tendency."   More

Election Insights 2016: Benjamin Olken on the Economic Impacts of Climate Change  

"The increase in average temperature translates into many more extremely hot days. These matter, even in the US: researchers have found that the increased number of extremely hot days lead to lower agricultural yields, lower economic activity in industries exposed to outdoor temperatures, such as construction and mining, and even to increased mortality." More

Election Insights 2016 | John Tirman on Immigration

"Negative attitudes toward immigrants have many roots. The economy and 'job stealing' have often ranked high on the list of grievances, but several studies — including one just released by the National Academy of Sciences — demonstrate that immigrants of all kinds boost the U.S. economy overall and hurt few if any native-born Americans. So, what really mobilizes anti-immigrant attitudes?" More

21ST CENTURY CITIZENSHIP | RESEARCH

Election Insights 2016: David Autor on Jobs, Economic Security  

"The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), enacted in 1975 and enlarged by both Republican and Democratic administrations, is among the nation’s most significant tools for reducing poverty and encouraging people to enter the workforce. One of the most promising policies for assisting non-college workers is expanding the EITC to cover childless workers and non-custodial parents." More

Welcome! I am an Associate Professor of Political Science and a Faculty Affiliate of the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Political --> at MIT. --> I hold a Ph.D. in Politics from Princeton University, where I received a Harold W. Dodds Fellowship for 2012-2013. My research interests include International Political Economy, Formal and Quantitative Methodology. My dissertation examines firm-level political incentives to lobby for trade liberalization (Winner of the 2015 Mancur Olson Award for the Best Dissertation in political economy in the previous two years). An article version of this research received the 2018 Michael Wallerstein Award for the best published article in political economy in the previous year. I am also interested in “Big Data” analysis of international trade. I am developing methods for dimension reduction and visualization to investigate how the structure of international trade and trade politics around the globe has evolved over time. I maintain two databases for computational social science research: LobbyView and TradeLab . My work has appeared and forthcoming in various academic journals, including American Political Science Review , American Journal of Political Science , Annual Review of Political Science , International Organization , International Studies Quarterly , Political Analysis , and The Journal of Politics .

Class of 1956 Career Development Associate Professor

Department of political science, massachusetts institute of technology.

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Professor Roger Petersen's new book is a careful rethinking of the Iraq War

Posen: The Devastation of Gaza Was Inevitable

Bidgood: Death Dust: The Rise, Decline, and Future of Radiological Weapons Programs

Minicourse open to the MIT community gives context to the Middle East crisis

Iran blames Israel for attack on Iranian consulate in Syria

Beliakova: Why Defense Reform in Ukraine is Crucial

An MIT professor devised a 'Fortress Ukraine' plan in 1994 that proved remarkably right about the Russian invasion

SSP PhD Candidates Suzanne Freeman and Wright Smith receive World Politics and Statecraft Fellowships

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Doctoral Degrees

A doctoral degree requires the satisfactory completion of an approved program of advanced study and original research of high quality..

Please note that the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (ScD) degrees are awarded interchangeably by all departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Science, except in the fields of biology, cognitive science, neuroscience, medical engineering, and medical physics. This means that, excepting the departments outlined above, the coursework and expectations to earn a Doctor of Philosophy and for a Doctor of Science degree from these schools are generally the same. Doctoral students may choose which degree they wish to complete.

Applicants interested in graduate education should apply to the department or graduate program conducting research in the area of interest. Some departments require a doctoral candidate to take a “minor” program outside of the student’s principal field of study; if you wish to apply to one of these departments, please consider additional fields you may like to pursue.

Below is a list of programs and departments that offer doctoral-level degrees.

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Department of Political Science

Political science is concerned with the systematic study of government and the political process. Within the discipline, scholars analyze the development, distribution, and uses of political power; determinants and consequences of various forms of political behavior and sources of political conflict; ways in which conflicts are both intensified and resolved; and the relationship between the individual and the state. Political science is a discipline of special interest to scientists and engineers who must understand the political system within which they live in order to evaluate their influence upon that system. It is of interest as well to those students who are considering careers in public service or university teaching and research.

The Department of Political Science has a research-oriented faculty that welcomes both undergraduate and graduate students in ongoing research. The department, which offers degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, covers the fields of American politics and public policy, comparative politics, international relations and foreign policy, political philosophy, and models and methods.

Bachelor of Science in Political Science (Course 17)

Minor in political science, minor in applied international studies, minor in public policy, undergraduate study.

The political science curriculum for undergraduates combines professional social science training with opportunities for a broad liberal arts education. Students may choose subjects from a wide range of both undergraduate and graduate offerings, and are encouraged to engage in independent research projects. In addition, the department sponsors an internship program in which students work in governmental agencies, legislative offices, community associations, international organizations, and advocacy groups at all levels.

The undergraduate program prepares students for study in political science, law, public policy, and related fields, and for careers in government, business, law, research, teaching, or journalism. This program is also designed to give students, whatever their career objectives, an understanding of political institutions and processes. Some students want to focus on political systems themselves while others choose to concentrate on political behavior and public opinion, or on the public policies that emerge from political processes, such as policies on the environment, health, or international security. All of these perspectives are found in the program.

Subjects are offered by the department in the following fields: political theory, political economy, American politics, public policy, international relations and security studies, comparative politics, and models and methods. Students may arrange individualized programs with the assistance of a faculty advisor.

In the junior year students are introduced to the major theoretical and methodological themes of political science in two subjects:

The department believes that every political science major should have the experience of conducting and writing at least one substantial research project, a requirement that is fulfilled by 17.803 . In addition, there are numerous other opportunities for students to pursue research interests. Students are eligible to receive academic credit or limited funding for expenses or wages through the Institute-wide Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) . Students should consult the department's UROP coordinator to discuss specific projects.

The undergraduate program also allows students to undertake a substantial, year-long independent research project under the guidance of a faculty thesis advisor. Students who choose this option must submit a viable research proposal by fall of the senior year and secure a faculty advisor; the student then registers for:

The objective of the minor is to deepen and expand student knowledge of the discipline of political science. It consists of six subjects divided into two tiers, selected from the discipline's subfields as listed in the online MIT Subject Listing & Schedule . The requirements of the minor are as follows:

For a listing of available subjects in these areas, consult Katherine Hoss in the Political Science Undergraduate Office, Room E53-484 or the SHASS Dean's Office, Room 4-240. Examples of subject selections for this minor are also available on the department's website.

The interdisciplinary HASS Minor in Applied International Studies , described in the Interdisciplinary Programs section, prepares students for an increasingly global business and research environment by integrating international learning into their course of study.

The Department of Political Science and Department of Urban Studies and Planning jointly offer a Minor in Public Policy (Course 11) , described in the Interdisciplinary Programs section.

Master of Science in Political Science

Accelerated master of science in political science, doctor of philosophy, graduate study.

The Department of Political Science offers programs leading to the Master of Science in Political Science and the Doctor of Philosophy.

Admission Requirements for Graduate Study

All applicants must take the GRE general test. Non-native English speakers must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants from all disciplines are welcome—an undergraduate degree in political science is not necessary. Applicants are encouraged, however, to complete significant coursework in political science or related subjects such as history, economics, philosophy, psychology, or sociology before applying to one of our graduate programs.

The Master of Science in Political Science is a one-year program intended for students who wish to develop skills in applied research in preparation for a career in public policy or with a business or research organization. The master's program emphasizes intensive preparation in a single field of study. Applicants to the SM program should specify their field of specialization.

The minimum number of subjects required for the SM degree is six graduate subjects, at least four of which must be completed in the Political Science Department at MIT. The remaining two may be taken elsewhere at MIT or through cross-registration at Harvard University. A 3.5 GPA must be maintained. A master's thesis is required. See the section on Graduate Education for the general requirements for the SM .

The department offers a five-year program leading to the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science, awarded simultaneously. This program is open to MIT undergraduate Political Science majors only, and requires a single combined SB-SM thesis written during the last three terms at the Institute. Undergraduate Institute requirements may be completed during the fifth year of the program.

Doctoral students must complete the following requirements:

• One class for first-year students introducing principles of empirical and theoretical analysis in political science
• One class in statistics
• One class in empirical research methods
• One class in political philosophy
• Reading proficiency in one language other than English (demonstrated by two semesters of intermediate-level college coursework or an exam) or knowledge of advanced statistics (demonstrated by three semesters of course work or an exam)
• A second-year paper and related workshop
• A doctoral thesis

In addition, doctoral students are required to elect two of the following major fields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, models and methods, political economy, and security studies. In each of the two elected fields, students will take a written general exam followed by a single oral general exam covering both fields. Specific fields may have additional requirements.

Students may take subjects in other MIT departments. Cross-registration arrangements also permit enrollment in subjects taught in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University and in some of Harvard's other graduate schools. Students are encouraged to do field research and develop close working ties with faculty members engaged in major research activities.

Interdisciplinary Program

Political science and statistics.

The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Statistics provides training in statistics, including classical statistics and probability as well as computation and data analysis, to students who wish to integrate these valuable skills into their primary academic program. The program is administered jointly by the departments of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Economics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Political Science, and the Statistics and Data Science Center within the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society. It is open to current doctoral students in participating departments. For more information, including department-specific requirements, see the full program description under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

Additional information regarding graduate programs in the department and admissions may be obtained from the graduate administrator, Susan Twarog, 617-253-8336, Room E53-467.

Faculty and Teaching Staff

David Andrew Singer, PhD

Raphael Dorman-Helen Starbuck Professor of Political Science

Head, Department of Political Science

Suzanne Berger, PhD

Institute Professor

Professor of Political Science

Adam Berinsky, PhD

Mitsui Professor of Political Science

Member, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society

Andrea Louise Campbell, PhD

Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science

Devin Caughey, PhD

Nazli Choucri, PhD

Fotini Christia, PhD

Ford International Professor in the Social Sciences

Associate Director, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society

M. Taylor Fravel, PhD

Evan S. Lieberman, PhD

Total Professor of Political Science and Contemporary Africa

Vipin Narang, PhD

Frank Stanton Professor in Nuclear Security Policy Studies

Melissa Nobles, PhD

Kenneth A. Oye, PhD

Roger D. Petersen, PhD

Barry R. Posen, PhD

Ford International Professor

Richard J. Samuels, PhD

Ben Ross Schneider, PhD

Charles H. Stewart III, PhD

Kenan Sahin (1963) Distinguished Professor

Kathleen Thelen, PhD

Ford Professor

Lily L. Tsai, PhD

Teppei Yamamoto, PhD

Associate Professors

Volha Charnysh, PhD

Ford Career Development Associate Professor in Political Science

Associate Professor of Political Science

Mai Hassan, PhD

F. Daniel Hidalgo, PhD

In Song Kim, PhD

J. Chappell H. Lawson, PhD

Noah Nathan, PhD

(On leave, fall)

Richard Nielsen, PhD

Caitlin Talmadge, PhD

Ariel R. White, PhD

(On leave, spring)

Bernardo Zacka, PhD

Class of 1943 Career Development Professor

Assistant Professors

Mariya Grinberg, PhD

Assistant Professor of Political Science

Erik Lin-Greenberg, PhD

Leo Marx Career Development Assistant Professor in the History and Culture of Science and Technology

Katherine Hoss, PhD

Lecturer in Political Science

Professors Emeriti

Joshua Cohen, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Political Science

Willard R. Johnson, PhD

Michael J. Piore, PhD

David W. Skinner Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus of Political Economy

Harvey M. Sapolsky, PhD

Eugene B. Skolnikoff, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Science, Technology, and Society

Stephen W. Van Evera, PhD

Ford International Professor Emeritus

Political Philosophy/Social Theory

17.000[j] political philosophy.

Same subject as 24.611[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) 3-0-9 units Can be repeated for credit.

Systematic examination of selected issues in political philosophy. Topic changes each year and subject may be taken repeatedly with permission of instructor.

Fall: B. Zacka. Spring: B. Skow

17.006[J] Feminist Thought

Same subject as 24.637[J] Subject meets with 17.007[J] , 24.137[J] , WGS.301[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor, based on previous coursework G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Analyzes theories of gender and politics, especially ideologies of gender and their construction; definitions of public and private spheres; gender issues in citizenship, the development of the welfare state, experiences of war and revolution, class formation, and the politics of sexuality. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

17.007[J] Feminist Thought

Same subject as 24.137[J] , WGS.301[J] Subject meets with 17.006[J] , 24.637[J] Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

E. Wood, S. Haslanger

17.01[J] Justice

Same subject as 24.04[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H

See description under subject 24.04[J] .

17.021[J] Philosophy of Law

Same subject as 24.235[J] Prereq: One philosophy subject or permission of instructor U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

See description under subject 24.235[J] . Enrollment may be limited; preference to Course 24 majors and minors.

17.03 Introduction to Political Thought

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Fall) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Examines major texts in the history of political thought and considers how they contribute to a broader conversation about freedom, equality, democracy, rights, and the role of politics in human life. Areas covered may include ancient, modern, contemporary, or American political thought.

17.031 American Political Thought

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Examines political thought from the American colonial period through the 20th century. Considers the influences that gave rise to American political ideas and the implication of those ideas in a modern context, with particular emphasis on issues of liberty, equality, and the role of values from a liberal democratic lens.

17.035[J] Libertarianism

Same subject as 21H.181[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

See description under subject 21H.181[J] .

17.04[J] Modern Conceptions of Freedom

Same subject as CC.111[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H

See description under subject CC.111[J] . Preference to students in Concourse.

17.045[J] Power: Interpersonal, Organizational, and Global Dimensions

Same subject as 11.045[J] , 15.302[J] , 21A.127[J] Subject meets with 21A.129 Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 21A.127[J] .

17.05[J] Humane Warfare: Ancient and Medieval Perspectives on Ethics in War

Same subject as CC.117[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H

See description under subject CC.117[J] . Preference to Concourse students.

17.055 Just Code: The Ethical Lifecycle of Machine Learning

Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Examines the moral and political questions that arise at each step of the development of a machine learning system: from problem definition and data collection, to model selection and training, evaluation, interface design, deployment, and use. Brings work in STS, sociology, anthropology, and political science into conversation with perennial concerns in political theory about power, authority, legitimacy, justice, liberty, and equality. Considers the political agency of technology. Limited to 18; preference to juniors and seniors.

Political Economy

17.100 field seminar in political economy.

Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units

Examines broad range of topics — such as social classes, states, interest groups, inequality welfare states, comparative capitalism, race, and gender — from both classical (Marx and Weber) and contemporary theorists. Limited to 12; preference to Course 17 PhD students.

Consult B. Schneider

17.115 International Political Economy

Prereq: None U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Provides an introduction to the politics of international economic relations, including a range of analytical "lenses" to view the global economy. Examines the politics of trade policy, international monetary and financial relations, financial crises, foreign direct investment, third-world development and transition economies, the debate over "globalization," and international financial crime.

17.150 The American Political Economy in Comparative Perspective

Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units

Examines the origins and impact of key features of the American political economy in comparative perspective. Considers a range of political-economic topics, including labor markets, finance, taxation, social policy, and the role of money and organized interests. Highlights the distinctive aspects of American political economy in terms of both institutional structure and substantive outcomes (such as poverty and inequality) by comparing the US with other nations, particularly other rich democracies.

17.154 Varieties of Capitalism and Social Inequality

Focuses on the advanced democracies of Europe, the United States, and Japan. Explores trajectories of change that bear on issues of economic and social inequality. Examines whether contemporary trends (globalization, deindustrialization) undermine institutional arrangements that once reconciled economic efficiency with high levels of social equality. Considers the extent to which existing theoretical frameworks capture cross-national variation in the dynamics of redistribution in these societies.

K. Thelen, P. Hall

17.156 Welfare and Capitalism in Western Europe

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Considers theoretical models that attempt to capture the distinct paradigms of capitalism and welfare regimes prevalent in Western European economies. Analyzes content and processes of contemporary changes in the political economy and social policy - from a broad view of the challenges, to closer inquiry into specific reforms. Includes a theoretical discussion of how change occurs and trajectories of development.

17.174 Historical Political Economy

Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Surveys recent work in historical political economy, a field that combines a historical perspective with statistical methods for causal inference or formal theory. Topics include the origins of democratic and authoritarian institutions, long-run economic development, colonial legacies, state building, and intergenerational transmission of political attitudes and behavior. Readings drawn from different political science subfields, economics, and history. Intended as a research seminar for PhD students.

V. Charnysh

17.178 Political Economy of Institutions and Development

Explores institutional diversity in capitalist development, both historical and contemporary, and various explanations (e.g. economic, institutional, sociological, and political) for the divergent economic organization. Examines dimensions of comparison, including issues in business-government relations, labor relations, vocational training, and multinational corporations. Also considers global production networks, natural resource dependence, diversified business groups, industrial policy, and globalization.

B. Schneider

17.181 Sustainability: Political Economy, Science, and Policy

Subject meets with 17.182 Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Examines alternative conceptions and theoretical underpinnings of sustainable development. Focuses on the sustainability problems of industrial countries, and of developing states and economies in transition. Explores the sociology of knowledge regarding sustainability, the economic and technological dimensions, and institutional imperatives. Considers implications for political constitution of economic performance. 17.181 fulfills undergraduate public policy requirement in the major and minor. Graduate students are expected to explore the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

17.182 Sustainability: Political Economy, Science, and Policy

Subject meets with 17.181 Prereq: None G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

17.198 Current Topics in Comparative Political Economy

Analyzes and compares approaches in current political economy literatures. Weekly topics are selected by instructor and participants. Examples include the organization of interests, industrial policy, growth and inequality, resource "curse", late development. Topics vary each year depending on the research interests of the seminar participants. The subject is for graduate students in social sciences with previous coursework in political economy.

American Politics

17.20 introduction to the american political process.

Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S; CI-H

Provides a substantive overview of US politics and an introduction to the discipline of political science. Surveys the institutional foundations of US politics as well as the activities of political elites, organizations, and ordinary citizens. Explores the application of general political science concepts and analytic frameworks to specific episodes and phenomena in US politics. Enrollment limited.

17.200 American Political Behavior I

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Analyzes mass political behavior within the American political system. Examines political ideology, party identification, public opinion, voting behavior, media effects, racial attitudes, mass-elite relations, and opinion-policy linkages. Surveys and critiques the major theoretical approaches and empirical research in the field of political behavior.

A. Berinsky

17.202 American Political Institutions

Analyzes the institutions of the American political system, with primary emphasis on the national level. Examines American federalism, political parties, national political institutions, and the policymaking process. Focuses on core works in contemporary American politics and public policy. Critiques both research methodologies and the explicit and implicit theoretical assumptions of such work.

17.210 American Political Behavior II

Prereq: 17.200 Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units

Analyzes mass political behavior within the American political system. Goes beyond the topics covered in 17.200 , to explore additional areas and research frontiers in political behavior. Examines recent research on political ideology, party identification, public opinion, voting behavior, media effects, racial attitudes, mass-elite relations, and opinion-policy linkages. Introduces new topics such as personality, emotion, networks, polarization, opinion on war.

17.251 Congress and the American Political System I

Prereq: 17.20 or permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Focuses on both the internal processes of the House and Senate and on the place of Congress in the American Political System. Attention to committee behavior, leadership patterns, and informal organization. Considers relations between Congress and other branches of government, as well as relations between the two houses of Congress itself. Students taking the graduate version are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

17.262 Congress and the American Political System II

Analyzes the development of the US Congress by focusing on the competing theoretical lenses through which legislatures have been studied. Particularly compares sociological and economic models of legislative behavior, applying those models to floor decision-making, committee behavior, political parties, relations with other branches of the Federal government, and elections. Students taking the graduate version are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

17.263 Electoral Politics, Public Opinion, and Democracy

Considers the role of elections in American politics. Issues explored include empirical and theoretical models of electoral competition, the effect of elections on public policy, and proposals to improve elections. Special emphasis is given to mass voting behavior, political parties, the media, and campaign finance. Subject focuses on US elections, but provides some contrasts with other countries, especially the United Kingdom.

17.265 Public Opinion and American Democracy

Introduces students to public opinion in politics and public policymaking. Surveys theories of political psychology and political behavior. Examines empirical research on public understanding of and attitudes towards important issues, including war, economic and social policies, and moral questions.

17.269 Race, Ethnicity, and American Politics

Explores the role of race and ethnicity in modern American politics. Focuses on social science approaches to measuring the effects of race, both at the individual level and more broadly. Topics include race and representation, measurement of racial and ethnic identities, voting rights and electoral districting, protest and other forms of political participation, and the meaning and measurement of racial attitudes.

17.270 American Political Development

Examines the evolution of American national political processes over time: how political culture, governing institutions, and structures of political linkage (parties and organized interests) shape political conflict and public policy. Topics include the evolution of electoral politics and the party system, eras of political reform and state expansion (Populist, Progressive, New Deal, and Great Society), major wars and their effects, and the adaptation of government institutions to crisis and complexity in society and in the economy. Open to undergraduates with permission of instructor.

17.271 Mass Incarceration in the United States

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Covers the current state of incarceration in the United States and proposals for reform. Class materials include a mix of first-hand/media accounts of incarceration and social science literature on the causes and effects of high incarceration rates. Topics include race and the criminal legal system, collateral consequences of incarceration, public opinion about incarceration, and the behavior of recently elected "reform" prosecutors. 

17.275 Public Opinion Research Design and Training Seminar

Studies the basic skills required to design, use, and interpret opinion surveys and survey experiments. Acts as both a reading subject on survey analysis and a practicum on collecting and analyzing observational and experimental survey data. Culminates in a group project involving a survey experiment on a particular topic chosen by the class and the instructor.

17.276 Public Opinion Research Training Lab

Prereq: 17.800 or permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Offers practical training in public opinion research and provides students with an opportunity to conduct their own survey research. As a group, students design a national sample survey and field the survey. Students analyze the survey results and examine literatures related to the content of the survey. Ideal for second and third year PhD students and advanced undergraduates, though others are welcome.

17.279 Political Misinformation in the Age of Social Media

Explores the factors that make people vulnerable to political misinformation and why corrections so often fail to reduce its prevalence. Pays especially close attention to the role of social media, and the internet more generally. Analyzes how patterns of misinformation are exploited by political elites and considers possible approaches that journalists, civic groups, government officials, and technology platforms could employ to combat misperceptions.

17.28[J] The War at Home: American Politics and Society in Wartime

Same subject as 21H.213[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Examines the relationship between war and domestic politics in the US since the start of 20th century. Students engage in historical and social scientific research to analyze the ways that overseas military commitments shaped US political institutions, and how domestic politics has in turn structured US engagements abroad. Moving chronologically from World War I to the Iraq War, subject draws on materials across the disciplines, including political documents, opinion polls, legal decisions, and products of American popular culture.

A. Berinsky, C. Capozzola

17.30[J] Making Public Policy

Same subject as 11.002[J] Prereq: None U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S; CI-H

See description under subject 11.002[J] .

17.303[J] Methods of Policy Analysis

Same subject as 11.003[J] Prereq: 11.002[J] ; Coreq: 14.01 Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 11.003[J] .

17.307 American Public Policy for Washington Interns

Prereq: Permission of instructor U (Fall, Spring; partial term) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Examines US policymaking process, with special attention to making of policy for science and technology. Subject spans the second half of Spring and first half of Fall terms. Spring term attends to origins and development of American policymaking institutions and their roles in settling controversial policy questions. Fall term focuses on development of representative policies in the US, such as pollution controls, biotechnical engineering, and telecommunications. Selection and participation in Washington Summer Internship program required. Fulfills undergraduate public policy requirement in the major and minor.

17.309[J] Science, Technology, and Public Policy

Same subject as IDS.055[J] , STS.082[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units. HASS-S; CI-H Credit cannot also be received for 17.310[J] , IDS.412[J] , STS.482[J]

Analysis of issues at the intersection of science, technology, public policy, and business. Cases drawn from antitrust and intellectual property rights; health and environmental policy; defense procurement and strategy; strategic trade and industrial policy; and R&D funding. Structured around theories of political economy, modified to take into account integration of uncertain technical information into public and private decision-making. Meets with 17.310[J] .

K. Oye, N. Selin

17.310[J] Science, Technology, and Public Policy

Same subject as IDS.412[J] , STS.482[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units Credit cannot also be received for 17.309[J] , IDS.055[J] , STS.082[J]

Analysis of issues at the intersection of science, technology, public policy, and business. Cases drawn from antitrust and intellectual property rights; health and environmental policy; defense procurement and strategy; strategic trade and industrial policy; and R&D funding. Structured around theories of political economy, modified to take account of integration of uncertain technical information into public and private decision-making. Meets with 17.309[J] .

17.315 Health Policy

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Analyzes the health policy problems facing America including adequate access to care, the control of health care costs, and the encouragement of medical advances. Considers market and regulatory alternatives as well as international models including Canadian, Swedish, British, and German arrangements. Emphasis on historical development, interest group behavior, public opinion, and organizational influences in shaping and implementing policy.

A. Campbell

17.317 US Social Policy

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Explores historical development and contemporary politics of the American welfare state. Examines interactions among political institutions, elites, the media, and the mass public. Emphasis on reciprocal relationship between policy designs and public opinion/political action. Investigates broad spectrum of government policies that shape well-being, opportunity and political influence, including welfare, social security, health care, education, and tax policy.

17.320 Social Policy

Examines the politics of social policy in comparative perspective. Empirical and theoretical overview of the origins, development, and future of social provision in industrialized countries, in the context of broader political and historical trends. Examines concepts such as social citizenship, risk sharing, de-commodification, and welfare regimes, and the challenges of globalization, neo-liberalism, and demographic change. Topics include pensions, health care, poverty alleviation, and family policy. Combines classic work and research frontiers.

17.381[J] Leadership in Negotiation: Advanced Applications

Same subject as 11.111[J] Prereq: 11.011 or permission of instructor U (Fall) 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 11.111[J] . Limited by lottery; consult class website for information and deadlines.

17.389 Education, Inequality, and Politics

With a focus on the United States, Europe, and Latin America, discusses how education around the world profoundly affects individual economic mobility, social inequality, and national development, making it a high stakes policy area. Analyzes the contentiousness of education policy as government reformers, parents, business, NGOs, teacher unions, and other stakeholders vie for influence.

17.391[J] Human Rights at Home and Abroad

Same subject as 11.164[J] Subject meets with 11.497 Prereq: Permission of instructor U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 2-0-10 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 11.164[J] .

B. Rajagopal

17.393[J] Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics: Pollution Prevention and Control

Same subject as 1.801[J] , 11.021[J] , IDS.060[J] Subject meets with 1.811[J] , 11.630[J] , 15.663[J] , IDS.540[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Analyzes federal and state regulation of air and water pollution, hazardous waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and production/use of toxic chemicals. Analyzes pollution/climate change as economic problems and failure of markets. Explores the role of science and economics in legal decisions. Emphasizes use of legal mechanisms and alternative approaches (i.e., economic incentives, voluntary approaches) to control pollution and encourage chemical accident and pollution prevention. Focuses on major federal legislation, underlying administrative system, and common law in analyzing environmental policy, economic consequences, and role of the courts. Discusses classical pollutants and toxic industrial chemicals, greenhouse gas emissions, community right-to-know, and environmental justice. Develops basic legal skills: how to read/understand cases, regulations, and statutes. Students taking graduate version explore the subject in greater depth.

N. Ashford, C. Caldart

17.395[J] Innovation Systems for Science, Technology, Energy, Manufacturing, and Health

Same subject as STS.081[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 2-0-7 units. HASS-S

See description under subject STS.081[J] . Limited to 25.

W. B. Bonvillian

17.399[J] Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy

Same subject as 11.167[J] , 14.47[J] , 15.2191[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S Credit cannot also be received for 11.267[J] , 15.219[J]

See description under subject 15.2191[J] . Preference to juniors, seniors, and Energy Minors.

International Relations/Security Studies

International relations, 17.40 american foreign policy: past, present, and future.

Prereq: None U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S; CI-H

Reasons for America's past wars and interventions. Consequences of American policies. Evaluation of these consequences for the US and the world. History covered includes World Wars I and II, the Korean and Indochina wars, the Cuban Missile Crisis and current conflicts, including those in in Iraq and Afghanistan, and against al Qaeda.

S. Van Evera

17.407 Chinese Foreign Policy

Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S Credit cannot also be received for 17.408

Explores the leading theoretical and methodological approaches to studying China's interaction with the world since 1949. Readings include books and articles that integrate the study of China's foreign policy with the field of international relations. Requires basic understanding of Chinese politics or international relations theory. Meets with 17.408 when offered concurrently.

M. T. Fravel

17.408 Chinese Foreign Policy

Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units Credit cannot also be received for 17.407

Explores the leading theoretical and methodological approaches to studying China's interaction with the international system since 1949. Readings include books and articles that integrate the study of China's foreign policy with the field of international relations. Requires basic understanding of Chinese politics or international relations theory. Meets with 17.407 when offered concurrently.

17.41 Introduction to International Relations

Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S; CI-H

Provides an introduction to the causes of international conflict and cooperation. Topics include war initiation, crisis bargaining, international terrorism, nuclear strategy, interstate economic relations, economic growth, international law, human rights, and environmental politics.

17.410 Globalization, Migration, and International Relations

Subject meets with 17.411 Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Tracing the evolution of international interactions, subject examines the dimensions of globalization in terms of scale and scope. Includes international environmental issues, impacts and expansion of human activites, and the potential implications for global and national policy. Linkages among individuals, nation-states, transnational organizations and firms, international systems, and the global environment. Special focus on models of globalization, challenges of sustainable development, and on evolving types. Institutional responses to globalization and global change. 17.411 fulfills undergraduate public policy requirement in the major and minor. Students taking the graduate version are expected to explore the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

17.411 Globalization, Migration, and International Relations

Subject meets with 17.410 Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

17.416 Theoretical Models in International Relations and Comparative Politics

Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Develops the skill of generating elegant, creative, satisfying theories of politics, with a focus on theoretical models in International Relations and Comparative Politics. Discusses views on theory from the philosophy of science and techniques for theorizing in several theoretical traditions. Students examine and critically analyze theoretical work in the field with an eye to learning what makes influential theories influential. Complements the IR and CP field seminars, Scope and Methods, and Game Theory.

17.418 Field Seminar in International Relations Theory

Provides an overview of the field of international relations. Each week a different approach to explaining international relations is examined. Surveys major concepts and theories in the field to assist in the preparation for further study in the department's other graduate offerings in international relations.

17.42 Causes and Prevention of War

Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units. HASS-S; CI-H

Examines the causes of war, with a focus on practical measures to prevent and control war. Topics include causes and consequences of misperception by nations; military strategy and policy as cause of war; religion and war; US foreign policy as a cause of war and peace; and the likelihood and possible nature of great wars in the future. Historical cases include World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Seven Years' War, the Arab-Israel conflict, other recent Mideast wars, and the Peloponnesian War.

17.420 Advances in International Relations Theory

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Critical analysis of contending theories of international relations. Focus is on alternative theoretical assumptions, different analytical structures, and a common core of concepts and content. Comparative analysis of realism(s), liberalism(s), institutionalism(s), and new emergent theories. Discussion of connections between theories of international relations and major changes in international relations. Open to undergraduates by permission of instructor.

17.424 International Political Economy of Advanced Industrial Societies

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Focuses analytically on how interest groups, voters, political parties, electoral institutions, ideas and power politics interact to shape policy outcomes. Topics include globalization, international trade, international monetary and financial relations, and security.

17.426 Empirical Models in International Relations and Comparative Politics

Prereq: 17.802 or permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Explores statistical methods as applied to international relations and comparative politics. Discusses methodological issues unique to these subfields, primarily in the areas of measurement and causal inference. Students examine and critically analyze existing work in the field to gain familiarity with the array of models and methodological choices employed thus far in published research articles. Complements Quantitative Methods I and II by exploring how the methods developed in those subjects have been applied in the field.

17.428 American Foreign Policy: Theory and Method

Examines the causes and consequences of American foreign policy since 1898. Readings cover theories of American foreign policy, historiography of American foreign policy, central historical episodes including the two World Wars and the Cold War, case study methodology, and historical investigative methods. Open to undergraduates by permission of instructor.

17.430 Research Seminar in International Relations

While this seminar provides an overview of recent literature, its principal purpose is to help graduate students develop skills suited to production of research papers and/or dissertations. Begins by reviewing general theoretical and methodological issues, then turns to specific empirical studies that examine the effects of systems structure, national attributes, bargaining processes, institutions, ideas, and norms on security affairs and political economy. The last two sessions of the seminar are devoted to evaluating research proposals generated by all members of the class.

17.432 Causes of War: Theory and Method

Provides an in-depth survey of scholarly theories associated with war. Examines when, where, and why wars—both interstate and intrastate—occur, why some conflicts escalate, and how wars end. Drawing from scholarship in political science and other disciplines, students explore debates over the variables that cause war and the mechanisms through which conflicts unfold. Includes readings that offer both theoretical and empirical insights.

E. Lin-Greenberg

17.433 International Relations of East Asia

Subject meets with 17.434 Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Introduces and analyzes the international relations of East Asia. Examines the sources of conflict and cooperation during and after the Cold War, assessing competing explanations for key events in East Asia's international relations. Readings drawn from international relations theory, political science and history. Students taking the graduate version are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

17.434 International Relations of East Asia

Subject meets with 17.433 Prereq: None G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Introduces and analyzes the international relations of East Asia. Examines the sources of conflict and cooperation during and after the Cold War, assessing competing explanations for key events in East Asia's international relations. Readings drawn from international relations theory, political science and history. Students taking graduate version are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

17.445 International Relations Theory in the Cyber Age

Subject meets with 17.446 Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Examines cyber dynamics and processes in international relations from different theoretical perspectives. Considers alternative theoretical and empirical frameworks consistent with characteristic features of cyberspace and emergent transformations at all levels of international interaction. Theories examined include realism and neorealism, institutionalism and liberalism, constructivism, and systems theory and lateral pressure. Highlights relevant features and proposes customized international relations theory for the cyber age. Students taking the graduate version are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

17.446 International Relations Theory in the Cyber Age

Subject meets with 17.445 Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

17.447[J] Cybersecurity

Same subject as IDS.050[J] Subject meets with 17.448[J] , IDS.350[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Focuses on the complexity of cybersecurity in a changing world. Examines national and international aspects of overall cyber ecology. Explores sources and consequences of cyber threats and different types of damages. Considers impacts for and of various aspects of cybersecurity in diverse geostrategic, political, business and economic contexts. Addresses national and international policy responses as well as formal and informal strategies and mechanisms for responding to cyber insecurity and enhancing conditions of cybersecurity. Students taking graduate version expected to pursue subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

N. Choucri, S. Pentland

17.448[J] Cybersecurity

Same subject as IDS.350[J] Subject meets with 17.447[J] , IDS.050[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

17.449 Emerging Technology and International Security

Explores how emerging technologies — including drones, artificial intelligence, social media, additive manufacturing, and cyber warfare — affect international security. Examines how states develop these technologies, identifies barriers to innovation in the security domain, and considers how the proliferation of new military and dual-use technologies affect decisions on war and peace. Designed for students interested in international relations, security studies, and emerging technologies.

17.452 Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: Deliverance, Delusion, or Both (New)

Examines the effect of emerging technologies on the organization and operation of intelligence agencies and how these technologies can and cannot address the steady-state challenges of interpretation, uncertainty, politicization, and surprise. Readings and case studies ground students in the work of leading intelligence scholars and, focusing on intelligence analysis, examine the effect of rational actor assumptions on intelligence failure. Designed for students interested in security studies, public policy, and emerging technologies.

Security Studies

17.46 us national security policy.

Provides a comprehensive introduction to the making of US foreign and national security policy. Examines the laws that guide policy-making, studies the actors and organizations involved in the inter-agency process, and explores how interaction between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches shapes policy development and implementation. Students acquire practical experience through policy writing and a crisis simulation. Designed for students interested in international relations, security, and public policy.

17.468 Foundations of Security Studies

Develops a working knowledge of the theories and conceptual frameworks that form the intellectual basis of security studies as an academic discipline. Particular emphasis on balance of power theory, organization theory, civil-military relations, and the relationship between war and politics. The reading list includes Jervis, Schelling, Waltz, Blainey, von Clausewitz, and Huntington. Students write a seminar paper in which theoretical insights are systematically applied to a current security issue.

17.472 International Conflict in the Gray Zone Between War and Peace

Examines US strategic, legal, and organizational readiness to deal with intensifying international conflict below the level of armed attack, including covert action, offensive cyber operations, propaganda, and economic coercion. Cases include Ukraine, Stuxnet, and South China Sea operations. Substantial reading ranges across Western, Leninist, and Chinese views of war, covert action history, international law, US strategy, industrial espionage, and the effects of technology on operations.

17.473 The Politics of Nuclear Proliferation

Provides an introduction to the politics and theories surrounding the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Introduces the basics of nuclear weapons, nuclear strategy, and deterrence theory. Examines the historical record during the Cold War as well as the proliferation of nuclear weapons to regional powers and the resulting deterrence consequences.

17.474[J] Nuclear Weapons and International Security

Same subject as 22.814[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

See description under subject 22.814[J] .

R. S. Kemp, V. Narang

17.478 Great Power Military Intervention

Examines systematically, and comparatively, great and middle power military interventions, and candidate military interventions, into civil wars since 1991. These civil wars did not easily fit into the traditional category of vital interest. These interventions may therefore tell us something about broad trends in international politics including the nature of unipolarity, the erosion of sovereignty, the security implications of globalization, and the nature of modern western military power.

B. Posen, R. Petersen

17.480 Understanding Modern Military Operations

Examines selected past, current, and future sea, air, space, and land battlefields and looks at the interaction in each of these warfare areas between existing military doctrine and weapons, sensors, communications, and information processing technologies. Explores how technological development, whether innovative or stagnant, is influenced in each warfare area by military doctrine.

17.482 US Military Power

Subject meets with 17.483 Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Examines the evolving roles and missions of US General Purpose Forces within the context of modern technological capabilities and Grand Strategy, which is a conceptual system of interconnected political and military means and ends. Topics include US Grand Strategies; the organization of the US military; the defense budget; and the capabilities and limitations of naval, air, and ground forces. Also examines the utility of these forces for power projection and the problems of escalation. Analyzes military history and simple models of warfare to explore how variations in technology and battlefield conditions can drastically alter effectiveness of conventional forces. 17.483 fulfills undergraduate public policy requirement in the major and minor. Students taking the graduate version are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.

17.483 US Military Power

Subject meets with 17.482 Prereq: Freshmen need permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

17.484 Comparative Grand Strategy and Military Doctrine

A comparative study of the grand strategies and military doctrines of the great powers in Europe (Britain, France, Germany, and Russia) from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Examines strategic developments in the years preceding and during World Wars I and II. What factors have exerted the greatest influence on national strategies? How may the quality of a grand strategy be judged? Exploration of comparative case study methodology also plays a central role. What consequences seem to follow from grand strategies of different types? Open to undergraduates with permission of instructor.

17.486 Japan and East Asian Security

Explores Japan's role in world orders, past, present, and future. Focuses on Japanese conceptions of security; rearmament debates; the relationship of domestic politics to foreign policy; the impact of Japanese technological and economic transformation at home and abroad; alternative trade and security regimes; Japan's response to 9/11; and relations with Asian neighbors, Russia, and the alliance with the United States.

R. J. Samuels

17.488 Simulating Global Dynamics and War

Explores the history, tools, and utility of crisis simulations and war games that model international dynamics. Aims to develop toolkits for future worlds exercises and for the production of conference papers and peer-reviewed publications. Students review historical debates about gaming and simulation methods while gaining experience designing and playing different kinds of exercises, including technical operational games, computerized rapid play games, nuclear crisis games, and global dynamics simulations.

R. Samuels, E. Heginbotham

17.490 Political Economy of International Security

Introduces the scholarly literature on the political economy of international security, focusing on questions of how economic and security motivations are weighed against each other in both wartime and peace. Wartime topics include economic warfare, war financing, and technological investment. Peacetime topics include sanctions, market power, currency statecraft, and grand strategy.

M. Grinberg

Comparative Politics

17.50 introduction to comparative politics.

Examines why democracy emerges and survives in some countries rather than in others; how political institutions affect economic development; and how American politics compares to that of other countries. Reviews economic, cultural, and institutional explanations for political outcomes. Includes case studies of politics in several countries. Assignments include several papers of varying lengths and extensive structured and unstructured class participation. Enrollment limited.

17.503 How Dictatorship Works (New)

Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Investigates the different nature of threats that dictators, kings, and autocrats face from the population who want democratization and other powerful elites who want to replace them. Considers the different ways dictatorial leaders institutionally design their regimes to temper these competing threats. These include coup-proofing their internal security apparatus, repressing the population, controlling the media, and co-opting rivals.

17.506 Ethnic Politics

Introduces students to the classic works on ethnic politics, familiarizes them with new research and methodological innovations in the study of ethnic politics, and helps them design and execute original research projects related to ethnic politics. Readings drawn from across disciplines, including political science, anthropology, sociology, and economics. Students read across the four subfields within political science. Graduate students specializing in any subfield are encouraged to take this subject, regardless of their previous empirical or theoretical background.

R. Petersen

17.509 Social Movements in Comparative Perspective

Explores why people join grassroots political organizations and social movements. Asks what accounts for the ultimate success or failure of these organizations and examines how social movements have altered political parties, political institutions, and social relations. Critically considers a range of theoretical treatments and several movements, including the US civil rights, poor peoples', pro-life/pro-choice and gay/lesbian movements.

17.511 Critical Perspectives on Data and Identity

Examines how group identities are recorded as "data" in various domains, and the effects of data collection on the formation of identities, inequality, redistribution and conflict around the world. Compares approaches to recording personal information on household censuses and surveys, college admissions forms, via automated, computer-based systems (AI), and other systems. Draws upon a wide variety of primary materials, and scholarly works from political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and economics.

F. Christia, E. Lieberman

17.516 Transitional Justice

Emerging democracies are now confronted with what has been termed "the torturer problem." The questions are old ones: What is to be done about the perpetrator(s) and what is to be done for the abused? Seminar broadly examines the theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding the issues commonly associated with "transitional justice," including its motivations, agents, institutions, and decisions. Cases are drawn from various countries and historical periods, including post-World War II Europe, 19th-century America, and 20th-century Africa and Latin America.

17.523 Ethnic Conflict in World Politics

Ethnic and racial conflict appear to be the hallmark of the post-Cold War world. Students explore the rise of ethnic/racial and nationalist sentiments and movements; the basis of ethnic and racial identity; the political claims and goals of such movements, and whether conflict is inevitable. Introduces the dominant theoretical approaches to race, ethnicity, and nationalism, and considers them in light of current events in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

17.524 State, Society, and Political Behavior in Developing Contexts

Examines the political behavior of citizens in developing countries and the question of why governmental performance remains poor in these contexts, despite citizen efforts, international aid, and civil society initiatives. Evaluates and builds on our current understanding of political behavior and state-society relations when democratic institutions are weak, state capacity is low, and regimes are changing. Explores these questions by drawing on new and old literatures from institutional, sociological, psychological, and political economy perspectives.

17.526 Comparative Urban Development

Examines both classic and recent research on urban politics, including studies of resource distribution, clientelism and machine politics, ethnic politics, property rights, economic informality, and violence in cities spanning the developing world, and also draws comparisons to urban areas in developed democracies. Special attention is paid to the effects of urban context on political behavior. Readings are primarily from political science, but also include work from sociology, economics, and related disciplines.

17.53 The Rise of Asia

Focuses on social, economic, political, and national security problems of China and Japan -- two of the largest economies in a dynamic region with the potential to shape global affairs. Examines each topic and country from the perspectives of history, contemporary issues, and their relations with one another and the United States.

R. Samuels, T. Fravel

17.537 Politics and Policy in Contemporary Japan

Subject meets with 17.538 Prereq: None U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Analyzes contemporary Japanese politics, focusing primarily upon the post-World War II period. Includes examination of the dominant approaches to Japanese politics and society, the structure of the party system, the role of political opposition, the policy process, foreign affairs, and interest groups. Attention to defense, foreign, industrial, social, energy, technology policy processes. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and class presentations. Assignments differ.

17.538 Politics and Policy in Contemporary Japan

Subject meets with 17.537 Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Analyzes contemporary Japanese politics, focusing primarily upon the post-World War II period. Includes examination of the dominant approaches to Japanese politics and society, the structure of the party system, the role of political opposition, the policy process, foreign affairs, and interest groups. Attention to defense, foreign, industrial, social, energy, and technology policy processes. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and class presentations. Assignments differ.

17.55[J] Introduction to Latin American Studies

Same subject as 21A.130[J] , 21G.084[J] , 21H.170[J] Subject meets with 21G.784 Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S; CI-H

Examines contemporary Latin American culture, politics, and history. Surveys geography, economic development, and race, religion, and gender in Latin America. Special emphasis on the Salvadoran civil war, human rights and military rule in Argentina and Chile, and migration from Central America and Mexico to the United States. Students analyze films, literature, visual art, journalism, historical documents, and social scientific research.

T. Padilla, P. Duong

17.561 European Politics

Examines similarities and differences in politics and political economy in Britain, Germany, and Sweden. Particular focus on the structure of political power within the state, and on important institutions that form the link between state and society, especially political parties and interest organizations.

17.565 Israel: History, Politics, Culture, and Identity

Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S Credit cannot also be received for 17.567

Examines Israeli identity using a broad array of materials, including popular music, film, documentaries and art, in addition to academic historical writings. Topics include Israel's political system and society, ethnic relations, settlement projects, and the Arab minorities in the Jewish state. Students also discuss whether there is a unique Israeli culture and the struggle for Israel's identity. Limited to 60; preference to students in the MISTI MIT-Israel program.

17.567 Israel: History, Politics, Culture, and Identity

Prereq: None U (IAP) 3-0-6 units. HASS-S Credit cannot also be received for 17.565

Examines Israeli identity using a broad array of materials, including popular music, film, documentaries and art, in addition to academic historical writings. Topics include Israel's political system and society, ethnic relations, settlement projects, and the Arab minorities in the Jewish state. Students also discuss whether there is a unique Israeli culture and the struggle for Israel's identity. Limited to students in the MISTI MIT-Israel program.

N. Karlinsky

17.568 Comparative Politics and International Relations of the Middle East

Surveys both classic and cutting-edge work on the politics of the Middle East, broadly defined. Topics include the causes and consequences of political and economic development, authoritarianism and democratization, the influence of social movements, the role of women in Middle Eastern polities, regional inter-state relations, Islamism, terrorism, colonialism and foreign occupation, state-building, resistance and rebellion, and the Arab uprisings.

R. Nielsen, F. Christia

17.569 Russia's Foreign Policy: Toward the Post-Soviet States and Beyond

Analyzes Russia's foreign policy, with a focus on relations with the other post-Soviet states. Frames the discussion with examination of US-Russian and Sino-Russian relations. Looks at legacies of the Soviet collapse, strengths and vulnerabilities of Russia, and the ability of other states to maintain their sovereignty. Topics include the future of Central Asia, the Georgian war, energy politics, and reaction to the European Union's Eastern Partnership. Readings focus on international relations, historical sources, and contemporary Russian and Western sources.

17.57[J] Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society: 1917 to the Present

Same subject as 21G.086[J] , 21H.245[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S; CI-H

See description under subject 21H.245[J] . Enrollment limited.

17.571 Engineering Democratic Development in Africa

Examines the varied relationship between democracy and human development in sub-Saharan Africa. Encourages students to apply engineering thinking to better understand which institutions, practices, and technologies have helped, and which have hindered, the achievement of health, education, infrastructure, and other outcomes. Addresses many of the challenges and dilemmas of democratic practice in poor, diverse, and unequal societies, while inviting students to propose practical interventions.

E. Lieberman

17.572 Political Economy of Africa

Explores how African leaders have projected authority and built states, and, in turn, how their states' actions have influenced major economic and societal outcomes, including agrarian development, economic inequality and informality, violence, grassroots collective action, and the nature of ethnic and partisan political mobilization. Spans the pre-colonial period to the present day. Readings primarily drawn from political science, but also include work from economics, history, and related disciplines.

17.577 Electoral Politics in the Developing World (New)

Explores how electoral competition operates in new democracies across the developing world. Major topics include how voters hold politicians accountable for good governance, how politicians campaign and distribute state resources, and why some elections are free, fair, and peaceful while others are violent and skewed to benefit incumbents. The course materials draw on examples from Africa, Latin America, the post-Soviet countries, South Asia, and the historical United States. 

17.578 Elections and Political Representation in the Developing World

Focuses on the theoretical and empirical study of elections, representation, and governance in non-industrialized democratic societies. Surveys the contemporary literature on topics such as party systems, clientelism, electorally-motivated violence, ethnic politics, and federalism.

17.581 Riots, Rebellions, Revolutions

Examines different types of violent political conflict. Compares and contrasts several social science approaches (psychological, sociological, and political) and analyzes their ability to explain variation in outbreak, duration and outcome of conflict. Examines incidents such as riots in the US during the 1960's, riots in India, the Yugoslav wars, and the Russian Revolution, in addition to current international events.

17.582 Civil War

Surveys the social science literature on civil war. Studies the origins of civil war, discusses variables affecting duration, and examines termination of conflict. Highly interdisciplinary and covers a wide variety of cases. Open to advanced undergraduates with permission of instructor.

F. Christia

17.584 Civil-Military Relations

Subject consists of five sections. After a general survey of the field, students consider cases of stable civilian control, military rule, and transitions from military to civilian rule. Cases are selected from around the world.

17.588 Field Seminar in Comparative Politics

Provides an introduction to the field of comparative politics. Readings include both classic and recent materials. Discusses research design and research methods, in addition to topics such as political culture, social cleavages, the state, and democratic institutions. Emphasis on each issue depends in part on the interests of the students.

17.590 State Building

Examines the process of building modern, national states across regions at different levels of development. Focuses on conceptualizing and measuring state power; and on the range of political, economic, and social explanations that account for variation, including the role of technology, war, material endowments, geography, trust, ethnic diversity, and democratic regimes. Evaluates the quality of evidence for different accounts. Theoretical orientation intended for Ph.D. students in political science.

17.591 Research Seminar in Applied International Studies

Prereq: Permission of instructor U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Focuses on research methods in the social sciences as they relate to topics in international studies. Students complete an independent research project on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor; class presentation required. Limited to 18; preference to Applied International Studies minors.

Models and Methods

17.800 quantitative research methods i: regression.

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

Introduction to statistical research in political science and public policy, with a focus on linear regression. Teaches students how to apply multiple regression models as used in much of political science and public policy research. Also covers elements of probability and sampling theory. Limited to 30; preference to Course 17 PhD students.

T. Yamamoto

17.801 Political Science Scope and Methods

Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Introduces principles of empirical and theoretical analysis in political science through research projects currently conducted in the department. Different department faculty lead modules that introduce students to major research questions and different ways of examining those questions. Emphasizes how this research in progress relates to larger themes, and how researchers confront obstacles to inference in political science. Includes substantial instruction and practice in writing (with revision) and oral presentations. Intended primarily for majors and minors.

17.802 Quantitative Research Methods II: Causal Inference

Prereq: 17.800 , 17.803 , or permission of instructor G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Survey of statistical methods for causal inference in political science and public policy research. Covers a variety of causal inference designs, including experiments, matching, regression, panel methods, difference-in-differences, synthetic control methods, instrumental variables, regression discontinuity designs, quantile regression, and bounds. Limited to 30; preference to Course 17 PhD students.

17.803 Political Science Laboratory

Prereq: 17.801 or permission of instructor U (Spring) 3-6-6 units. Institute LAB

Introduces students to the conduct of political research using quantitative methodologies. The methods are examined in the context of specific political research activities like public opinion surveys, voting behavior, Congressional behavior, comparisons of political processes in different countries, and the evaluation of public policies. Includes instruction and practice in written and oral communication. Students participate in joint class projects and conduct individual projects. Does not count toward HASS Requirement. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 17 majors who have pre-registered.

17.804 Quantitative Research Methods III: Generalized Linear Models and Extensions

Prereq: 17.802 or permission of instructor G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

Provides a survey of statistical tools for model-based inference in political science and public policy. Topics include generalized linear models for various data types and their extensions, such as discrete choice models, survival outcome models, mixed effects and multilevel models. Covers both frequentist and Bayesian approaches. Limited to 15; preference to Course 17 PhD students.

17.806 Quantitative Research Methods IV: Advanced Topics

Prereq: 17.804 or permission of instructor G (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Covers advanced statistical tools that are useful for empirical research in political science and public policy. Possible topics include missing data, survey sampling and experimental designs for field research, machine learning, text mining, clustering, Bayesian methods, spatial statistics, and web scraping. Limited to 15; preference to Course 17 PhD students.

17.810 Game Theory and Political Theory

Subject meets with 17.811 Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units

Introduces students to the rudiments of game theory within political science. Provides all students with the ability to solve simple games. Readings draw from basic texts on game theoretic modeling and applied articles in American Politics, International Relations, and Comparative Politics. Students taking the graduate version evaluate applied theory articles in the major journals.

A. Magazinnik

17.811 Game Theory and Political Theory

Subject meets with 17.810 Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Introduces students to the rudiments of game theory within political science. Provides students with the ability to solve simple games. Readings draw from basic texts on game theoretic modeling and applied articles in American politics, international relations, and comparative politics. Students taking the graduate version evaluate applied theory articles in the major journals.

17.830 Empirical Methods in Political Economy

Reviews recent quantitative empirical studies on important, substantive questions in political economy. Designed to increase students' understanding of the core research designs and measurement strategies employed in the empirical analysis of political institutions and political behavior. Topics include the political and economic consequences of direct democracy, reservations for political minorities, corruption, political effects of the media, and politics in authoritarian regimes.

17.831 Data and Politics

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Explores the intersection between politics and data. Introduces principles and practice of data-driven methods used to understand electoral and other types of political behavior. Students use real world datasets to explore topics such as election polling and prediction, the determinants of voter turnout, how campaigns target voters, and how public opinion changes over time.

17.835 Machine Learning and Data Science in Politics

Prereq: 6.100A or permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Fall) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 4-0-8 units. HASS-S

Introduces students to politics by analyzing political science data sets with machine learning methodologies. Covers a variety of data science tools, including supervised and unsupervised learning methods, visualization techniques, text analysis, and network analysis. Emphasizes how the research methodologies can be used for studying political science. Topics include lobbying, international trade, political networks, and estimating ideologies of political leaders.

17.850 Political Science Scope and Methods

Introduces principles of empirical and theoretical analysis in political science. Exposes students to major research questions and different ways of examining them. Limited to Course 17 PhD students.

17.878 Qualitative Methods and Fieldwork

Prepares students to conduct independent qualitative research, focusing on practical skills acquisition. Topics include methodological controversies, debates about transparency, human subjects protocols and research ethics, interviewing techniques, ethnography, focus groups, comparative historical case studies/archival research, and write-up of qualitative information collected from the field.

General Subjects

17.ur undergraduate research.

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Research opportunities in Political Science in theoretical and applied research. For further information, contact the Departmental Coordinator.

17.URG Undergraduate Research

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Research opportunities in political science in theoretical and applied research. For further information, contact the departmental coordinator.

17.902 Political Science Internship and Research

Prereq: None U (Fall, Spring) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

For students participating in off-campus internships relevant to the field of political science. Before registering, students must submit a 1-2 page application statement which describes the internship, the nature of the work, the time commitment (hours per week and number of weeks) and the connection to the field of political science. Students must also submit a formal offer letter from a host employer/organization which provides details of the internship. Subject to departmental approval. Consult departmental undergraduate office.

17.905-17.911 Reading Seminar in Social Science

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Not offered regularly; consult department Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Reading and discussion of special topics in the fields of social science. Open to advanced undergraduates by arrangement with individual staff members. 17.909 is taught P/D/F.

17.922 Martin Luther King, Jr. Design Seminar

Prereq: None U (IAP) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-3 units

Facilitates design and construction of installations and other community projects in conjunction with and beyond MIT's celebration of Dr. King. Students discuss the ideas and goals of Dr. King and other human rights leaders in the US and the world. The first half of the class develops in-depth understanding of the history of US racial issues as well as past and present domestic and international political struggles. Addresses issues of justice, equality and racism through videos, readings and writings, and class discussions. In the second half, students work as a group complete the installation and projects which serve as models for connecting academics with real life problems and struggle.

17.925 Fundamentals of Science and Technology Public Policy Making: Science and Technology Policy Boot Camp

Prereq: None U (IAP) 2-0-1 units

Examines the public policy behind, and the government's role in, the science and technology-based innovation system. Focuses on the US, but also discusses international examples. Prepares students planning careers in and around science and technology with the basic background for involvement in science policy making. Limited to 35. Application required.

W. Bonvillian

17.959 Preparation for General Exams

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Selected readings for Political Science doctoral students in preparation for qualifying exams.

17.954-17.958, 17.960 Reading Seminar in Social Science

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring, Summer) Not offered regularly; consult department Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Reading and discussion of special topics in the fields of social science. Open to advanced graduate students by arrangement with individual staff members. 17.954 and 17.959 are taught P/D/F.

17.962 Second Year Paper Workshop

Workshop for research and writing of major research paper as part of pre-dissertation requirements. Restricted to doctoral students.

17.THG Graduate Political Science Thesis

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Program of research and writing of thesis; to be arranged by the student with supervising committee.

17.THT Thesis Research Design Seminar

Prereq: 17.803 or permission of instructor U (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Students writing a thesis in Political Science develop their research topics, review relevant research and scholarship, frame their research questions and arguments, choose an appropriate methodology for analysis, and draft the introductory and methodology sections of their theses.

17.THU Undergraduate Political Science Thesis

Program of research leading to the writing of an SB thesis. To be arranged by the student under approved supervision.

17.S912 Special Undergraduate Subject in Political Science

Prereq: None U (Fall, Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Reading and discussion of topics in the field of social science not covered in the regular curriculum.

17.S914 Special Undergraduate Subject in Political Science

Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

17.S916 Special Undergraduate Subject in Political Science

Prereq: None U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

17.S917 Special Undergraduate Subject in Political Science

Prereq: None U (Spring) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

17.S918 Special Undergraduate Subject in Political Science

17.s919 special undergraduate subject in political science, 17.s950 special graduate subject in political science.

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Open to qualified graduate students who would like to pursue special studies or projects. Please consult graduate administration prior to registration.

17.S951 Special Graduate Subject in Political Science

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Open to qualified graduate students who would like to pursue special subjects or projects. Please consult graduate administration prior to registration.

17.S952 Special Graduate Subject in Political Science

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

17.S953 Special Graduate Subject in Political Science

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

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Each of these trends represents the growing recognition that the sociological imagination sheds unique light on economic processes, mapping specific connections among organizations, institutions and the economy. And yet the increasing demand for economic sociology has not been met with a corresponding increase in supply.

Distinctive Aspects Of The Program

The Economic Sociology group places heavy emphasis on research. While students gain experience in the classroom and graduates should be ready to teach in various programs (see below), the faculty believe that the primary goal of PhD training is to habituate students with the processes by which great social science research is conducted.

The substantive research focus is on general mechanisms of social organization. While we believe that all researchers must have a deep understanding of the specific contexts that we study, our primary reason for studying a particular case (i.e., an organization or industry) is to use it as a “strategic research site” for understanding social mechanisms and processes that are present in various forms in many different contexts.

Our research group is catholic with regard to method. We believe that qualitative research (i.e., fieldwork, case studies, ethnography); quantitative research (e.g., surveys, archival databases, social network analysis) and modeling (e.g., systems dynamics, game theory, agent-based models) are each quite useful depending on one's research objective.

Economic Sociology is an integral part of the set of PhD research groups that comprise the Behavioral and Policy Sciences at MIT Sloan. These are: Organization Studies; Institute of Work and Employment Research; and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Economic Sociology overlaps with each of these in terms of: (a) the substantive focus of research; (b) the research methods employed; (c) the types of students that the programs attract; (d) as well as the faculty conducting PhD training.

In evaluating applicants, the Economic Sociology faculty looks for evidence of: (a) a strong research orientation; (b) skills and experience relevant to economic sociology; and (c) an understanding of academic social science research culture.

Note to potential applicants: An excellent way of deciding whether to apply to the Economic Sociology group is by reading articles in top sociology journals (e.g., American Sociological Review, American Journal of Sociology) and secondarily at top journals in organizations and management (e.g., Administrative Science Quarterly, Organization Science), especially those authored by our Economic Sociology faculty, and deciding whether you want to write articles like these.

Economic Sociology Faculty

Economic Sociology Seminars

Economic Sociology Graduates

Example Thesis Topics

Summer jackson (2021).

“Essays on Organizational Inequality”

Brittany Bond (2020)

“Essays on Status Recognition and its Consequences for Top-Talent Mobility and Productivity”

James Whitcomb Riley (2020)

“Social Exchange and Valuations in the Market for Contemporary Art”

Duanyi Yang (2020)

“Essays on Workplace Practices in Different Institutional Settings”

Laurel Grassin-Drake (2019)

“The Global Integration Challenge: Global Management Teams, Temporal Difference, and Constructing the Identity of the Global ‘Other’”

Minjae Kim (2018)

“Essays on Social Norms”

Tristan Botelho (2017)

“Essays on Knowledge Sharing and an Opt-in Evaluation Process among Investment Professionals”

Suggestions or feedback?

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When Paula Hammond first arrived on MIT’s campus as a first-year student in the early 1980s, she wasn’t sure if she belonged. In fact, as she told an MIT audience yesterday, she felt like “an imposter.”

However, that feeling didn’t last long, as Hammond began to find support among her fellow students and MIT’s faculty. “Community was really important for me, to feel that I belonged, to feel that I had a place here, and I found people who were willing to embrace me and support me,” she said.

Hammond, a world-renowned chemical engineer who has spent most of her academic career at MIT, made her remarks during the 2023-24 James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award lecture.

Established in 1971 to honor MIT’s 10th president, James Killian, the Killian Award recognizes extraordinary professional achievements by an MIT faculty member. Hammond was chosen for this year’s award “not only for her tremendous professional achievements and contributions, but also for her genuine warmth and humanity, her thoughtfulness and effective leadership, and her empathy and ethics,” according to the award citation.

“Professor Hammond is a pioneer in nanotechnology research. With a program that extends from basic science to translational research in medicine and energy, she has introduced new approaches for the design and development of complex drug delivery systems for cancer treatment and noninvasive imaging,” said Mary Fuller, chair of MIT’s faculty and a professor of literature, who presented the award. “As her colleagues, we are delighted to celebrate her career today.”

In January, Hammond began serving as MIT’s vice provost for faculty. Before that, she chaired the Department of Chemical Engineering for eight years, and she was named an Institute Professor in 2021.

A versatile technique

Hammond, who grew up in Detroit, credits her parents with instilling a love of science. Her father was one of very few Black PhDs in biochemistry at the time, while her mother earned a master’s degree in nursing from Howard University and founded the nursing school at Wayne County Community College. “That provided a huge amount of opportunity for women in the area of Detroit, including women of color,” Hammond noted.

After earning her bachelor’s degree from MIT in 1984, Hammond worked as an engineer before returning to the Institute as a graduate student, earning her PhD in 1993. After a two-year postdoc at Harvard University, she returned to join the MIT faculty in 1995.

At the heart of Hammond’s research is a technique she developed to create thin films that can essentially “shrink-wrap” nanoparticles. By tuning the chemical composition of these films, the particles can be customized to deliver drugs or nucleic acids and to target specific cells in the body, including cancer cells.

To make these films, Hammond begins by layering positively charged polymers onto a negatively charged surface. Then, more layers can be added, alternating positively and negatively charged polymers. Each of these layers may contain drugs or other useful molecules, such as DNA or RNA. Some of these films contain hundreds of layers, others just one, making them useful for a wide range of applications.

“What’s nice about the layer-by-layer process is I can choose a group of degradable polymers that are nicely biocompatible, and I can alternate them with our drug materials. This means that I can build up thin film layers that contain different drugs at different points within the film,” Hammond said. “Then, when the film degrades, it can release those drugs in reverse order. This is enabling us to create complex, multidrug films, using a simple water-based technique.”

Hammond described how these layer-by-layer films can be used to promote bone growth, in an application that could help people born with congenital bone defects or people who experience traumatic injuries.

For that use, her lab has created films with layers of two proteins. One of these, BMP-2, is a protein that interacts with adult stem cells and induces them to differentiate into bone cells, generating new bone. The second is a growth factor called VEGF, which stimulates the growth of new blood vessels that help bone to regenerate. These layers are applied to a very thin tissue scaffold that can be implanted at the injury site.

Hammond and her students designed the coating so that once implanted, it would release VEGF early, over a week or so, and continue releasing BMP-2 for up to 40 days. In a study of mice, they found that this tissue scaffold stimulated the growth of new bone that was nearly indistinguishable from natural bone.

Targeting cancer

As a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Hammond has also developed layer-by-layer coatings that can improve the performance of nanoparticles used for cancer drug delivery, such as liposomes or nanoparticles made from a polymer called PLGA.

“We have a broad range of drug carriers that we can wrap this way. I think of them like a gobstopper, where there are all those different layers of candy and they dissolve one at a time,” Hammond said.

Using this approach, Hammond has created particles that can deliver a one-two punch to cancer cells. First, the particles release a dose of a nucleic acid such as short interfering RNA (siRNA), which can turn off a cancerous gene, or microRNA, which can activate tumor suppressor genes. Then, the particles release a chemotherapy drug such as cisplatin, to which the cells are now more vulnerable.

The particles also include a negatively charged outer “stealth layer” that protects them from being broken down in the bloodstream before they can reach their targets. This outer layer can also be modified to help the particles get taken up by cancer cells, by incorporating molecules that bind to proteins that are abundant on tumor cells.

In more recent work, Hammond has begun developing nanoparticles that can target ovarian cancer and help prevent recurrence of the disease after chemotherapy. In about 70 percent of ovarian cancer patients, the first round of treatment is highly effective, but tumors recur in about 85 percent of those cases, and these new tumors are usually highly drug resistant.

By altering the type of coating applied to drug-delivering nanoparticles, Hammond has found that the particles can be designed to either get inside tumor cells or stick to their surfaces. Using particles that stick to the cells, she has designed a treatment that could help to jumpstart a patient’s immune response to any recurrent tumor cells.

“With ovarian cancer, very few immune cells exist in that space, and because they don’t have a lot of immune cells present, it’s very difficult to rev up an immune response,” she said. “However, if we can deliver a molecule to neighboring cells, those few that are present, and get them revved up, then we might be able to do something.”

To that end, she designed nanoparticles that deliver IL-12, a cytokine that stimulates nearby T cells to spring into action and begin attacking tumor cells. In a study of mice, she found that this treatment induced a long-term memory T-cell response that prevented recurrence of ovarian cancer.

Hammond closed her lecture by describing the impact that the Institute has had on her throughout her career.

“It’s been a transformative experience,” she said. “I really think of this place as special because it brings people together and enables us to do things together that we couldn’t do alone. And it is that support we get from our friends, our colleagues, and our students that really makes things possible.”

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