Billion and Billions: Money and the 2000 Elections
David Strozzi
Wed Jan 10, 04-06:00pm, 4-149
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
This election cycle, money has poured into political campaigns of all stripes at an unprecedented and alarming rate. Come discuss how campaigns are financed, and find out who took how much from whom, and what the donors might expect in return.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/~greens
Contact: David Strozzi, NW16-223, x2-2343, dstrozzi@mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Greens
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Cuban Legacies: Slavery, Inequality, and Communism in the Colonial and National Experience
Jeffrey Ravel
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: None
In January 1959, Fidel Castro and his followers came to power in Cuba, overthrowing the government of Fulgencio Batista. Since then, controversy has raged about the merits of the Cuban Revolution. Has it raised levels of literacy and medical care beyond those found in countries of comaparable size and wealth? Have social improvements been achieved at the expense of political liberty? The Elian Gonzalez affair and US congressional debates over Cuba's trade status suggest that Cuba, its revolution, and its leader still occupy a place in American and world imagination out of all proportion to the country's size and geopolitical situation. These issues and others have important antecedents in Cuba's colonial legacies of slavery and racial discord. The films in this IAP series will provide historical perspectives on the Cuban colonial and national experience.
Contact: Jeffrey Ravel, E51-179, 253-4451, ravel@mit.edu
Sponsor: History
"The Last Supper"
Jeffrey Ravel
For most of the period of Spanish colonial domination in the Americas, Cuba was a largely forested, mostly unmapped territory sparsely inhabited by an indigenous population that had suffered serious demographic setbacks at the beginning of European contact. With the end of sugar production in Haiti ca. 1800, however, Europeans developed a new interest in exploiting the island. The first film in the series, THE LAST SUPPER, is based on an incident from late eighteenth-century Cuban history involving a pious slaveholder who decides to instruct his slaves in Christian humility by inviting them to participate in a reenactment of the Last Supper.
Tue Jan 9, 07-10:00pm, Room 56-169
"Portrait of Teresa"
Jeffrey Ravel
The second film in the series, PORTRAIT OF TERESA, is set in 1979, almost two centuries later, after the Revolution of 1979 had acheived political stability. It is a realistic account of a woman in Revolutionary Cuba struggling with the demands of family and job in a textile factory. The film shows the disintegration of her marriage with compassion and authenticity, and focusses on the survival of machismo and sexism in post-revolutionary society.
Tue Jan 16, 07-10:00pm, Room 56-169
"The New Cuban Crisis"
Jeffrey Ravel
We'll view two short films documenting the status of socialism in Cuba in the late 1990s. THE NEW CUBAN CRISIS explores the attitudes of Cubans (inside the country and in exile) and Americans towards the US embargo on Cuba. INSIDE CASTRO'S CUBA, the result of one filmmaker's year-long sojourn in Cuba, relies on interviews with many Cubans (including Castro), to document the tenacity of Castro's Revolution forty years on.
Tue Jan 23, 07-10:00pm, Room 56-169
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Cyprus: History, Present, and the Future
Eser Keskiner , Alexandra Manglis
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
These three sessions will provide a look at the past and the present of the Cyprus problem, which has been affecting international relations and the lives of many people for three generations. We'll explore as well some of the perspectives of Cypriot youth for the future of their country. We will start with an analysis of the Cyprus problem - the interests at stake, the major powers involved, and the events which led to the division of the island in 1974. We will then look at the quickly-growing grassroots peace-building movement on the Island. The series concludes with a forum, "The Future of Cyprus: Perspectives of the Cypriot Youth," featuring Greek and Turkish Cypriot students of different backgrounds discussing their visions for the future of Cyprus.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/eserk/www/cyprus.html
Contact: Eser Keskiner, 36-469, 253-4027, eserk@mit.edu
Sponsor: Eser Keskiner, 36-469, 617 253-4027, eserk@mit.edu
Origins of the Cyprus Problem
Brendan O'Malley;journalist,co-author of "Cyprus Conspiracy"
What is the origin of the Cyprus problem? Who's to blame? The Turks? The Greeks? Or is it not as simple as that? What was the role of the US and Britain as well as other regional powers in the events that led to intercommunal violence in Cyprus? What were the interests at stake? Why did the people who lived together for hundreds of years take up arms against each other? Come and find out the answers to these questions and many more. See how the Cyprus problem fits in the puzzle of Middle East.
(Speaker Brendan O'Malley - co-author of "Cyprus Conspiracy".)
Tue Jan 16, 05-07:00pm, 1-190
Grassroots Movement in Cyprus: Citizen Groups Building Peace
Benjamin Broome, Professor of Communication, Arizona State U
A growing number of Cypriots from both the Turkish and Greek communities are getting involved with the peace-building efforts. Despite obstacles, people in the two communities are finding ways to come together and organize activities that increase mutual trust and understanding. Recent activities include a "Festival of Mutual Understanding" attended by thousands of people from both sides of the ethnically-divided island as well as "reunion meetings" for the people who used to live in the same villages before the division. Benjamin Broome, who was a Fulbright Fellow in Cyprus, will talk about citizen-level peace-building efforts in the island. The event will be followed by short videos from the events organized by the bicommunal groups.
Mon Jan 22, 05-07:00pm, 1-190
The Future of Cyprus: Perspectives of Cypriot Youth
Eser Keskiner , Alexandra Manglis
Hear some different perspectives of Cypriot youth on the future of their island. Greek and Turkish Cypriot students will talk about the Cyprus problem as it relates to their everyday-life as well as their hopes and expectations for the future. You know what the politicians have to say. Now you can find out the perspectives of today's Cypriot youth on the past, present, and future of their island.
Mon Jan 29, 05-07:00pm, 1-190
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Global Forces and Local Space
John deMonchaux
Tue Jan 30, 09am-05:00pm, 10-401
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
SPURS (Special Program in Urban & Regional Studies) Fellows will introduce a discussion of globalization, developmental challenges, new forces of synergy, and tradition and transformation of contemporary cities in the developing world. Respondents will comment on the presentations.
Contact: Ann Steffes, 10-400, x3-5915, asteffes@mit.edu
Sponsor: Urban Studies and Planning
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Imagined Worlds: International Relations through Science Fiction
M. Zachary Taylor
Tue Jan 9, Wed Jan 10, 07-09:30pm, 2-131
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Each week short stories or full length movies from science fiction will be used to explore topics such as war, diplomacy, elections, trade, international finance, culture clash, democracy, globalization, etc. Science fiction allows us to detach from the "real" world and posit a possible alternative one: a world where, freed of traditional constraints and assumptions (but not the rules of logic), the filmakers and viewers alike can theorize about political and economic relationships. We can ask ourselves: Would this alternate world really work? What is driving it, who are the main players in this world and what is the nature of power there? Then we can contrast the answers to these questions with current events in world politics and current theories of international relations. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to attend. Credit is possible if students make arrangements with instructor.
Contact: M. Zachary Taylor, mzak@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
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International Migration and Cities
Anna Hardman
Mon Jan 29, 02-04:00pm, 10-401
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Single session event
Note: Format has been changed to ONE SESSION only. Migrants today play a critical role in the world's economies, and above all, in its cities. We will explore recent research on economic models of the impact of migration on cities and the housing markets of the sending and receiving countries.
Contact: Michael Dowe, 7-337, x3-1907, dusphq@mit.edu
Sponsor: Urban Studies and Planning
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Israel, Palestine, and the World at Large
Center for International Studies , Richard Samuels, Stephen Van Evera
Tue Jan 9, 02-06:30pm, E51-115
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Two 2 hour panels. The first panel will explore the causes of the collapse of the Oslo Accords and the renewal of conflict. It will also focus on responsibility for this breakdown and the ways it might have been avoided, as well as policy prescriptions for the United States. The second panel will explore the wider implications of the renewed conflict for the Middle East region and for the United States.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mideast2001/www
Contact: Richard Samuels, E38-648, x3-2449, samuels@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
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Joint Operational Planning
Center for International Studies , Colonel John Stulle, USMC Dean, Joint & Combined Warfighting
Tue Jan 23 thru Fri Jan 26, 09am-04:00pm, E38-714, 12/26 session ends at noon
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Joint Operational Planning Course is a synoptic look at how the strategic aims of the US are achieved by the US armed forces in a changing strategic environment. This 23-hour course will encompass discussions on: National security structure and organization, the Joint Strategic Planning System, capabilities and limitations of the major Services, crisis action procedures in time-sensitive situations, and the challenges of dedicating military force in humanitarian operations. The course culminates in a humanitarian assistance staff planning simulation with members of the seminar assigned to key positions. The course will be of particular interest to students studying strategic studies, international relations, political science, African studies, and for students and faculty associated with the military.
Contact: Amy Briemer, E38-656, x8-8552, abriemer@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
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MIT Washington Summer Internship Program Information Sessions
Charles Stewart , Tobie Weiner
Wed Jan 10, Thu Jan 18, Tue Jan 23, Fri Feb 2, 03-04:00pm, 1-246
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Repeating event. Participants welcome at any session
Come to an information session and find out about the MIT Washington Summer Internship Program. The program was founded in 1995 to give selected MIT undergraduates the opportunity to explore science and engineering policymaking at the national level, through study and practical experience. The interns have worked in the offices of government agencies, the private sector and advocacy groups. Complementing the summer internships are a trip to Washington, DC during spring break and a 12-unit HASS subject designed to give students an introduction to policymaking. All sessions are the same - come to any session.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/summerwash/
Contact: Tobie Weiner, E53-484, x3-3649, iguanatw@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
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Mideast for Dummies: Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Clash
Jeremy Pressman
Thu Jan 11, 18, 07-08:30pm, 5-217
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
After years of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, what happened to peace? On January 11, come hear about the key players, the Camp David summit, and the road to confrontation. On January 18, we will continue by probing Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount and the violent aftermath. Lecture followed by Q&A.
Contact: Jeremy Pressman, E53-386, x8-6424, jeremyp@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
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Progress and Decline: Issues in Contemporary Marxism
Felix Kreisel
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Limited to 50 participants.
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: Read the World Socialist Web Site at www.wsws.org
Progress and decline of civilization, issues in contemporary Marxism.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/fjk/Public/iap/
Contact: Felix Kreisel, 8-105, x3-8625, fjk@mit.edu
Sponsor: Felix Kreisel, NW21-207, 617 253-8625, fjk@psfc.mit.edu
Russia in the Year 2001: Collapse of a Society
Felix Kreisel
Last summer's sinking of the Kursk submarine and the fire which destroyed the Ostankino TV tower in Moscow highlighted the scope of the industrial and economic collapse of Russia. The catastrophic mortality rates and the plunging birth rate indicate its social decline. We shall examine the real state of affairs in the former USSR.
Thu Jan 11, 06-08:00pm, 8-105
Necessity and Decline in the Roman Empire
This lecture will examine the rise and decline of the Roman world from a Marxist viewpoint. Was the decline of the Roman Empire inevitable? We will discuss Aristotle's, Hegel's, and Marx's dialectical concepts of necessity and accident as they were manifested by a thousand years of class struggle; and the passage of the Roman world from a state of relative equality among citizens in the early Republic to the extensive social inequality of the Late Roman Empire and the collapse of the Imperial state.
Thu Jan 18, 06-08:00pm, 8-105
The 1917 Socialist Revolution from an Historical Perspective
Felix Kreisel
The Russian revolution of 1917 can only be understood as a world historical phenomenon, not in isolation. Could socialism be built in Russia, and what was the program of the Russian Marxists? Why Stalin and the terror? What next for Russia, China, and the other "emerging" states? Suggested reading: L. Trotsky, "The Revolution Betrayed"
Thu Jan 25, 06-08:00pm, 8-105
The Value of Utopia
This lecture will discuss the legacy of pre-Marxian socialism, ranging from ancient and Mediaeval ideal worlds to the socialist Utopias of the 19th century. What significance do the old dreams of a better world have for the 21st century? What sociological basis did these ideas have in their respective societies? We propose that a study of Utopias can contribute to a scientific understanding of the world today and to the prospect of creating a classless society.
Thu Feb 1, 06-08:00pm, 8-105
The Crisis of Contemporary Science and Dialectics
Alex Steinberg, MA in philosophy.
This talk is about the intellectual crisis that modern science has engendered. What is the crisis about? We'll explore the historical background and discuss why modern scientific thinking is still stuck in the conceptual apparatus created by Galileo and Newton three centuries ago. What are the implications of the new developments in science for philosophy, for contemporary physics, biology, and the social sciences? We will point to a possible resolution of the crisis.
Fri Feb 2, 06-08:00pm, 8-105
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Remembering Seattle One Year On: Legitimacy and Justice in the International Economy
Bala Rajagopal
Wed Jan 31, 02-05:00pm, 2-105
Panel including: Josh Cohen, Prof. of Political Science & Philosophy at MIT, Head of Political Science program and an expert on issues of justice and democracy; Alice Amsden, Prof. of Political Economy at MIT and an expert on comparative economic development issues in North-South relations; Joel Trachtman, Prof. of International Law and Academic Dean, Fletcher School, Tufts Univ. and an expert on international economy and trade issues; Mary King, Doctoral student at UMass/Amherst who participated in pre-mobilization in Seattle last year and does research on global social movements. Coordinated by Bala Rajogopal, Asst. Prof. of Law and Development, MIT and Director, Program on Human Rights and Justice, CIS-DUSP.
Contact: Bala Rajagopal, 3-405, x8-7721, braj@mit.edu
Sponsor: Urban Studies and Planning
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Socialist Party Open House at MIT: A Party for the Party
Craig Abernethy
Thu Jan 18, 07-08:30pm, 66-156
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: A desire for a better world.
Come meet members of the Socialist Party and the Young People's Socialist League; help us plan future activities to build a movement for workers' rights and democratic socialism. Refreshments will be served.
Web: http://sp-usa.org/
Contact: Craig Abernethy, 66-460, x8-0431, baptist@mit.edu
Sponsor: Craig W Abernethy, 66-460, 617 258-0431, baptist@mit.edu
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Socio-Economic Development: A Grassroots Perspective
Nitin Sawhney , Payal Parekh, Shrinaath Chidambaram, Sivarao V. Digavalli (AID-Boston)
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
A series of seminars will critically examine socio-economic development in the context of grassroots organizations and people's movements. Discussions will involve case-studies of efforts by such groups towards tackling inter-related problems of literacy, health, women's empowerment, people's rights, and environment in India.
Web: http://www.media.mit.edu/~nitin/aid/iap/
Contact: Nitin Sawhney, E15-352, x8-5956, nitin@media.mit.edu
Sponsor: Nitin Sawhney, E15-352, 617 258-5956, nsawhney@mit.edu
What Is Development?
Nitin Sawhney, Shrinaath Chidambaram, Dr. Vijay Parsad (Prof. International Affairs, Trinity College)
The first session will be a participative discussion to understand the diverse notions of "development", the critical areas for change and the agents for intervention, such as Government, NGOs and the Market. The discussion will also include an evolving perspective from NGOs working in India.
Thu Jan 11, 06-08:00pm, 4-237
Towards Holistic Development: Case Studies
Sivarao Digavalli, Rajmohan Rajaraman, Srini Veeravanallur (AID-Boston)
In this session, we will consider the inter-related nature of socio-economic problems and why holistic approaches to development are desirable. We will use case studies from areas such as micro-credit, education, and rainwater harvesting to illuminate the conflicting issues of grass-roots intervention. The session includes screening of videos and active discussions with participants.
Thu Jan 18, 06-08:00pm, 4-237
Challenges of Socio-political Change: Case Studies
Payal Parekh, Vinay Kumar, Om Damani (AID-Boston)
This final session will focus primarily on what socio-political change is, how it comes about, and what kinds of forms it can take. We will look particularly at Peoples Movements as a form of addressing socio-political change such as the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) in India.
http://www.narmada.org
Thu Jan 25, 05-07:00pm, 4-231, Note the change in time/venue
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The 2000 Elections: What Happened (and Why)?
James Snyder , Charles Stewart, Stephen Ansolabehere
Mon Jan 22, 11am-12:30pm, E51-395
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
Join us for a discussion of the 2000 Elections. Find out who won the elections and why they won.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Anne Carbone, E53-460, x8-8780, atcarbon@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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The Best Way to Elect the President: The Mathematics of Individual Voting Power and the Vices of Raw Popular Voting in Large Electorates.
Alan Natapoff
Wed Jan 17, 12:30-02:00pm, 37-212
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Our long-lived Electoral College system is better than any ever proposed to replace it. A small adjustment in it would make it as good as any simple system can be. A mathematical analysis rejects the conclusions of the American Bar Association and of the large majority of the Congress that voted to elect the president by simple national popular vote.
Contact: Alan Natapoff, 37-219, 253-7757, natapoff@space.mit.edu
Sponsor: Alan Natapoff, 37-147, 617 253-7757, natapoff@space.mit.edu
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The Oil Crisis of 2000/2001
Center for International Studies , Michael Lynch
Wed Jan 24, 09am-12:00pm, E51-395
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Leading petroleum economists will discuss the recent run-up in prices, the reasons for it, and what it means for the long-term future of the oil market. The role of new petroleum product formulations, changes in OPEC decision-making, and other factors will be covered in detail.
Here is an outline of the topics covered and the panelists participating:
"The Role of new Product Formula Requirements, James l. Foster, Research Affiliate, Center for International Studies
"OPEC and a new Consensus (Again) Frank Parra, Former Secretary-General, OPEC
There is Nothing New Under the Sun, M.A. Adelman, Professor Emeritus, MIT, Economics Department
Contact: Michael Lynch, wildred@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
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Winds of War in the Middle East: What Can We Do?
Josef Brandriss
Mon Jan 29, 08:30-10:00pm, 54-100
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Interested in hearing a new perspective on the Middle East from an expert on the region?
Engage in a discussion with Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum (see the web page for more bio information), covering the consequences of the current Middle East conflict for US policy.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/bpick/pipes
Contact: Josef J. Brandriss, NE20-208, (617) 718-0204, mit-iac@mit.edu
Sponsor: Benjamin A Pick, BEXLEY HALL, 617 225-9641, bpick@mit.edu
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