"Axis of Evil" Seminar Series
Roger Petersen
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
President Bush has identified North Korea, Iran and Iraq as an "axis of evil." How and why did these states make this list, should they be or remain on it, how should the international community respond? The Political Science Department will address these questions in three sessions, one devoted to each country.
Contact: Roger Petersen, E53-487, x3-6781, rpeters@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
Iran
Roger Petersen
Tue Jan 21, 01-03:00pm, 4-163
Iraq
Roger Petersen
Wed Jan 22, 01-03:00pm, 4-163
North Korea
Roger Petersen
Thu Jan 23, 01-03:00pm, 4-163
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Alexander the Great and His Conquest: West Against East?
Andronike Makres, Konstantinos Tsakonas
Mon Jan 13 thru Fri Jan 17, 11am-01:30pm, 3-133
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 13-Jan-2003
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: None. Ref. book: 'The Campaigns of Alexander' by Arrian
The course will examine the campaigns of Alexander the Great (354-323 B.C.) using as primary source Arrian’ s (85-124 A.D.) account in translation. Alexander’s expedition will be discussed as an attempt to disseminate Greek culture and values in the east, the so- called Hellenization of the East. At the same time, however, eastern values and practices diluted the original intent as well as momentum of the expedition and fascinated Alexander himself. This shift of attitude contributed to the glorious operation’s number of crises and eventually compromised it.
Special events: Guest speaker Partha Bose, senior partner and CMO of Monitor company will discuss a chapter of his upcoming book on Alexander's art of strategy. Screenwriter Ted Tally (Silence of the Lambs) will be available on email Q&A to discuss his script of the upcoming Alexander movie (Luhrman, Scorcese, DiCaprio)
Poster design: Sotirios Kotsopoulos
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mit-greece/www/index.htm
Contact: IAP sign-up, mitgreece@mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT-Greece Working Group
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An Urgent Matter: Planning Knowledge, Strategy and Action for Tomorrow
John deMonchaux
Tue Jan 28, Wed Jan 29, 10am-05:00pm, Room 10-401
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Seminar will address the urgent urban and social issues challenging the eleven countries represented this year in the SPURS (Special Program in Urban & Regional Studies)/Humphrey Program.
Contact: Rodrigo Serrano, 10-400, x3-5915, rserrano@mit.edu
Sponsor: Urban Studies and Planning
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Analyzing the Mid-Term Elections of 2002
Charles Stewart, Stephen Ansolabehere, James Snyder
Tue Jan 21, 11am-12:30pm, E51-145
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Roundtable discussion of the 2002 mid-term elections. What happened and why? What does this mean for the 2004 elections?
Contact: Tobie Weiner, E53-484, x3-3649, iguanatw@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
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Campaign Finance Reform
Aaron Strauss
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Join us for a 2-session series on Campaign Finance Reform. The first session will focus on federal law and the second will cover Massachusetts Clean Elections. This activity is co-sponsored by the MIT College Democrats
Contact: Aaron Strauss, aaronbs@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
Campaign Finance Reform: Federal Law
Aaron Strauss
Learn about the new McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. How will it limit corruption? Are there any loopholes? Who wins? Who loses? What are the implications to the average voter? This 1-hour session promises to be information-packed.
Mon Jan 13, 04-05:00pm, 56-114
Massachusetts Clean Elections
Aaron Strauss
Why should your tax dollars go to fund politicians? Learn about the Massachusetts "Clean Election" law. Warren Tolman, first statewide clean elections candidate, will be speaking about his experience of campaigning under the law. Hear the pros and cons of publicly-financed elections. Come join us in this lively and relevant debate!
Mon Jan 27, 04-05:30pm, 56-114
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Catching Up, Keeping Pace, or Falling Behind? China's Rise as a Manufacturing Powerhouse
Ed Steinfeld
Wed Jan 8, 11am-01:00pm, E51-145
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
China has risen to become one of the largest industrial manufacturers worldwide. Virtually everything today seems to bear the label, "Made in China," whether socks or semiconductors. What are the implications of this for China's overall power, economic and otherwise? What are the implications for those of us outside China? Should we encourage this trend or work to impede it?
Contact: Ed Steinfeld, E53-456, x3-4130, edstein@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
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Intermediate Social Science Data: Hands-on Update
Katherine McNeill-Harman
Mon Jan 13, 03-04:00pm, 14N-132
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 10-Jan-2003
Limited to 20 participants.
Single session event
Get a hands-on update of MIT's social science data resources. This interactive workshop will review major sources for social science data and update you on recent changes to tools such as the Harvard-MIT Data Center. This session is intended for researchers seeking an update of social science data resources.
Web: http://libraries.mit.edu/dewey/data/
Contact: Katherine McNeill-Harman, E53-100, x3-0787, mcneillh@mit.edu
Sponsor: Libraries
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International Migration and Economic Development
Anna Hardman
Wed Jan 29, Thu Jan 30, 11am-01:00pm, Room 4-251
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
International migration is a growing feature of the global economy; migrants' savings are an important source of income and savings for their families and of foreign exchange for countries of origin. First session on impacts on sending countries; second session on impact on host countries. Bring a brown bag lunch.
Contact: Anna Hardman, 10-404, x3-4512, ahardman@mit.edu
Sponsor: Urban Studies and Planning
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Introduction to Social Science Data at MIT
Katherine McNeill-Harman
Mon Jan 13, 11am-12:00pm, E51-372
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Come learn how you can find and use social science data at MIT. This workshop will provide an overview of the types of social science data available, where you can locate it, and resources on campus to help you in your research process.
Web: http://libraries.mit.edu/dewey/data/
Contact: Katherine McNeill-Harman, E53-100, x3-0787, mcneillh@mit.edu
Sponsor: Libraries
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Joint Operations and Crisis Action Planning
Colonel Brooks Brewington, USMC
Tue Jan 28 thru Fri Jan 31, 09am-05:00pm, E38-714
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Joint Operations Planning Course is a synoptic look at how the US armed forces support the achievement of national strategic aims in a changing strategic environment. It discusses: National security structure and organization, the Joint Strategic Planning System, capabilities and limitations of the DoD Armed Services and Special Operations forces, crisis action procedures in time-sensitive situations, and the challenges of dedicating military force in complex-humanitarian operations. The course ends with a humanitarian assistance staff planning simulation with seminar members assigned to key positions. The course will be of particular interest to students studying strategic studies, international relations, political science, and for students and faculty associated with the military. Presented by the Security Studies Program of the Center for International Studies in collaboration with the Department of Political Science.
Contact: Colonel Brooks Brewington, USMC, E38-670, 258-9440, brb@mit.edu
Sponsor: Center for International Studies
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MIT Washington Summer Internship Program Information Sessions
Charles Stewart, Tobie Weiner
Thu Jan 16, 03-04:00pm, 4-145
Wed Jan 22, 10-11:00am, 4-145
Tue Jan 28, 01-02:00pm, 4-145
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 one.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/summerwash/www
Contact: Tobie Weiner, E53-484, x3-3649, iguanatw@mit.edu
Sponsor: Political Science
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MIT's First Seminar on Korean Sociology, Literature, and History
Ashley Kim, Peter C. Perdue
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Learn about the third largest country in East Asia! This seminar series will feature speakers from Boston College, Harvard, MIT, and Queens College who will give an introduction to the study of Korean sociology, literature, and history. There will also be performances by MIT student groups that focus on Korean culture, such as the Sport Tae Kwon Do Club and Oori, a Korean traditional drumming group. These presentations will be followed by an interactive Q&A session and a reception with free Korean food.
Contact: Ashley Kim, Bexley 209A, 225-9629, ashleyk@mit.edu
Sponsor: History
"Ethnic Identity Among Second-Generation Asian Americans"
Ashley Kim, Peter C. Perdue
Speakers: Pyong Gap Min, Professor of Sociology at Queens College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Areas of his research and teaching are immigration, ethnicity, ethnic business, women's gender role, and immigrants' religions, especially those of Asian Americans. Min Hyoung Song, Professor of English, Boston College, "Korean Americans and Diaspora". He specializes in Asian American and ethnic American literature.
Wed Jan 8, 07-09:00pm, 2-105
"The Making of a Korean American Writer"
Ashley Kim, Peter C. Perdue
Speakers: Ty Pak, author of "Cry Korea Cry"; David McCann, Korea Foundation Professor of Korean Literature, Harvard University. Presentation by the Sport Tae Kwon Do Club.
Wed Jan 22, 07-09:00pm, 2-105
"Korean History, Marginalization and Integration"
Ashley Kim, Peter C. Perdue
Speakers: Sun Joo Kim, Asst. Professor of Korean History, Harvard University; Peter C. Perdue, T.T. and Wei Fong Chao Professor of Asian Civilizations, MIT, "Placing Korea in East Asian and World History". Performance by MIT Oori.
Wed Jan 29, 07-09:00pm, 2-105
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Marxism Today
Felix Kreisel
Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 25 participants.
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: read the World Socialist Web Site at http://www.wsws.org
The new post-September 11th world order is characterized by political instability throughout the world, stagnation in advanced capitalist countries, desperation in much of Africa, Latin America and Asia, and an aggressive eruption of American imperialism. These classes will present a Marxist perspective on some of the major issues in history, politics, and philosophy. Not content with a simplistic review of the current political scene, we plan to deal with some philosophical and historical issues arising from today's intellectual climate.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/fjk/Public/iap/
Contact: Felix Kreisel, 1-132, x3-8625, fjk@mit.edu
Sponsor: Felix Kreisel, NW21-207, 617 253-8625, fjk@psfc.mit.edu
Revolutionary Marxism Today: World Socialist Web Site and Iskra Research
Felix Kreisel
A presentation of the World Socialist Web Site, a daily Marxist news journal available in many languages, and Iskra Research, a Russian language Marxist publisher in print and on the web. Suggested reading: http://www.wsws.org/
Tue Jan 7, 06-08:00pm, 1-132
Stephen J. Gould's Recasting of Darwinism: An Assessment
Alex Steiner
We shall explore the evolution revolution championed by the late Stephen J. Gould: the weakness of traditional Darwinism, Gould's rejoinder to modern reductionist theories of human behavior, and Gould's challenge to Darwinian fundamentalism.
Fri Jan 10, 11am-01:00pm, 1-132
Two Imperialisms, Roman and American: Comparison and a View to the Future
Alex English
The "Bush Doctrine" of preemptive US military action represents a turning point in American imperialism. We will examine the imperialism of the Roman Empire and Pax Romana in an effort to understand today's resurgence of colonialism and war.
Tue Jan 14, 06-08:00pm, 1-132
Russia's Capitalist Decade
Felix Kreisel
Balance sheet of eleven years following the restoration of capitalism in the former Soviet Union. Which way forward for Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia?
Tue Jan 21, 06-08:00pm, 1-132
The 1917 Russian Revolution: Was Socialism Doomed?
Felix Kreisel
We shall examine the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the contradictory development of the Soviet Union. Suggested reading: Trotsky's "History of the Russian Revolution" and "The Revolution Betrayed."
Tue Jan 28, 06-08:00pm, 1-132
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Monday Night Movies
Anna Bershteyn
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
We will show 4 feature films that examine aspects of life in the Americas. Our discussion (with surprise guests) will address the narrative in each film plus the relevant history and politics. Discussion will be led by Stephen Brophy, a writer, movie reviewer, and film instructor; and by Jeff Ravel, a historian.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/hemisphere/events/
Contact: MIT Western Hemisphere Project, hemisphere-admin@mit.edu
Sponsor: Western Hemisphere Project
"Four Days in September" (1998)
Anna Bershteyn
In 1964 a military coup ousted the democratic government of Brazil: the generals imposed a right-wing dictatorship. In the ensuing years of terror, hundreds of civilians were killed, and thousands were tortured or disappeared. In September 1969, a small leftist group -- the MR-8 -- decided to challenge the generals. What was their plan? To kidnap the US Ambassador, Charles Elbrick.
Bruno Barreto's film, based on a book by a member of MR-8, was nominated for an Academy Award (Best Foreign Film, 1998). It stars Pedro Cardoso, Fernanda Torres, and Alan Arkin. In the words of reviewer Jim Ridley: "[The film] avoids agitprop speech-making and espionage-thriller cliches. And its moral stance, which refuses to condone terrorism in the name of either oppression or democracy, has quiet integrity." When the film premiered in New York, the writer, by then a member of the Green Party and elected to the Brazilian national Congress, was denied an entry visa by the US Embassy.
Mon Jan 6, 07-09:00pm, 2-105
"Sugar Cane Alley" (1983)
Anna Bershteyn
The word "Martinique" probably conjures up images of glorious Caribbean vacations. A vacation is decidedly what Ma Tine is not having in this film: she does back-breaking work in the sugar-cane fields so that her grandson can have a real education and a better life. The story is a familiar one to billions of impoverished people around the world, but director Euzhan Palcy's film, set between WWI and WWII, gives us a rare and precious glimpse into the social history of her ancestors and compatriots.
Mon Jan 13, 07-09:00pm, MIT 2-105
"Los Hombres Armados" (1998)
Anna Bershteyn
To put it bluntly: Central America has been ravaged by "Men with Guns." They don't believe in humanitarians or neutrality. If you're not with them, you're against them -- or dead. In this film about a professor's search for the medical students he sent out to do good in the world, director John Sayles helps us see what happens in a land ruled by los hombres armados.
Mon Jan 20, 07-09:00pm, 2-105
"Missing" (1982)
Anna Bershteyn
Based on a true story, "Missing" illustrates US support for fascism abroad. The Chilean military overthrows the elected government in 1973 and begins a reign of terror. When Charlie Horman, an American journalist, vanishes and the US Embassy won't help his family find him, hints of the truth emerge. When director Constantine Costa-Gavras pre-screened this film here at MIT twenty years ago, the room was packed. We won't have him here this time around, but we will be joined by someone who actually knew Charlie Horman and worked with him in Chile ...
Mon Jan 27, 07-09:00pm, 2-105
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Operations Research Applied to Homeland Security
Richard C. Larson, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Arnold Barnett, Professor of Management Science
Thu Jan 23, Fri Jan 24, 10am-12:00pm, E40 - 298
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 15-Jan-2003
Limited to 50 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: None
Homeland Security has been the focus of recent publications from the National Research Council (NRC) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). These reports advocate Operations Research as an important tool for addressing many problems in this arena; however, many of these problem areas have received very little serious study. Day 1 will begin with a review of relevant problem areas from the reports; we will then break out into groups to frame, formulate and suggest a plan towards addressing these problems. Day 2 will feature oral briefings from each group on their findings.
Contact: Lincoln Chandler, Maxime Phomma, Ping Xu, E40-130, ljc@mit.edu,phomma@mit.edu, pingx@mit.edu
Sponsor: Operations Research Center
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Pro-Choice Double Feature Night
Peter Miller, Dinsha Mistree
Wed Jan 22, 06-10:00pm, 1-132
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
This movie night is sponsored by MIT Pro-Choice in order to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Starting at 6pm, we will be screening "Dogma" followed by "From Danger To Dignity."
Contact: Nisha Gulati, ngulati@mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Students for Choice/MIT Pro-Choice
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Science, Technology and Planning in India
Abha Sur
Tue Jan 28, Thu Jan 30, 01-04:00pm, Room 3-405/405A
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Will provide a brief overview of policy and planning of science and technology in post-colonial India. Will situate specific case studies such as the nuclear energy program, the issue of the Narmada dam, and the IT industry in the context of development and distribution of resources in India. Preregistration recommended but not required.
Contact: Kathy Hoag, 7-337, x3-1907, dusphq@mit.edu
Sponsor: Urban Studies and Planning
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Strategy and Politics in Developing Affordable Housing
Louise Elving , MCP/MIT
Tue Jan 21, Wed Jan 22, 04-05:30pm, Room 3-403
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
PLEASE NOTE: THIS ACTIVITY HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO APRIL 2003. PLEASE CONTACT dusphq@mit.edu FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Lectures will analyze major strategic and political choices that typically arise in process of developing affordable (and mixed-income) housing. Will present examples from successful projects employing effective approaches. Preregistration recommended, but not required.
Contact: Kathy Hoag, 7-337, x3-1907, dusphq@mit.edu
Sponsor: Urban Studies and Planning
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The New Congress and US Foreign Policy
Prof. Charles Stewart
Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 100 participants.
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
With the 108th Congress taking office, what will US foreign policy be in 2003? What will the impact be on our neighbors and the rest of the world? Prof. Charles Stewart, an expert on congressional politics, will help lead our discussions with: guests who have served in the Congress, the Cabinet, and the White House; experts in various subjects; & grassroots activists who have worked with communities around the world.
UPDATE (Jan. 15): We are now using larger rooms. To join us if you have not pre-registered, please sign up (http://web.mit.edu/hemisphere/feedback/c108-reg.shtml) so that you can be notified of the location for each remaining session. We also encourage you to arrive early for each session.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/hemisphere/events/congress108.shtml
Contact: MIT Western Hemisphere Project, hemisphere-admin@mit.edu
Sponsor: Western Hemisphere Project
Issues and Directions: National Security
Prof. Charles Stewart
We will examine US national security policy in the Western Hemisphere; and other important foreign-policy issues, ranging from war in the Middle East to homeland security to ballistic missile defense and proliferation of weapons and fissile materials. We will also look at how NGOs and activists organize around security issues and how they work to affect Congressional actions.
Guests include Joe Gerson (American Friends Service Committee); Liz Gronlund (Union of Concerned Scientists); Juliette Kayyem and Jeremy Pressman (Harvard); and Allison Macfarlane and Steve Van Evera (MIT).
For more details, see http://web.mit.edu/hemisphere/events/congress108-ns.shtml
Thu Jan 9, 07-09:00pm, 1-150
Issues and Directions: Trade, Environment, Globalization
Prof. Charles Stewart
Our discussion will examine US international finance and investment policy in the Western Hemisphere; and various other foreign-policy issues dealing with "globalization," ranging from trade and embargoes to labor laws and environmental enforcement.
Among our guests are economist Robert Z. Lawrence, who served in the Clinton White House; Nick Ashford, Director of the Technology & Law Program at MIT; Patrick Keaney, manager of Jill Stein's recent gubernatorial campaign (Green Party); Catherine Benedict of the Boston Global Action Network; and pediatrician Michael Yogman (Harvard Medical School), who recently visited Cuba.
For more details, see http://web.mit.edu/hemisphere/events/congress108-te.shtml
Thu Jan 16, 07-09:00pm, W31-301 (Dupont)
Issues and Directions: Human Rights
Prof. Charles Stewart
We will look at the role that human rights plays in Washington's bilateral relationships in Latin America and the Caribbean; the rights of indigenous peoples; US intervention in Colombia; the forty-year embargo against Cuba; immigration and asylum policy and the rights of prisoners taken in combat; and other issues.
Guests this week include Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Mass.); Margaret Burnham, professor of law at Northeastern University; Kevin Batt, anthropologist, attorney, and member of Tonantzin (the Boston Committee to Support the Native Peoples of Mexico); and Julieta Lemaitre (Universidad de los Andes), whose work is in women's rights and reproductive rights.
For a comlete list of panelists and other details, see http://web.mit.edu/hemisphere/events/congress108-hr.shtml
Thu Jan 23, 07-09:00pm, 66-110
Lessons from the Hill
Prof. Charles Stewart
Our guests served in the US Congress for a total of 34 years: Mickey Edwards as a conservative Republican and Dan Glickman as a liberal Democrat; Glickman also served in President Clinton's Cabinet.
UPDATE (Jan. 15): We will also be joined by Juan Orduz, former Deputy Chief of Mission at the Colombian Embassy in Washington.
Our discussion with our guests will focus on their experience in Washington: how members of Congress analyze foreign-policy issues; how constituency interests are often traded off against party and national interests; and how alliances are made across district lines, across the aisle, and with the Executive branch. As far as possible we will look at the composition of the new Congress; and at how members of Congress relate to the diplomats, lobbyists, NGOs, and activists who work to affect their actions.
For more details, see http://web.mit.edu/hemisphere/events/congress108-lh.shtml
Thu Jan 30, 07-09:00pm, 66-110
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The Wisdom of the Electoral College Now and in 2000: How the Law of Large Numbers Destroys Voting Power Under a Simple Raw Popular Vote.
Alan Natapoff
Wed Jan 15, 04-05:30pm, 37-212
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
We will look at the way in which electoral systems promote or
destroy individual voting power-- including mathematical results that show that without districting, large electorates cannot provide voting power for their voters. The state-districted Electoral College system provides that power; with a small change, it could empower millions of impotent voters in several states. We'll trace the anomalies that have enlivened this debate and examine the anti-trust aspect of electoral laws and their analogy to the rules of baseball: Both sets of rules try to compel fine-grained competition despite the obstacles of a large-statistics environment. In the end, the analysis rejects the view of the American Bar Association, the League of Women Voters, and the majority of Congress whose vote nearly destroyed the individual's voting power.
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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