chaseharmon/MIT_Course_Catalog · Datasets at Hugging Face

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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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.271	Mass Incarceration in the United States	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.276	Public Opinion Research Training Lab	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.	false	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	17.800 or permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	false	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.28[J]	The War at Home: American Politics and Society in Wartime	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	21H.213[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.30[J]	Making Public Policy	Examines how the struggle among competing advocates shapes the outputs of government. Considers how conditions become problems for government to solve, why some political arguments are more persuasive than others, why some policy tools are preferred over others, and whether policies achieve their goals. Investigates the interactions among elected officials, think tanks, interest groups, the media, and the public in controversies over global warming, urban sprawl, Social Security, health care, education, and other issues.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	4-0-8	null	11.002[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	CI-H
17.303[J]	Methods of Policy Analysis	Provides students with an introduction to public policy analysis. Examines various approaches to policy analysis by considering the concepts, tools, and methods used in economics, political science, and other disciplines. Students apply and critique these approaches through case studies of current public policy problems.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	11.002; Coreq: 14.01	11.003[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.307	American Public Policy for Washington Interns	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.	true	Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.309[J]	Science, Technology, and Public Policy	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 when offered concurrently.	true	Fall, Fall	Graduate	4-0-8	null	IDS.055[J], STS.082[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	CI-H
17.310[J]	Science, Technology, and Public Policy	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 when offered concurrently.	true	Fall	Graduate	4-0-8	Permission of instructor	IDS.412[J], STS.482[J]	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.315	Health Policy	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.	false	Spring	Undergraduate	4-0-8	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.317	US Social Policy	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	4-0-8	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.381[J]	Leadership in Negotiation: Advanced Applications	Building on the skills and strategies honed in 11.011, explores advanced negotiation practice. Emphasizes an experiential skill-building approach, underpinned by cutting-edge cases and innovative research. Examines applications in high-stakes management, public policy, social entrepreneurship, international diplomacy, and scientific discovery. Strengthens collaborative decision-making, persuasion, and leadership skills by negotiating across different media and through personalized coaching, enhancing students' ability to proactively engage stakeholders, transform organizations, and inspire communities. Limited by lottery; consult class website for information and deadlines.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	4-0-8	11.011 or permission of instructor	11.111[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	false	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.391[J]	Human Rights at Home and Abroad	Provides a rigorous and critical introduction to the history, foundation, structure, and operation of the human rights movement. Focuses on key ideas, actors, methods and sources, and critically evaluates the field. Addresses current debates in human rights, including the relationship with security, democracy, development and globalization, urbanization, equality (in housing and other economic and social rights; women's rights; ethnic, religious and racial discrimination; and policing/conflict), post-conflict rebuilding and transitional justice, and technology in human rights activism. No prior coursework needed, but work experience, or community service that demonstrates familiarity with global affairs or engagement with ethics and social justice issues, preferred. Students taking graduate version are expected to write a research paper.	false	Fall	Undergraduate	2-0-10	Permission of instructor	11.164[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.393[J]	Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics: Pollution Prevention and Control	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	1.801[J], 11.021[J], IDS.060[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.395[J]	Innovation Systems for Science, Technology, Energy, Manufacturing, and Health	Examines science and technology innovation systems, including case studies on energy, computing, advanced manufacturing, and health sectors. Emphasizes public policy and the federal government's role in that system. Focuses on the US but uses international examples. Reviews foundations of economic growth theory, innovation systems theory, and the basic approaches to science and technology policy. Explores the organization and role of energy and medical science R&D agencies, as well as gaps in those innovation systems. Also addresses the science and technology talent base as a factor in growth, and educational approaches to better support it. Class meets for nine weeks; in the remaining weeks, students work on a final paper due at the end of the term. Limited to 25.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	2-0-7	null	STS.081[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.399[J]	Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy	Focuses on the ways economics and politics influence the fate of energy technologies, business models, and policies around the world. Extends fundamental concepts in the social sciences to case studies and simulations that illustrate how corporate, government, and individual decisions shape energy and environmental outcomes. In a final project, students apply the concepts in order to assess the prospects for an energy innovation to scale and advance sustainability goals in a particular regional market. Recommended prerequisite: 14.01. Meets with 15.219 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details. Preference to juniors, seniors, and Energy Minors.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	11.167[J], 14.47[J], 15.2191[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.40	American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future	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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	CI-H
17.407	Chinese Foreign Policy	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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.408	Chinese Foreign Policy	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.	false	Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.41	Introduction to International Relations	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.	true	Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	CI-H
17.410	Globalization, Migration, and International Relations	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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.411	Globalization, Migration, and International Relations	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.	false	Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.416	Theoretical Models in International Relations and Comparative Politics	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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.42	Causes and Prevention of War	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	4-0-8	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	CI-H
17.420	Advances in International Relations Theory	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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.424	International Political Economy of Advanced Industrial Societies	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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.426	Empirical Models in International Relations and Comparative Politics	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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	17.802 or permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.433	International Relations of East Asia	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.434	International Relations of East Asia	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.	false	Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.445	International Relations Theory in the Cyber Age	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.446	International Relations Theory in the Cyber Age	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.	false	Spring, Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.447[J]	Cybersecurity	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	IDS.050[J], MAS.460[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.448[J]	Cybersecurity	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.	false	Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	IDS.350[J], MAS.660[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	false	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.452	Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: Deliverance, Delusion, or Both	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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.456	The International Politics of Emerging Technology (New)	Provides an in-depth survey of the international political and security implications of new technologies. Explores emerging technologies as both a dependent and independent variable. Readings and discussion assess the factors that contribute to military innovation and the proliferation of new technologies and analyze technology's effects on international politics.	false	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	false	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.473	Nuclear Strategy and 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.	false	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.474[J]	Nuclear Weapons and International Security	Examines the historical, political, and technical contexts for nuclear policy making, including the development of nuclear weapons by states, the evolution of nuclear strategy, the role nuclear weapons play in international politics, the risks posed by nuclear arsenals, and the policies and strategies in place to mitigate those risks. Equal emphasis is given to political and technical considerations affecting national choices. Considers the issues surrounding new non-proliferation strategies, nuclear security, and next steps for arms control.	false	Spring	Graduate	4-0-8	null	22.814[J]	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.482	US Military Power	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.	false	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.483	US Military Power	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.	false	Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	Freshmen need permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	false	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	CI-H
17.503	How Dictatorship Works	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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	false	Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.517	Political Utopias and Dystopias	Explores fundamental questions about equality, freedom, privacy, community, and popular accountability through representation of idealized or horrific political systems. Focuses on classic, time-tested novels paired with short pieces on real-world cases that address key themes in the fictional treatment.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.537	Politics and Policy in Contemporary Japan	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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.538	Politics and Policy in Contemporary Japan	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.	true	Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.55[J]	Introduction to Latin American Studies	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.	false	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	21A.130[J], 21G.084[J], 21H.170[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	CI-H
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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.565	Israel: History, Politics, Culture, and Identity	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.567	Israel: History, Politics, Culture, and Identity	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.	true	IAP	Undergraduate	3-0-6	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	false	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.57[J]	Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society: 1917 to the Present	Explores the political and historical evolution of the Soviet state and society from the 1917 Revolution to the present. Covers the creation of a revolutionary regime, causes and nature of the Stalin revolution, post-Stalinist efforts to achieve political and social reform, and causes of the Soviet collapse. Also examines current developments in Russia in light of Soviet history. Enrollment limited.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	21G.086[J], 21H.245[J]	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	CI-H
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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.577	Electoral Politics in the Developing World	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.	false	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.591	Research Seminar in Applied International Studies	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.800	Quantitative Research Methods I: Regression	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.	true	Fall	Graduate	4-0-8	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.801	Political Science Scope and Methods	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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.802	Quantitative Research Methods II: Causal Inference	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.	true	Spring	Graduate	4-0-8	17.800, 17.803, or permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.803	Political Science Laboratory	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.	true	Spring	Undergraduate	3-6-6	17.801 or permission of instructor	null	true	false	false	False	False	False
17.804	Quantitative Research Methods III: Generalized Linear Models and Extensions	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.	true	Fall	Graduate	4-0-8	17.802 or permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.806	Quantitative Research Methods IV: Advanced Topics	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.	true	Spring	Graduate	4-0-8	17.804 or permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.810	Game Theory and Political Theory	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.	true	Spring	Graduate	4-0-8	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.811	Game Theory and Political Theory	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.	true	Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring	Undergraduate	4-0-8	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.831	Data and Politics	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.	false	Spring	Undergraduate	3-0-9	null	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
17.835	Machine Learning and Data Science in Politics	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.	true	Fall	Undergraduate	4-0-8	6.100A or permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	Social Sciences	False
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.	true	Fall	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False
17.860	How to Theory (New)	Workshop-based subject providing an overview of how to construct a theoretical argument through a mix of conceptual examination and practical application. Examines different components and aspects of theory building, allowing students to refine their own proto-theories and develop their completed theoretical propositions. Complements subjects in research design as well as qualitative and quantitative methods. Project proposal required.	false	Spring	Graduate	3-0-9	Permission of instructor	null	false	false	false	False	False	False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.271

Mass Incarceration in the United States

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.276

Public Opinion Research Training Lab

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.

false

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

17.800 or permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

false

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.28[J]

The War at Home: American Politics and Society in Wartime

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

21H.213[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.30[J]

Making Public Policy

Examines how the struggle among competing advocates shapes the outputs of government. Considers how conditions become problems for government to solve, why some political arguments are more persuasive than others, why some policy tools are preferred over others, and whether policies achieve their goals. Investigates the interactions among elected officials, think tanks, interest groups, the media, and the public in controversies over global warming, urban sprawl, Social Security, health care, education, and other issues.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

4-0-8

null

11.002[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

CI-H

17.303[J]

Methods of Policy Analysis

Provides students with an introduction to public policy analysis. Examines various approaches to policy analysis by considering the concepts, tools, and methods used in economics, political science, and other disciplines. Students apply and critique these approaches through case studies of current public policy problems.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

11.002; Coreq: 14.01

11.003[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.307

American Public Policy for Washington Interns

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.

true

Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.309[J]

Science, Technology, and Public Policy

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 when offered concurrently.

true

Fall, Fall

Graduate

4-0-8

null

IDS.055[J], STS.082[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

CI-H

17.310[J]

Science, Technology, and Public Policy

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 when offered concurrently.

true

Fall

Graduate

4-0-8

Permission of instructor

IDS.412[J], STS.482[J]

false

False

17.315

Health Policy

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.

false

Spring

Undergraduate

4-0-8

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.317

US Social Policy

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

4-0-8

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.381[J]

Leadership in Negotiation: Advanced Applications

Building on the skills and strategies honed in 11.011, explores advanced negotiation practice. Emphasizes an experiential skill-building approach, underpinned by cutting-edge cases and innovative research. Examines applications in high-stakes management, public policy, social entrepreneurship, international diplomacy, and scientific discovery. Strengthens collaborative decision-making, persuasion, and leadership skills by negotiating across different media and through personalized coaching, enhancing students' ability to proactively engage stakeholders, transform organizations, and inspire communities. Limited by lottery; consult class website for information and deadlines.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

4-0-8

11.011 or permission of instructor

11.111[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

false

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.391[J]

Human Rights at Home and Abroad

Provides a rigorous and critical introduction to the history, foundation, structure, and operation of the human rights movement. Focuses on key ideas, actors, methods and sources, and critically evaluates the field. Addresses current debates in human rights, including the relationship with security, democracy, development and globalization, urbanization, equality (in housing and other economic and social rights; women's rights; ethnic, religious and racial discrimination; and policing/conflict), post-conflict rebuilding and transitional justice, and technology in human rights activism. No prior coursework needed, but work experience, or community service that demonstrates familiarity with global affairs or engagement with ethics and social justice issues, preferred. Students taking graduate version are expected to write a research paper.

false

Fall

Undergraduate

2-0-10

Permission of instructor

11.164[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.393[J]

Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics: Pollution Prevention and Control

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

1.801[J], 11.021[J], IDS.060[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.395[J]

Innovation Systems for Science, Technology, Energy, Manufacturing, and Health

Examines science and technology innovation systems, including case studies on energy, computing, advanced manufacturing, and health sectors. Emphasizes public policy and the federal government's role in that system. Focuses on the US but uses international examples. Reviews foundations of economic growth theory, innovation systems theory, and the basic approaches to science and technology policy. Explores the organization and role of energy and medical science R&D agencies, as well as gaps in those innovation systems. Also addresses the science and technology talent base as a factor in growth, and educational approaches to better support it. Class meets for nine weeks; in the remaining weeks, students work on a final paper due at the end of the term. Limited to 25.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

2-0-7

null

STS.081[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.399[J]

Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy

Focuses on the ways economics and politics influence the fate of energy technologies, business models, and policies around the world. Extends fundamental concepts in the social sciences to case studies and simulations that illustrate how corporate, government, and individual decisions shape energy and environmental outcomes. In a final project, students apply the concepts in order to assess the prospects for an energy innovation to scale and advance sustainability goals in a particular regional market. Recommended prerequisite: 14.01. Meets with 15.219 when offered concurrently. Expectations and evaluation criteria differ for students taking graduate version; consult syllabus or instructor for specific details. Preference to juniors, seniors, and Energy Minors.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

11.167[J], 14.47[J], 15.2191[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.40

American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

CI-H

17.407

Chinese Foreign Policy

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.408

Chinese Foreign Policy

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.

false

Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.41

Introduction to International Relations

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.

true

Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

CI-H

17.410

Globalization, Migration, and International Relations

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.411

Globalization, Migration, and International Relations

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.

false

Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.416

Theoretical Models in International Relations and Comparative Politics

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.42

Causes and Prevention of War

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

4-0-8

null

false

False

Social Sciences

CI-H

17.420

Advances in International Relations Theory

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.424

International Political Economy of Advanced Industrial Societies

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.426

Empirical Models in International Relations and Comparative Politics

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

17.802 or permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.433

International Relations of East Asia

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.434

International Relations of East Asia

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.

false

Spring, Spring, Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.445

International Relations Theory in the Cyber Age

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.446

International Relations Theory in the Cyber Age

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.

false

Spring, Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.447[J]

Cybersecurity

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

IDS.050[J], MAS.460[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.448[J]

Cybersecurity

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.

false

Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

IDS.350[J], MAS.660[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

false

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.452

Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: Deliverance, Delusion, or Both

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.456

The International Politics of Emerging Technology (New)

Provides an in-depth survey of the international political and security implications of new technologies. Explores emerging technologies as both a dependent and independent variable. Readings and discussion assess the factors that contribute to military innovation and the proliferation of new technologies and analyze technology's effects on international politics.

false

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

false

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.473

Nuclear Strategy and 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.

false

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.474[J]

Nuclear Weapons and International Security

Examines the historical, political, and technical contexts for nuclear policy making, including the development of nuclear weapons by states, the evolution of nuclear strategy, the role nuclear weapons play in international politics, the risks posed by nuclear arsenals, and the policies and strategies in place to mitigate those risks. Equal emphasis is given to political and technical considerations affecting national choices. Considers the issues surrounding new non-proliferation strategies, nuclear security, and next steps for arms control.

false

Spring

Graduate

4-0-8

null

22.814[J]

false

False

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.482

US Military Power

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.

false

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.483

US Military Power

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.

false

Spring, Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

Freshmen need permission of instructor

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

false

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

CI-H

17.503

How Dictatorship Works

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

false

Fall, Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.517

Political Utopias and Dystopias

Explores fundamental questions about equality, freedom, privacy, community, and popular accountability through representation of idealized or horrific political systems. Focuses on classic, time-tested novels paired with short pieces on real-world cases that address key themes in the fictional treatment.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.537

Politics and Policy in Contemporary Japan

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.538

Politics and Policy in Contemporary Japan

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.

true

Fall, Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.55[J]

Introduction to Latin American Studies

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.

false

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

21A.130[J], 21G.084[J], 21H.170[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

CI-H

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.565

Israel: History, Politics, Culture, and Identity

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.567

Israel: History, Politics, Culture, and Identity

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.

true

IAP

Undergraduate

3-0-6

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

false

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.57[J]

Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society: 1917 to the Present

Explores the political and historical evolution of the Soviet state and society from the 1917 Revolution to the present. Covers the creation of a revolutionary regime, causes and nature of the Stalin revolution, post-Stalinist efforts to achieve political and social reform, and causes of the Soviet collapse. Also examines current developments in Russia in light of Soviet history. Enrollment limited.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

21G.086[J], 21H.245[J]

false

False

Social Sciences

CI-H

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.577

Electoral Politics in the Developing World

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.

false

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.591

Research Seminar in Applied International Studies

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.800

Quantitative Research Methods I: Regression

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

4-0-8

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.801

Political Science Scope and Methods

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.802

Quantitative Research Methods II: Causal Inference

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

4-0-8

17.800, 17.803, or permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.803

Political Science Laboratory

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.

true

Spring

Undergraduate

3-6-6

17.801 or permission of instructor

null

true

false

False

17.804

Quantitative Research Methods III: Generalized Linear Models and Extensions

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

4-0-8

17.802 or permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.806

Quantitative Research Methods IV: Advanced Topics

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

4-0-8

17.804 or permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.810

Game Theory and Political Theory

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.

true

Spring

Graduate

4-0-8

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.811

Game Theory and Political Theory

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.

true

Spring, Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

4-0-8

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.831

Data and Politics

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.

false

Spring

Undergraduate

3-0-9

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

17.835

Machine Learning and Data Science in Politics

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.

true

Fall

Undergraduate

4-0-8

6.100A or permission of instructor

null

false

False

Social Sciences

False

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.

true

Fall

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False

17.860

How to Theory (New)

Workshop-based subject providing an overview of how to construct a theoretical argument through a mix of conceptual examination and practical application. Examines different components and aspects of theory building, allowing students to refine their own proto-theories and develop their completed theoretical propositions. Complements subjects in research design as well as qualitative and quantitative methods. Project proposal required.

false

Spring

Graduate

3-0-9

Permission of instructor

null

false

False