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ssp-mit.bsky.social
Security Studies Program MIT
@ssp-mit.bsky.social
200 followers 49 following 310 posts
The Security Studies Program at MIT is a graduate-level research and educational program based at the Center for International Studies at MIT.
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ssp-mit.bsky.social
In the upcoming Focus on Eurasia, Fiona Hill, senior fellow @brookings.edu, and MIT’s Carol Saivetz and Elizabeth Wood discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine. Sponsored by MIT Center for International Studies, MIT-Eurasia, and SSP.

Register for this online event now!
calendar.mit.edu/event/a-conv...
November 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
“For international relations and security studies scholars, the continued reluctance by nuclear-armed states to employ their arsenals – even when fighting and losing major wars – remains a significant puzzle,” write @laurensukin.bsky.social, @herzogsm.bsky.social, @smetanamichal.bsky.social, & (1/2)
November 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
Recently SSP hosted the Honorable Kathleen Hicks, former Deputy Secretary of Defense & SSP alum, for a fireside chat. Dr. Hicks covered a range of issues including the future of warfare, China’s nuclear modernization, & civil-military relations.

Thank you, Dr. Hicks, for an engaging conversation!
Kathleen Hicks Taylor Fravel and Kathleen Hicks Taylor and Kathleen seated in conversation at the front of a group of attendees People talking during sunset
November 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
SSP faculty member Richard Nielsen was named faculty director of the MIT-MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Program. Nielsen’s field of expertise includes Middle East politics, international relations, religion, gender, and political violence.

Congratulations, Rich!
November 18, 2025 at 9:45 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
In tomorrow’s Wednesday Seminar, Jeffrey Rathke, president of the American-German Institute, discusses recent transformations of German Security and defense policy.

📡Bookmark the livestream: https://youtube.com/live/UMqxoBsKT7w?feature=share
November 18, 2025 at 2:58 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
Thank you, Rebeccah Heinrichs, for your discussion on “Deterring Two Nuclear Peers and the New Consensus” during last week’s Wednesday Seminar. And thanks to Vipin Narang for guest hosting this thoughtful dialogue.
ICYMI catch up with conversation with the recorded stream youtube.com/live/7MjY8qx...
November 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
Applications are still open for the 2026-27 Stanton Nuclear Security Fellows.
We are looking for the next generation of thought leaders in nuclear security by supporting research that will advance policy-relevant understanding of the subject.
Information & application: https://bit.ly/49pFR0S
November 17, 2025 at 3:43 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
SSP faculty member and Wargaming Lab co-director Erik Lin-Greenberg’s new book “The Remote Revolution: Drones and Modern Statecraft” studies drone use and its impact on military and state action.
Read more about Lin-Greenberg’s new book in MIT News: news.mit.edu/2025/how-dro...
November 14, 2025 at 8:53 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
In our upcoming Wednesday Seminar, Jeffrey Rathke discusses recent transformations of German Security & defense policy, focusing on changes under the Merz government & the ongoing challenges facing the German armed forces.
📡Bookmark the livestream
ssp.mit.edu/events/2025/...
@amgerinst.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 6:44 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
The Security Studies Program at MIT invites post-doctoral or junior faculty scholars of European security to apply for a one-year residential fellowship, the European Security Policy Fellow, for the 2026-27 academic year.
Info + application: https://ssp.mit.edu/about/fellowships/european-security
November 14, 2025 at 2:20 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
SSP is honored to share that @usjf.bsky.social has named its annual dissertation award after MIT professor of political science Richard Samuels.The Richard J. Samuels Dissertation Award in Japanese Studies recognizes excellence in social sciences research on Japan.
@mitpolisci.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 4:29 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
🍟Spend your lunchtime with us!
In tomorrow's Wednesday Seminar Rebeccah Heinrichs discusses the state of the global nuclear strategic balance, and changing patterns in force posture and nuclear strategy in the 21st century.
📡Bookmark the livestream
https://youtube.com/live/7MjY8qxy8rM?feature=share
November 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
“Bombing their territory neither encourages the oppressed people to rise in a revolution nor incentivizes elites to turn on the regime in a coup,” write SSP's @proftalmadge.bsky.social and @brookings.edu's Michael O’Hanlon for the National Interest.
nationalinterest.org/feature/bomb...
Bombing Venezuela Won’t Solve the Maduro Problem
Historically, even overwhelming air and missile attacks rarely achieve strategic objectives.
nationalinterest.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
“Madman behavior creates a reassurance problem. If a leader is consistently inconsistent, erratically changing tactics and reneging to squeeze out further concessions, negotiating partners have no incentive to concede,” write @proftalmadge.bsky.social and @samseitz.bsky.social via @lawfaremedia.org
November 7, 2025 at 1:07 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
In our upcoming Wednesday Seminar, Rebeccah Heinrichs discusses the state of the global nuclear strategic balance, and changing patterns in force posture and nuclear strategy in the 21st century.

📡Bookmark the livestream
https://youtube.com/live/7MjY8qxy8rM?feature=share
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
The US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June “set back Iran’s nuclear program and appeared to stabilize the conflict,” writes SSP alum @doreenhorschig.bsky.social.
Read on via @lawfaremedia.org www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
What the Iran Strikes Mean for Nuclear Diplomacy
The nonproliferation regime remains strong—maybe even stronger than before.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
Our nuclear security experts weigh in on the fidelity of Netflix’s “A House of Dynamite”, directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
🎧Full discussion with the Center for Nuclear Security Policy’s @pranayrvaddi.bsky.social, Austin Long, and Vipin Narang: strategicsimplicity.substack.com/p/our-reacti...
November 3, 2025 at 10:52 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
Thank you, Rochelle Terman, for sharing your research topic “The Nation in Our Minds: Historical Representations of Countries in Google Books” at last week’s Wednesday Seminar. And thanks to Rich Nielsen for guest hosting this week’s talk!

📺watch: https://youtube.com/live/JQJ0NaGBPk0?feature=share
Rochelle Terman An audience member asks a question. Two people seated at a table, one person speaking.
November 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
On October 30, SSP's Wargaming Lab (WGL) hosted an interdisciplinary workshop, Warg{AI}ming: AI and the Art and Science of Wargaming. This conference brought together scholars and practitioners who are using or designing simulations and wargames that incorporate artificial intelligence.
Erik Lin-Greenberg People at a table having a panel discussion People at a table having a panel discussion Person giving a presentation.
October 31, 2025 at 5:27 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
What can we infer from China’s overall strategic intentions? SSP Director M. Taylor Fravel and Associate Professor Caitlin Talmadge rejoin the Strategic Simplicity podcast to continue their discussion on China.
🎧Full pod: https://bit.ly/4ofvfGl
@fravel.bsky.social @proftalmadge.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
“A scenario that’s interested me a lot is one where the conduct of a conventional war actually raises specific nuclear escalation risks,” says SSP’s Caitlin Talmadge.

Read more about @proftalmadge.bsky.social in today’s @mit.edu News spotlight: news.mit.edu/2025/studyin...
Studying war in the new nuclear age
MIT Associate Professor Caitlin Talmadge, a noted security studies scholar, looks at militaries’ on-the-ground capabilities and how they are influenced by political circumstances.
news.mit.edu
October 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
🍔Spend your lunchtime with us!
In tomorrow’s Wednesday Seminar, Rochelle Terman discusses The Nation in Our Minds: Historical Representations of Countries in Google Books.

🗓️10/29 at noon ET
📡Bookmark the livestream
https://youtube.com/live/JQJ0NaGBPk0?feature=share
October 28, 2025 at 12:57 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
Join us online tomorrow for the Axis of Upheaval: How Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea Seek to Change the World.

🗓️Tuesday, 10/28 | 4-5pm ET
Register now:
calendar.mit.edu/event/the-ax...

@mit-cis.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 2:15 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
In our upcoming Wednesday Seminar Rochelle Terman examines the long-term trends in public perceptions of global affairs and international relations through over a century of text in British and US print culture.

📡Bookmark the livestream
https://youtube.com/live/JQJ0NaGBPk0?feature=share
October 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
ssp-mit.bsky.social
Thank you, Michael Horowitz, for sharing your research on autonomous nuclear systems during this week’s Wednesday Seminar.

📼ICYMI you can catch up on the conversation with the recorded stream:
https://youtube.com/live/TQKP0RuCZ_I?feature=share
@mchorowitz.bsky.social
Michael Horowitz Michael speaks towards a member of the audience. A seated audience member asks a question. Michael Horowitz
October 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM