FALL 2015 précis Interviews Chappell Lawson on IPL IN THIS ISSUE arlier this year, CIS established the MIT précis Interview: Chappell Lawson 2 EInternational Policy Lab, whose mission is The Dictator’s Army 6 “to enhance the impact of MIT research on public Caitlin Talmadge policy.” Professor Chappell Lawson, who serves as CIS in American War Gaming 8 the faculty lead, sat down with précis to discuss the Reid Pauly program. Neuffer Fellow Meera Srinivasan 11 The International Policy Lab is awarding up to Events 12 $10,000 to faculty and research staff with principal investigator status who wish to convey their research End Notes 14 to policymakers. continued on page 2 OF NOTE The Dictator’s Army Global Refugee Crisis by Caitlin Talmadge The millions of Syrian refugees displaced by their country’s four-year civil war hy do some states successfully convert their constitute a major tragedy...a group of Wnational assets into operational- and tacti- scholars and relief workers said at an cal- level fighting power in war, whereas others fail MIT Starr Forum. even when they have the economic, demographic, continued on page 4 and technological endowments needed to succeed? New Wilhelm Fellow continued on page 6 Paul Heer, a recent National Intelli- gence Officer for East Asia, has been named a Robert E. Wilhelm fellow. CIS in American War Gaming Heer arrived to MIT in September 2015 and will be in residence at CIS by Reid Pauly for the 2015-2016 academic year. continued on page 11 here did this methodology of modern war Wgames originate? In large part at MIT, where a host of legendary faculty affiliated with the Center for International Studies were crucial early adopt- East Asia Expert Joins CIS ers and innovators of the games. Beginning in the Eric Heginbotham, one of this country’s late 1950s, Lincoln “Linc” Bloomfield and others foremost political-military analysts of transformed rudimentary war game exercises into East Asia, has joined CIS as a principal immersive experiences for policymakers. continued on page 8 research scientist. continued on the back précis MIT CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FALL 2015 • 1 Chappell Lawson Faculty Director, MIT International Policy Lab préciINTERV IEWs Earlier this year, CIS established the MIT précis: Who should submit proposals? International Policy Lab with a mission “to enhance the impact of MIT research CL: We are a service to the MIT faculty. on public policy, in order to best serve the Our target is faculty members who have nation and the world in the 21st century.” an appetite for engaging with the policy The Policy Lab is awarding up to $10,000 community (broadly defined) and whose to faculty and research staff with principal work has some implications for policy, investigator status who wish to convey their but who are not currently intimately research to policymakers. The deadline for involved in policy debates or who are submissions to the Lab’s first call for already involved but want to have a proposals was December 6, 2015. greater impact. précis: Why did CIS establish the précis: How does the Policy Lab help? Policy Lab? Chappell Lawson (pictured above) serves as CL: Our goal is to do three things. First, the new MIT International Policy Lab’s CL: we ask: what sort of impact do faculty faculty lead; other core affiliates and MIT has an enormous amount to contribute to the policymaking process. want to have, given the amount of time researchers involved with the initiative they’re willing to invest? Second, we include Richard Samuels, John Tirman, We’re generating first-rate scholarship provide modest grants for travel or trans- Jessica Trancik, Andrea Campbell, and science that has clear policy implica- Daniel Weitzner, and Ken Oye. tions and should inform public policy. lational material, such as policy briefs But it doesn’t always do so. based on their research. And then we choreograph their trips to Washington or So we asked ourselves, what more can we elsewhere so that they meet with as many do on our end to make the transmission of the right people as possible. belt between academia and policy run more smoothly. There’s enormous appetite In addition to the modest grants, we also in policy circles for the product that MIT have staff resources to support faculty. generates. MIT has an unparalleled brand name. And it is perceived as producing précis: When will applicants be able ideologically neutral, technically-based to move forward with their projects? research. That appeals to people on both sides of the aisle in Washington. CL: They’ll hear back in time to do something over IAP. We want the process to be nimble. précis is published twice each academic MIT is an institution that draws heavily year in order to familiarize readers with on federal research dollars. I see this as the work of the Center for International an opportunity for us to give back—not précis: Where does the Policy Lab’s studies at MIT. For further information funding come from? about CIS or précis, please contact: just through the impact of our research on society but also through our research Center for International Studies CL: The funding comes from the MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology informing policy debates. 1 Amherst St, E40-400 Office of the Provost, the Dean of the Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 I’m in the middle of my third stint in School of Humanities, Arts, and Social T: 617-253-8093 Washington, now as a part-time govern- Science (SHASS), and the Center for [email protected] ment employee while still full-time at International Studies. Richard J. Samuels, Director MIT. I see how important it can be for Stephen Van Evera, Associate Director précis: You’ve had several stints in John Tirman, Executive Director policy to be informed by cutting edge re- Michelle Nhuch, précis Editor search. This is an opportunity to enhance government, most recently under the Cullen Nutt, précis Student Editor Obama administration as executive Laurie Scheffler, précis Coordinator the policy debate. Laura Kerwin, précis Coordinator précisprécis MITMIT CENTER CENTER FORFOR ININTERNTERNAATTIIONALONAL S TSTUDIEUDIES S FALLFALL 2007 2015 • • 32 director and senior adviser to the Com- fully engaging with policymakers. This missioner of U.S. Customs and Border could be regulators interested in Protection. What sparked your person- synthetic biology. It could be people al interest in government service? at the EPA drawing up guidelines and projections for methane emissions. It CL: I grew up in Washington DC and could be understanding trade regimes for always had an interest in federal policy. dual-use technologies. As a political scientist, I understand how “I’m particularly important policymaking is for a country’s We’re very pleased by the extent to which excited about the prospect safety and prosperity. For me this is an we’ve been able to help faculty members opportunity to join my long-term interest make the right connections to policy- of collaboration of in politics with my deep commitment to makers and be involved in policy debates the Institute. that are directly related to their research. faculty members involved I would expect dozens if not hundreds in large-scale, mission- précis: Can you tell us about your cur- of MIT faculty members to be logical rent research? clients for the policy lab. I’m particularly driven, Institute research excited about the prospect of collabora- CL: When I was last in government, tion of faculty members involved in large- projects in areas such as I worked on issues related to our land scale, mission-driven, Institute research the environment, health borders, as well as air borders and sea- projects in areas such as the environment, ports. Customs and Border Protection health care, and energy. care, and energy.” must facilitate legitimate trade and travel in an era of pronounced security con- There are a number of faculty members cerns. This is a challenge I’m continuing who have served in Washington. But to think about. people don’t have to leave their job to have an impact if we can facilitate that Another project I’m working on is target- connection for them. For some people, ing. One aspect of border management this may be a very brief one-time engage- is to be able to better identify poten- ment. For others it could lead them to tially dangerous individuals or shipments something that they find much more ap- bound for the United States within the pealing. Either way, we’re there to help. vast flow of goods and people that pose no danger whatsoever. How can we get précis: Tell us about the proposals. better at fusing all the information that the federal government has, including CL: For the first year we reached out to information from state, local, and foreign individual faculty members. Now the partners to better make an adjudication time has come to open it up as a formal about risk without compromising civil call for proposal for all faculty members. liberties and privacy? At the very least we’d like to help people do more of what they were already plan- There are many borders in the world ning to do. More ambitiously, we would where international conflict is not a like to interest a larger number of faculty realistic scenario, but where trade flows members in policy debates related to their are vast. How can we manage those flows research. We encourage people to submit more efficiently? It’s extremely important more than one grant if appropriate. We for global competitiveness in an era of have the ability to support a significant global supply chains.