Professor James Fearon from Stanford University will speak at the MIT Security Studies Program's Wednesday Seminar.According to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (and many others), “the post-Cold War world is over.” One reason for this view is the increase in interstate conflict involving major powers in the last 10 years -- both actual, as in the Russia-Ukraine war, and feared, as in the case of possible war over Taiwan. The return of major power military conflict should be surprising and puzzling. Even from a “Realist” perspective, current military and economic conditions are such that the countries with the most military capability have little to fear or gain from each other, in terms of invasion or attack. In this seminar, Professor Fearon will stress two main sources of contemporary major power conflict: Competing nationalist claims on territory, and the intrinsic threat that democracies and dictatorships pose to each other, as it is common knowledge that powerful democratic states would typically prefer to see dictatorships transition to democracy, and vice versa. In the contract-poor environment of international politics, these forms of revisionism create incentives for arms build ups that can in turn create incentives for preventive wars. Combined with facts about technological and economic change and US foreign policy (in particular) over the last 25 years, this account applies to some major post-Cold War conflicts and to the return of serious military competition between major powers.

Want to get exercise mid-day but don’t want to go outside? Join the tunnel walk for a 30-minute walk led by a volunteer through MIT’s famous tunnel system. This walk may include stairs/inclines. Wear comfortable shoes. Free.Location details: Meet in the lobby with the big mirror, right inside the Collier Memorial entrance to Stata. Location photo below.Tunnel Walk Leaders will have a white flag they will raise at the meeting spot for you to find them.Prize Drawing: Attend a walk and scan a QR code from the walk leaders to be entered into a drawing for a getfit tote bag at the end of the getfit challenge. The more walks you attend, the more entries you get. Winner will be drawn and notified at the end of April. Winner does not need to be a getfit participant.Disclaimer: Tunnel walks are led by volunteers. In the rare occasion when a volunteer isn’t able to make it, we will do our best to notify participants. In the event we are unable to notify participants and a walk leader does not show up, we encourage you to walk as much as you feel comfortable doing so. We recommend checking this calendar just before you head out! [As of Feb 12, this calendar is defaulting to the year 1899. Click "today" to be brought to the current month.]Getfit is a 12-week fitness challenge for the entire MIT community. These tunnel walks are open to the entire MIT community and you do not need to be a current getfit participant to join.

All MIT faculty, students, and staff can visit and borrow from Harvard simply by registering. The MIT Libraries have arranged for on-site registration here on campus to help streamline the process.Come to Hayden Library on one of our registration days on Feb. 13, 19, and 26:1) Bring your MIT ID and government-issued ID2) Log into Borrow Direct via Touchstone. DUO authentication is required; please have your mobile phone set up with DUO.3) Then you can go to the Harvard card office (Smith Center) to get your borrowing card.Smith Campus Center 1350 Massachusetts Ave., 8th floor Phone: 617.496.7827 Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm; Closed Sat, Sun, and university holidaysAlready have Harvard access and need to renew? Bring your Harvard ID (you must still have this) to Hayden Library on one of our registration days and follow steps 1&2 above to reactivate.Can't come to Hayden on one of these dates? You can also apply online and confirm your affiliation via a Zoom appointment. You can then pick up your card at Harvard's Smith Center ID office at your convenience. Learn more about using Harvard's libraries at libraries.mit.edu/harvard.

Want to get exercise mid-day but don’t want to go outside? Join the tunnel walk for a 30-minute walk led by a volunteer through MIT’s famous tunnel system. This walk may include stairs/inclines. Wear comfortable shoes. Free.Location details: Meet in the atrium by the staircase. Location photo below.Tunnel Walk Leaders will have a white flag they will raise at the meeting spot for you to find them.Prize Drawing: Attend a walk and scan a QR code from the walk leaders to be entered into a drawing for a getfit tote bag at the end of the getfit challenge. The more walks you attend, the more entries you get. Winner will be drawn and notified at the end of April. Winner does not need to be a getfit participant.Disclaimer: Tunnel walks are led by volunteers. In the rare occasion when a volunteer isn’t able to make it, we will do our best to notify participants. In the event we are unable to notify participants and a walk leader does not show up, we encourage you to walk as much as you feel comfortable doing so. We recommend checking this calendar just before you head out. [As of Feb 12, this calendar is defaulting to the year 1899. Click "today" to be brought to the current month.]Getfit is a 12-week fitness challenge for the entire MIT community. These tunnel walks are open to the entire MIT community and you do not need to be a current getfit participant to join.

The Law and Economics of Lawyers: Evidence from the Revolving Door in China's Judicial System | Shaoda Wang

Ten minutes for your mind@2:50 every day at 2:50 pm in multiple time zones:Europa@2:50, EET, Athens, Helsinki (UTC+2) (7:50 am EST) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88298032734Atlantica@2:50, EST, New York, Toronto (UTC-4) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85349851047Pacifica@2:50, PST, Los Angeles, Vancouver (UTC=7) (5:50 pm EST) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85743543699Almost everything works better again if you unplug it for a bit, including your mind. Stop by and unplug. Get the benefits of mindfulness without the fuss.@2:50 meets at the same time every single day for ten minutes of quiet together.No pre-requisite, no registration needed.Visit the website to view all @2:50 time zones each day.at250.org or at250.mit.edu