SYLLABUS
Cyber International Relations: Emergent Realities of Conflict and Cooperation (17.908)
Independent Activities Period 2012
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Organizer: Robert Reardon
Lecturers: Robert Reardon, Nazli Choucri, William Young, Shirley Hung, Aadya Shukla, Vivek
Mohan, Josephine Wolff, Roger Hurwitz, Peter Brecke, Jesse Sowell
Tuesday, January 17, 9:30am-3:00pm
Wednesday, January 18, 9:30am-4:15pm
Tuesday, January 24, 9:30am-4:15pm
Wednesday, January 25, 9:30am-12:30pm
Room: 56-162
This class explores the interaction between the development and growth of cyber space and
international politics. Questions of theory and policy will both be addressed. The class is
organized around the following core questions: How well can existing theories of international
relations help us understand the political implications of cyberspace? How might cyberspace
change traditional understandings of international politics? How might cyberspace affect security,
identity, development, political freedom, social organization, and the distribution of global
power? Does it represent a brave new world, or is it simply another over-hyped technological
innovation? Over the course of the class, a series of interdisciplinary experts will offer their takes
on these questions, present cutting-edge developments in the study of cyberspace and
cyberpolitics, and engage participants in critical discussion. Falling at the nexus of the technical
and the political, the class seeks to take advantage of MIT's unique strengths.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/ecir/home.html
Contact: Robert Reardon, reardon@MIT.EDU
Sponsor: Political Science
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
9:30-9:45
Introduction
9:45-11:00
Deterrence and Escalation Management in Cyber Conflict
Robert Reardon
Postdoctoral Associate, Political Science, MIT
11:00-11:15
Break
11:15-12:30
CyberPolitics in International Relations
Nazli Choucri
Professor of Political Science, MIT
Cyber International Relations: Emergent Realities of Conflict and Cooperation (17.908)
Independent Activities Period 2012
12:30-1:30
Break
1:30-3:00
Stuxnet and the Future of Cyberwarfare
Robert Reardon
Postdoctoral Associate, Political Science, MIT
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
9:30-9:45
Introduction
9:45-11:00
A System Analysis of Public Protest and Social Media
William Young
PhD Candidate, Engineering Systems Division, MIT
11:00-11:15
Break
11:15-12:30
China and the Great Firewall
Shirley Hung
Postdoctoral Associate, CSAIL, MIT
12:30-1:30
Break
1:30-2:45
Cyberspace, Political Openness, and Authoritarian Regimes
Aadya Shukla
Research Fellow, Belfer Center, Harvard
2:45-3:00
Break
3:00-4:15
Cyber Governance – Institutions, Principles, Pressures
Vivek Mohan
Research Fellow, Belfer Center, Harvard
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
9:30-9:45
Introduction
9:45-11:00
Application Layer Accountability Mechanisms for the Internet
Josephine Wolff
CSAIL, MIT
11:00-11:15
Break
11:15-12:30
Critical International Incidents in Cyberspace
Roger Hurwitz
Research Scientist, CSAIL, MIT
12:30-1:30
Break
2
Cyber International Relations: Emergent Realities of Conflict and Cooperation (17.908)
Independent Activities Period 2012
1:30-2:45
Democracy 2.0: An Example of a CyberPolitical Governance Form
Peter Brecke
Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Georgia Institute of Technology
2:45-3:00
Break
3:00-4:15
Policy Communities in Bottom-Up Internet Governance
Jesse Sowell
PhD Candidate, Engineering Systems Division, MIT
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
9:30-9:45
Introduction
9:45-11:00
The Internet and Global Civil Society
Aadya Shukla
Research Fellow, Belfer Center, Harvard
11:00-11:15
Break
11:15-12:30
Needs and Prospects for International Cyber Norms
Roger Hurwitz
Research Scientist, CSAIL, MIT
3