These courses focus specifically on international relations and cyberspace.
17.445/17.446 International Relation Theory in the Cyber Age
This course examines cyber dynamics and processes in international relations from different theoretical perspectives. It 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, systems theory and lateral pressure. The course also highlights relevant features and proposes customized international relations theory for the cyber age.
MIT OpenCourseWare Link (as offered in Fall 2015)
17.447-17.448/15.580 Cybersecurity
Multidisciplinary approach to cybersecurity, focusing on sources & manifestations of threats, operations & impacts, as well as solution strategies—technical, economic, political, & strategic.
Part I is an overview of cybersecurity. Drawing on multiple perspectives, it focuses on the diversity of threats, intents & capabilities—as well as uncertainties—and select policy challenges.
Part II examines geostrategic, political & economic “realities” of cybersecurity, including new markets with new policy dilemmas. Considers case-studies, simulation, data & metrics, agency & actors, with related gains & losses.
Part III is on business and industry responses, as well as potential strategies and alternative futures, given the complexity of the global cyber-threat ecology.
MIT OpenCourseWare Link (as offered in Fall 2011)
17.181/17.182 Sustainability: Political Economy, Science, & Policy
This course examines alternative conceptions and theoretical underpinnings of sustainable development. It focuses on the sustainability problems of industrial countries, developing states, and economies in transition. Sustainability: Political Economy, Science, and Policy explores the sociology of knowledge regarding sustainability, the economic and technological dimensions, and institutional imperatives and considers implications for political constitution of economic performance.