News and Events

Trump understands US needs to engage with 'unsavory actors' such as Taliban, February 21, 2020

Far-Right Terror Rocks Germany, February 21, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke authored an article for the European Eye on Radicalization (EER) about the US killing of Iranian General Soleimani and the impact this will have on Iran's proxy strategy.

The Science of Science Communication, February 10, 2020

Dr. Baruch Fischhoff, PhD, IPS professor spoke with the podcast "Science Session" from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences about effective science communication.

Speaking of Psychology: Coronavirus Anxiety, February 10, 2020

Dr. Baruch Fischhoff, PhD, IPS professor and an expert on public perception of risk and human judgment and decision-making, spoke with the podcast "Speaking of Psychology" from the American Psychological Association about new risks versus familiar ones, how to calm our anxiety, and the psychological effects of being quarantined.

The Enduring Legacy of French and Belgian Islamic State Foreign Fighters, February 5, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an article for the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) providing analysis on Islamic State foreign fighters in Europe.

Terrorists and Technological Innovation, February 2, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an article in Lawfare about how terrorists use technology and how governments respond.

Trump signs executive order combating human trafficking, January 31, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Fox News to discuss the Trump administration's executive order on human trafficking.

Greece Is the Weak Spot in Post-Caliphate European Counterterrorism, January 31, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an article in The National Interest about Greece's place in Europe's counterterrorism efforts.

Iran ‘crying for help’ from President Trump’s policies, January 26, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Eric Shawn on Fox News to discuss Iran and the Trump administration's policies.

Brexit Could Spark a Return to Violence in Northern Ireland, January 22, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an article in Foreign Policy about implications of Brexit for the new IRA.

Pro-gun rally at Virginia capital draws thousands of armed protesters, January 21, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke joined ABC Nightline to discuss a Virginia protest against the state's proposed gun control laws, including threats from armed militias and white supremacist groups.

China’s Rights Abuses in Xinjiang Could Provoke a Global Terrorist Backlash, January 16, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke coauthored an article in Foreign Affairs advocating for the US government tohHelp Beijing counter extremism without resorting to repression.

A Century of Ideas: The Crucible of Citizenship, January 14, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Hoover Institution Fellows Jim Mattis, Michael McConnell, and Josiah Ober to discuss American citizenship in a panel at the Hoover Institution.

Kiron Skinner: "Very Silly" To Demand Pres. Trump Notify Congress Before Suleimani Strike, January 10, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Fox News, Friday, January 10, to talk about the latest on Iran, the House's political stunt voting on a War Powers Act resolution, and why Pres. Trump was fully justified taking out Qassem Suleimani without notifying Congress.

Kiron Skinner on fallout from US drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Soleimani, January 6, 2020

Insight from Fox News contributor Kiron Skinner, visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

US allies on high alert as Iran vows revenge for death of top general, January 6, 2020

Former State Department policy planning director and Fox News contributor Kiron Skinner weighs in on if the United States can cultivate allies in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Former State Department official on Iran: We need our allies, 'we can't do this alone,' January 4, 2020

Former State Department official and Fox News foreign policy contributor Kiron Skinner discusses US strategy toward Iran and how they may respond.

ZOA open letter on the rising scourge of anti-Semitism, January 3, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner and Morton A. Klein, president of ZOA (Zionist Organization of America), wrote an open letter about the recent anti-Semitic attacks in America.

Using the McKinsey 7S Framework to Assess Al-Qaeda Over Three Decades: Lessons for the Future, December 30, 2019

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Dr. Colin Clarke examines the longevity of al-Qaeda and implications for the future.

US conducts airstrike against Iran-backed militia, December 30, 2019

Fox News contributor Kiron Skinner comments on the violence in the Middle East and what the Trump administration is doing to combat it.

North Korea fails to deliver ‘Christmas surprise,' December 26, 2019

Former State Department Director of Office Policy Planning Kiron Skinner shares her insights on US-North Korea relations.

President Trump Must Focus on Bringing Allies Together to Confront North Korea, December 22, 2019

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Fox News, Sunday, December 22, to talk about the latest from North Korea, the need for a comprehensive strategy against the regime, and the strength of the Trump administration's Asia strategy.

To Impeach or Not to Impeach: Lessons from Latin America, December, 13, 2019

IPS assistant teaching professor Dr. Ignacio Arana discusses the current impeachment process ongoing in the United States and similar instances throughout Latin America.

Achievement in Athletics and Academics, December 11, 2019

Sixth annual ceremony recognizes student athletes with highest GPAs, including IRP major Joshua Pinckney. 

Carnegie Mellon Offers New Master's Degree in International Relations and Politics, December 9, 2019

Program combines coursework in Pittsburgh with experiential learning, networking in Washington, D.C.

Hong Kong’s Escalating Protests: Three Questions, December 9, 2019

IPS postdoctoral fellow Dr. Chin discusses the Hong Kong protests and prospects for the future.

Protests in Hong Kong and Iran present challenges for Trump administration, November 23, 2019

Analysis from Dr. Kiron Skinner, Fox News foreign policy contributor and former director of the Office of Policy Planning at the State Department.

Former high State Department official: There is a Trump Doctrine, November 21, 2019

According to officials in the Trump administration, there is in fact a Trump doctrine, contrary to criticisms that US foreign policy is in disarray.

Time to rekindle the tradition of mutual support, November 21, 2019

Dr. Kiron Skinner and Paul Packer, a Trump administration official, recently co-wrote an article for the Jerusalem Post  advocating for a revived relationship between African American and Jewish communities.

Dr. Kiron Skinner Rejoins Fox News As a Contributor, October 31, 2019

Kiron K. Skinner joined FOX News Channel as a contributor in October 2019 and provides commentary on national and international issues across FOX News Media platforms.

Baghdadi’s Death Will Make Global Affiliates More Independent, October 28, 2019

Dr. Colin Clarke, IPS Assistant Teaching Professor, shares his analysis on the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a Foreign Policy article co-written with Amarnath Amarasingam.

I study terrorism. A white supremacist attack in my neighborhood woke me up to dangers at home, October 27, 2019 

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Dr. Colin Clarke wrote about his perspective in the Los Angeles Times on the Tree of Life Synagogue attack in Pittsburgh, one year after the event.

Iran’s Proxies Are More Powerful Than Ever, October 16, 2019

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke and past CIRP Policy Forum visitor Ariane Tabatabai assert in a Foreign Policy article that the Trump administration has failed at its broader goal of changing Iranian foreign policy, specifically regarding its proxies.

No, the Trump impeachment inquiry is not a coup, October 15, 2019

Dr. John Chin, IPS postdoctoral fellow, coauthored an article for the Monkey Cage of the Washington Post on the impeachment inquiry of President Trump and how it relates to his research on coups d'etat.

Dr. Kiron Skinner denies impropriety at previous State Department job, September 15, 2019

Professor Skinner, IPS Director, recently spoke with The Tartan about her time at the State Department.

CMU Expert Discusses Post-9/11 Al Qaeda, Security Issues, September 11, 2019

Despite Al Qaeda’s weakened state from post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts, the fight isn’t over.

Global Security Expert Kiron Skinner Joins the Heritage Foundation as Visiting Fellow, September 10, 2019

Kiron Skinner this week joined The Heritage Foundation as a visiting fellow at the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy.

Dietrich Welcomes 15 New Faculty, August 26, 2019

From research to pedagogy, new frontiers are constantly met by professors and postdoctoral researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

A Lesson in Openness: Student Orientation Keynote Speaker Shares Advice with First-Year Students, August 22, 2019

Jamie Slomka, a senior in the Social and Decision Sciences Department, delivered this year’s student keynote to first-year students and their families during Orientation on Sunday, Aug. 18. 

Oh, the Places They're Going, July 10, 2019

Orchi Banerjee, a 2019 graduate of CMU's Department of Social and Decision Sciences and Institute for Politics and Strategy, is profiled in this article about Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences alumni and their plans after graduation. 

2019-2020 Wimmer Faculty Fellows Announced, June 24, 2019

Dr. Dani Nedal, IPS Postdoctoral Fellow, has been named as a 2019-2020 Wimmer Faculty Fellow by CMU's Eberly Center.  These fellowships are made possible by a grant from the Wimmer Family Foundation and are designed for junior faculty members interested in enhancing their teaching through concentrated work designing or re-designing a course, innovating new materials, or exploring a new pedagogical approach.

Fighting and Winning the Undeclared Cyber War, June 23, 2019

Dr. Isaac Porche, IPS adjunct instructor and RAND Corporation senior engineer, recently wrote an article on nation-state cyberwarfare. “'War is no longer declared' says Austrian poet Ingeborg Bachmann: cyber warfare is transforming this line of poetry into reality."

The Post-Caliphate Caliph, April 29, 2019

Dr. Colin Clarke, IPS Assistant Teaching Professor, recently wrote an article in Foreign Policy on the re-emergence of ISIS's reclusive leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Extending Russia: Competing from Advantageous Ground, April 24, 2019

Dr. Forrest Morgan, IPS Adjunct Instructor and Senior Political Scientist at RAND, recently co-authored a report on the ways in which the United States could compete with Russia.

Want to serve your country? Consider diplomacy. April 15, 2019

IPS's Dr. Kiron Skinner wrote an article for the Houston Chronicle detailing the important work that our State Department diplomats do around the world.

CMU Washington Semester Program Celebrates Fifth Anniversary,    March 26, 2019

For Carnegie Mellon University students interested in a future in public policy or public service, the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP) was built to provide comprehensive exploration directly to students.

Carnegie Mellon University Launches New Undergraduate Degree Program in Economics and Politics, March 6, 2019

Carnegie Mellon University has introduced a new bachelor of science program in economics and politics, launching spring 2019. A joint effort between the Institute for Politics and Strategy and the Undergraduate Economics Program, the degree program involves interdisciplinary study emphasizing a data-driven approach to understanding economic and political decision-making.

'Moral Machine' experiment is no basis for policymaking, March 5, 2019

Dr. Baruch Fischhoff co-wrote a counter-argument to an article published in Nature focused on moral dilemmas faced by autonomous vehicles, stating that the experiment is "not a sound starting place for incorporating public concerns into policymaking."

Anarchy and Authority: International Structure, the Balance of Power, and Hierarchy, February 8, 2019

Dr. Dani Nedal, Postdoctoral Fellow at IPS, co-wrote an article published in the Journal of Global Security Studies. 

Institute for Politics and Strategy Graduate Students Explore Career Opportunities in Nation’s Capital, February 8, 2019

Following last year’s trip to Silicon Valley, this year’s cohort of students in the International Relations and Politics Accelerated Master’s Program (IRP/AMP) traveled to Washington, D.C., in December to receive a first-hand glimpse in international relations career pathways. 

Trump Defends the International Order, December 11, 2018

Dr. Kiron K. Skinner recently published an article in the Wall Street Journal discussing how the current administration is reasserting the nation-state’s role in a free and open multilateral system.

Evaluating Science Communication, November 26, 2018

Professor Baruch Fischhoff, Interim Director of IPS, wrote an article published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on effectively communicating scientific findings.

Institute for Politics and Strategy Launches New Minor in Cybersecurity and International Conflict, November 9, 2018

Carnegie Mellon University’s Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS) launched an undergraduate minor in cybersecurity and international conflict in fall 2018. The cybersecurity and international conflict minor tackles the social-scientific dimensions of cybersecurity with a focus on the implications of the cyber age for modern statecraft, warfare, elections (local, state and national), and politics, more generally.

Alexander Hamilton Society debate on Singapore Summit brings more agreement than debate, October 28, 2018

A group of fifteen students gathered in the Simmons Auditorium in the Tepper Quad last Monday for a moderated debate about the Singapore Summit of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. The audience watched moderator Dan Silverman of the Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS) prompt his colleague Dani Nedal and visiting professor Aaron Friedberg to share their thoughts on the diplomatic effort.

Does U.S. drone warfare in countries like Pakistan really cause ‘blowback’?, October 26, 2018

Prof. Daniel Silverman published a piece for the Washington Post. In the article, he discusses some of his research about "blowback" caused by U.S. drone warfare in countries like Pakistan.

Seven Dietrich College Seniors Named Andrew Carnegie Society Scholars, October 15, 2018

The Andrew Carnegie Society (ACS) Scholars Class of 2019 has been announced, and seven seniors from the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences have been selected. ACS Scholars are Carnegie Mellon University undergraduate students who combine high academic standards with extracurricular activities, such as volunteering, playing sports, taking on leadership roles and participating in student organizations and the arts.

Former Congressmen come to CIRP's Policy forum to talk bipartisanship in the modern era, September 30, 2018

The former congressmen gave a lecture titled “Closing our Political Divide: A Bipartisan Approach to Legislation” on Sept. 27 and sat down for an interview with The Tartan. In the interview, they discussed the value of bipartisanship in politics, the importance of public service and voting, their opinions on the president’s conduct, and their take on the single headline that has dominated political news for days — the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Reagan rides again in new bid to put his conservative stamp on policy, September 12, 2018

Dr. Kiron Skinner was recently featured in a Washington Examiner article regarding her role as Director of Policy Planning and Senior Policy Adviser in the State Department.

In Key Post at State, Kiron Skinner Will Advance Trump Security Strategy, August 30, 2018

Prof. Kiron Skinner was featured in an article on The Daily Signal.  She was sworn in Director of Policy Planning and Senior Policy Adviser in the State Department on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 by Secretary Pompeo.

State Department Selects Skinner as Senior Policy Adviser, August 30, 2018

Kiron Skinner, the Taube Professor of International Relations and Politics at Carnegie Mellon University, has been named senior policy adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Skinner also will serve as director of policy planning, one of the State Department’s most influential positions. Skinner is the founding director of Carnegie Mellon’s Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS). The center for research, undergraduate and graduate education focuses on university-wide initiatives in the fields of political science, international relations, national security policy and grand strategy.

Meet the Newest Dietrich College Faculty Members, August 29, 2018

Each new academic year brings new faces. This fall, almost 30 new faculty members are joining Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, bringing expertise in the fields of creative writing, cognitive science, behavioral economics and more.

Baruch Fischhoff named 2018 Ryan Award Recipient

IPS Professor Baruch Fischhoff has been awarded the William H. and Frances S. Ryan Award for Meritorious Teaching.

Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences, August 21, 2018

Dan Silverman has been awarded a grant from Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS), an NSF-funded initative which conducts high-quality nationally representative survey experiments in the U.S. for free for selected proposals. His project is called “Can Factual Misperceptions be Corrected? An Experiment on American Public Fears of Terrorism.” The project looks at the American public’s inflated fear of terrorism relative to other types of risks we face, and examines whether this fear can be mitigated by presenting people with accurate information about the threat. With trillions of dollars spent on the "War on Terror" since 9/11, this question is not just theoretically but practically important.

FPRI Names Seven New Fellows and Expands Its Board of Advisors, June 7, 12018

Dr. Colin Clarke was appointed as a Senior Fellow in the National Security Program for the FPRI. 

Nine Juniors Named Dietrich College Honors Fellows, May 17, 2018

Nine distinguished Carnegie Mellon University juniors will spend the summer working on research and creative projects that span across the college’s various disciplines, including psychology, international relations, creative writing and more. The students’ work is funded through the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Honors Fellowship, an extension of the college’s Senior Honors Program, and gives the fellows a head start on their thesis development. 

Baruch Fischhoff Named 2018 Andrew Carnegie Fellow, April 25, 2018

IPS Executive Committee and Core Faculty member, Baruch Fischhoff, was named the 2018 Andrew Carnegie Fellow. Professor Fischhoff will use the award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York Andrew Carnegie Fellowship to write a book called "Decisions."

Newt Gingrich visits campus to talk to researchers, April 1, 2018

Newt Gingrich, Fox News contributor and former Speaker of the House, made a little-publicized visit to Carnegie Mellon University this week. He was invited by Director Kiron Skinner, the director of the Washington Semester Program, the Institute for Politics and Strategy, and the Institute for Strategic Analysis at Carnegie Mellon. Director Skinner worked with Gingrich on his 2012 presidential campaign and, in Dec. 2017, began working as a foreign policy contributor for Fox News.

CMU Students Place as Finalists at D3P Information Operations Technical and Policy Hackathon hosted by Harvard Kennedy School, March 29, 2018

Carnegie Mellon students Kellen Carleton and Arya Hezarkhani placed third in the policy category and concept category of the Defending Digital Democracy Project (D3P) Hackathon hosted by Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Following submission reviews, Carleton and Hezarkhani were selected to attend the conference as finalists in Cambridge, Massachusetts on March 29, 2018. They won $1000 in prizes for each category they placed in. 

Newt Gingrich: The future is amazing -- Here's an incredible glimpse of what awaits us, March 25, 2018

Dr. Kiron Skinner hosted former Speaker of the US House of Representatives and Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich at CMU on March 21, 2017. He was briefed by a lineup of ditinguished faculty on artificial intelligence and reflected in his article, "...in Pittsburgh, I saw another powerful glimmering of technologies that will change our world." Read more about his insights on artificial intelligence and how they will shape the future of American society in the article linked above. 

Short Feature with Volleyball Senior Eliza Donohue, March 23, 2018

Senior Eliza Donohue, a policy and management and social and political history double major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, answers a few questions about student life at Carnegie Mellon, talks about her internships, what she's excited for during spring semester, how she decided on her major, and what she's enjoyed about Pittsburgh.

CMU Surpasses MIT to Secure Rank as #1 University for Artificial Intelligence, March 2018

In a recent study from the U.S. World News & World Report, Carnegie Mellon University was ranked as the best graduate school for artificial intelligence, securing first place over the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. The rankings were created based on "a combination of statistical data that reflects the quality of each program, and surveys asking experts and academics to evaluate programs."

Institute for Politics and Strategy Elevated to University-Wide Status, February 19, 2018

The Instiute for Politics and Strategy is now officially a university-wide initiative at CMU. 

Students See How Security, Policy, Strategy Align in Silicon Valley, February 9, 2018

Students in the International Relations and Politics Accelerated Master's Program recently received the opportunity to take a trip to Silicon Valley to explore the various intersections between technology and policy. This story was featured in the CMU News. 

Joint CyLab Security and Privacy Institute, Institute for Software Research, Institute for Politics and Strategy Distinguished Lecture and Panel, January 18, 2018

Judge Reggie B. Walton of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia will be giving a lecture titled, "The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court: Myth Versus Reality." The panelists will be Lorrie Cranor, Jay D. Aronson, and David J. Hickton. The event will take place on Thursday, January 18 from 4:30-5:30pm in Rashid Auditorium (GHC 4401).

DoD Appoints Kiron Skinner to Defense Policy Board, December 2, 2017

Director of the Institute for Politics and Strategy, Dr. Kiron Skinner, was appointed to the Defense Policy Board to provide senior DoD officials with advice on defense policy. Read the official Department of Defense announcement here. 

Elizabeth Erin Walsh- "Innovation and Exporting: Creating Jobs through Free and Fair Trade", November 13, 2017

Anthony Foxx- "Smart and Connected Cities", November 10, 2017

17th United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx gave a lecture at Carnegie Mellon on November 10 as a part of the 50th Anniversary Weekend celebrations. 

Laura Chinchilla shares her hopes for Latin America's future, November 5, 2017

During her lecture on November 1, President Laura Chinchilla shared her hopes for the future of Latin America in the face of what she sees as the encroaching threat of populism.

Laura Chinchilla- "Latin America: Hope in Times of Populism?", November 1, 2017

Former president of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, delivered a lecture at Carnegie Mellon on November 1.   

CMU Student Charters Plane, Delivers Aid to Puerto Rico, October 18, 2017

International Relations and Politics Accelerated Masters Program student José López Sánchez volunteered as a part of a team that chartered planes to transport supplies Puerto Rico and evacuate hurricane victims to the US. 

Polarization for Controversial Scientific Issues Increases With More Education, August 21, 2017

IPS Executive Committee and Core Faculty member, Baruch Fischhoff, and Caitlin Drummond's (SDS) work was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences.

How Do You Fix Someone Else's Election, August 20, 2017

Dov Levin, Institute for Politics and Strategy post-dcotoral fellow, was interviewed by BBC to discuss election meddling. 

The Islamic State May be Failing, but it's Strategic Communications Legacy is Here to Stay, August 17, 2017

Colin Clarke, Institute for Politics and Strategy lecturer, recently co-authored a paper for War on the Rocks, where he discusses ISIS strategic communications.

Improving Security Science Through Collaboration, August 2, 2017

Carnegie Mellon University’s Baruch Fischhoff co-chaired the Committee on Future Research Goals and Directions for Foundational Science in Cybersecurity, along with Peter Weinberger from Google.

Mindfullness Meditation May Help Students Combat High Levels of Stress, Depression, May 16, 2017

When Rob Stephens, a 22-year-old senior, walks into the Mindfulness Room at Carnegie Mellon University, he leaves his homework and stress at the door.

Baruch Fischhoff Elected to National Academy of Sciences, May 2, 2017

Carnegie Mellon University's Baruch Fischhoff, a renowned expert in decision science and risk analysis, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. NAS membership is one of the highest honors a scientist can receive and recognizes distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

CMWA Supports Students' Committment to Advancement of Women, May 1, 2017

Seven women graduating this month received an early gift from the Carnegie Mellon Women’s Association (CMWA). Each student was presented with a $1,000 scholarship for their commitment to the advancement of women in their academic disciplines. IPS student, Alexandra Pasch was awarded one of the scholarships.

Program Takes Students Behind the Scenes in D.C., April 27, 2017

Students in Carnegie Mellon University’s Washington Semester Program (WSP) get to explore the United States capital while completing coursework and internships with D.C.-based organizations.

Understanding Decisions: The Power of Combining Psychology and Economics, April 18, 2017

In two series of studies that focused on individuals’ expectations for major life events, Wandi Bruine de Bruin and CMU’s Baruch Fischhoff worked with economists to design survey questions that were simple enough for laypeople to answer but precise enough to inform economic models.