SAIS, Fletcher, SIPA, SIS, IR/PS profs...

Graduate School
#1

<p>I'm planning on applying to the five programs mentioned above in January, but I'd like beforehand to contact some of the profs who specialize in the areas I'm interested in to ask some questions. I've spent hours looking through all of the lists of profs, and I've noted some of them, but I figured I'd come here and see if anyone has any recommendations for profs in the particular areas that interest me. </p>

<p>During a seminar recently that really got my mind racing, I decided to jot down a list of the issues that interest me the most. My interests are pretty expansive, so I figured it would help having them down on paper. </p>

<p>Fundamentally, though, I'm interested in American foreign policy and the best direction for the United States in the 21st century after the damage that's been done. </p>

<p>The issues I wrote down are as follows:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Identity and Violence, perceived regional/national values
* e.g. the idea of "Asian Values" in ASEAN: 'Asian</a> values' in Burma - Los Angeles Times
* The discussions in Amartya Sen's book Identity and Violence is what I'm after here.</p></li>
<li><p>Interdependence and the necessity of international cooperation on issues like the environment and the war on terror (along the lines arguments made by Jeffrey Sachs).</p></li>
<li><p>The relationship between the environment, the economy, and politics (again, Jeffrey Sachs and Amartya Sen)</p></li>
<li><p>Convergent histories and the perspectives thereof (the Thai view and Malay view of southern Patani region in Thailand or Mindanao in the Philippines)</p></li>
<li><p>the function of intelligence in war, especially in light of the near total lack of intelligence on the ground in Iraq in the run-up to the war
* A good book on this subject is Intelligence in War by John Keegan</p></li>
<li><p>China's development and how the US should interact with China and Taiwan.<br>
* This is currently my main focus of study</p></li>
</ul>

<p>If you know any profs who focus on these areas, I'd greatly appreciate it.</p>

#2

<p>So basically you are interested in all facets of International Relations with some type of emphasis on Southeast Asia?</p>

<p>Im guessing a fair amount of profs have some type of experience in that area...</p>

<p>With your interests, it seems that you should be looking at PhD programs. IR programs will teach you how to apply concrete, quantifiable skills to problems and issues related to foreign policy or international relations. They wont give you an overview of specific regional or transnational problems of the type you describe in your post.</p>

#3

<p>"Im guessing a fair amount of profs have some type of experience in that area..."</p>

<p>I understand that my interests are broad, which has been my problem throughout this process. What I'm asking is for recommendations for professors who specialize in one of the areas I mentioned above. I'm not asking anyone to go search them out for me. I've looked. I have a list. I just figured that some people at these schools could recommend professors with whom they're familiar.</p>

#4

<p>I think if you do a quick overview of each school's faculty via their website, you will get a good idea of what exactly their focus is and how it relates to your interests. If their particular research interests arent spelled out explictly in their io, just research what they are writing on and you will soon get a good picture of what these profs are interested in and what they write on.
Im sure the personal input of students presently attending the schools you mentioned would be more helpful than this but if you fail to get any ansdwers you can probably come up with some pretty solid initial information this way.</p>

#5

<p>"Im sure the personal input of students presently attending the schools you mentioned would be more helpful than this but if you fail to get any ansdwers you can probably come up with some pretty solid initial information this way."</p>

<p>Exactly, I've done the first part you mentioned. I just wondered if there were those on this forum who had personal input on good profs to contact.</p>

#6