This week, faculty, students and more gathered virtually just past noon to hear to Emily Meierding (Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School) discuss “Oil Wars: Facts and Fictions.” Meierding argued that, contrary to popular belief, states do not engage in wars for the purposes of procuring oil resources. Rather, “oil campaigns” within pre-existing conflicts, and “oil spats” that do not rise to the level of major interstate warfare, are the main cases of political violence over oil. Meierding’s presentation was based off ongoing research and her recently published book, “Oil Wars: Fact and Fictions.” The talk was streamed live on MIT SSP’s YouTube channel, and a vibrant Q&A with the audience followed.

The next and final Wednesday Seminar of the spring semester (to be held on 5/12), features Jason Lyall, inaugural James Wright Chair of Transnational Studies and Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College. Lyall will present: “Fratricidal Coercion and Battlefield Performance in Modern War.”

For more information, please visit our Wednesday Seminars page, and be sure to sign-up here to join our mailing list for notifications.