Principal Investigator Richard Samuels
Gerontocracies dominate the Asian landscape. Within the next decade, it is likely that the aging leadership in China, Japan, Malaysia, and Korea will be replaced by a younger generation of leaders. It is in the U.S.'s national interest that these new leaders establish close ties to this country. The Asia Fellows Leadership Project, run jointly by the Security Studies and MISTI Programs, will permit a highly select group of future Asian military, business, and bureaucratic leaders to work closely with Americans who have returned from Asia to continue their scientific and technological studies at MIT. Thus, this is not an Asian Fellows Program, but an Asia Fellows Program, which integrates Asian and U.S. participants. The Center will house the Fellows, and will help them define conference, research, and so-called "Track II" (non-governmental, but quasi-official) projects for up to six months in residence.