Maymester 2026 Courses (May 14 - May 22) Maxwell in Washington

PAI 700 | Natural Security: The Geopolitics of Power and Energy | Danica Starks, former World Bank and Multilateral Development Bank Group

Schedule:

Online Intro Session: Tuesday, April 14, 4-6pm on zoom

Thursday, May 14 - Friday, May 15 6PM- 8:40PM (Online)

Monday, May 18th – Friday, May 22nd 9AM – 4:30PM (with one hour lunch break)

Course Description:

In a world defined by cascading global pressures, energy has become the central axis of power, vulnerability, and opportunity. Natural Security explores how conflict, climate instability, economic volatility, and great-power competition are reshaping the global energy landscape. This course examines the strategic importance of natural resources, the evolving role of emerging technologies, and the geopolitical tensions that arise as nations race to secure energy supplies and transition to low-carbon systems. Students will analyze real-world case studies, assess national-security implications, and gain the tools to understand — and anticipate — how energy shapes global stability in the 21st century.

Students are accepted on a rolling basis as space permits.