After the war, he continued teaching at MIT, finally leaving in 1958 to go to Yale. During this time he pioneered research in nationalism and the problems it presented in world politics. "I became interested in nationalism because I grew up in a country torn apart by nationalism," he says. "Nationalism is not just a wild upsurge of feeling but a process that can be measured and influenced."

From nationalism and a related field, political integration, Deutsch moved next to a quantitative and systematized approach to political science. He found that by applying communications theory to some problems in the study of nationalism, the loose threads came together, so he turned his energies to computer modeling and mathematical analysis of governmental issues. In addition, he gathered raw statistical data from countries all over the world to allow accurate research in comparative government. He wrote a flurry of articles and books explaining his research; and other political scientists gave him their support. Interest burgeoned in the quantitative approach to social science, and soon it became a respected and integral element in the study of governments.

Deutsch came to Harvard in 1967 and he has been here ever since. He has spent the last decade refining and probing deeper into his theories, as well as publishing his findings. He has written or substantially contributed to more than 15 books, running the gamut from nationalism to comparative government to quantitative methods.

Karl Deutsch is now at the peak of his career. His spacious second floor office in Littauer Center is lined with books about subjects he pioneered, and boxes and file cabinets store his countless articles and essays. His secretary handles his correspondence, including innumerable invitations to participate in professional conferences. There are more requests for his time than he can handle in a working day, and yet he always tries to find time for everybody. He is currently completing a three-year term as president of the International Political Science Association, and he is a past president of the American Political Science Association. On top of his two earned doctorate degrees (from Harvard and Prague), Deutsch has also acquired four honorary ones. "The two earned ones were the hardest," he laughs.

Deutsch does have one regret, one thing he would have done differently. If he had it to do over. "I would make it a point not to spend quite as much time on my career at the expense of my family," he reflects. "Many young people feel they have to establish their professions immediately and they are under such pressure that their families have to bear some of the strain. I wish young people would think of this early so that they have time enough for each other and for their children."

Although he is well known for his constant optimism, Deutsch does predict that the world will face severe challenges in the years ahead. "We may soon face crises and catastrophes compared to which the depressions and wars of the first half of this century will seem minor," he warns, his German accent thickening to underscore the dangers. "The first crisis we may face is that of an arms race in a world of nuclear arsenals and weapons of mass destruction. This could start in the next 12 months if the SALT treaty fails in the Senate. The second crisis is that of the expected doubling of the world's population by the years 2015-10 and the problem of finding food for all these people. Then there are the related questions of energy, water fertilizer, capital equipment--all will be political questions of major importance.

"The third crisis relates to qualitative changes in mankind. The majority of people will be urban, non-agricultural, and illiterate. In practice this means they will have more political needs and demands, greater military skills, and will be less tolerant of frustration. It will be with this kind of people that we will have to keep the peace."

Deutsch's furrowed brow now relaxes as he offers a note of optimism: "Humanity has always survived its crises, from the ice age onward. I don't think we'll fail now."

One method of overcoming the challenges, he notes, is enlightened research and scholarship. "In my life, one of my major tasks has been to advance human knowledge a little," he muses. "The reward of scholarship is to find something you didn't know before, or to find a practical application for your work."

Harvard's tremendous resources make it an ideal home for a scholar, Deutsch says. "I think Harvard is a very good and a very wonderful university. I see this in dozens of ways. There is little fear among the students for the faculty, and there are many opportunities for interchange. You just can't sit back in a classroom and not think. I never saw anything like this at a European university."

Harvard's many good points do not make it immune from criticism, however. Deutsch has supported as a last resort divestiture by the University of its stocks in companies doing business in South Africa, and he endorses Harvard's student activist movements.

"If students were not active, things would be worse," he asserts. "I was active as a student and I would be bow if I were a student. If you care, you must try to do something. It is better to try and make a mistake than not to try at all."

Despite his experience with the tumultuous politics of inter-war Europe, Deutsch says he never was tempted to withdraw from politics or to resign himself to cynicism. "I find the world a highly imperfect place in which to live, but you can always make it a little more perfect."

The United States to him epitomizes the search for improvement, of enthusiasm tempered by pragmatism. "I have a great love and admiration for Americans," he says. "Americans are descendants of those in the old world who would not put up with evil. They preferred to break away and try again."

Because of his admiration for America and his love of Harvard, Deutsch says he is reluctant to end his year-round residence in Cambridge. In his position in Berlin each spring, however, he will have more resources than at Harvard--more computer time, more secretarial help, and more research assistants. Also, he adds, "Knowing how things have gone terribly wrong in Germany, I would like to help their social sciences."