Carnegie Endowment for International Peace James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program

2022–2023 PROJECTS

for more information, visit the James C. Gaither Carnegie Junior Fellows website

• Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
• American Statecraft—Background in history, international relations theory, or international economics is essential, along with an interest in military issues and U.S. foreign policy process.
• Middle East—Strong reading fluency and the ability to perform academic as well as on-line research in Arabic essential. Strong background in Middle East politics and/or history is a huge plus.
• International Security and Political Economy [to work with the International Security and South Asia Program] —Quantitative data analysis and GIS skills are required. A strong mathematical background is a plus. Ideal candidates will have a strong academic background in international relations theory, political theory, or international political economy along with an interest in military issues.
• Asia Program (China)—Mandarin Chinese reading skills required.
  Asia Program (Japan)—Japanese reading skills required.
  Asia Program (Economics)—Mandarin Chinese reading skills a huge plus. Strong background in economics essential.
  Please note: Applicants for the Asia program with skills in two or more of the above areas (Chinese language skills, Japanese language skills, strong economics background) will be at an advantage when applying, regardless of their essay selection.
• Russia and Eurasia—Excellent Russian reading skills required.
• Africa Program—The program examines the economic, social, political, and external factors shaping Africa today, with the aim of helping regional and international policy actors strengthen their contributions to a prosperous and stable African future.

 APPLICATION PROCESS

Application materials for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program will be available at the start of November from our university nominating official, Dr. Laurie McMillan, Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Kutztown University may nominate two students for national consideration.

The Kutztown University deadline is December 18, 2021. Each application must contain:

1) Application form: Request the form directly from Dr. Laurie McMillan and return the completed form to her via email (lmcmillan@kutztown.edu). Submit all other materials through the KU Carnegie Jr. Fellows Submission Form  
2) Essay 1 (one page or less, double-spaced) on why you would like to become a junior fellow.
3) Resume of 1-2 pages.
4) Two letters of recommendation. These recommendations can come from anyone you believe can best speak to your abilities as a potential Gaither Junior Fellow.
5) Transcript of undergraduate records. The transcript may be unofficial.
6) Essay 2 of no more than three (3) typewritten, double-spaced pages on one of the topics listed below. These topics are intended to test skills in analysis, logic, and written expression. The essays should be analytical thought pieces, not research papers. Students should submit an essay related to their primary research program interests, although the Carnegie Endowment may ultimately select an applicant for a program outside of his/her designated primary interest or make an assignment to more than one program.

Again, items 2-5 above can be submitted via this linked form: KU Carnegie Jr. Fellows Submission Form

ESSAY 2 TOPICS

Choose just one topic to address that matches the program you're best suited for in the list above. Follow the guidelines in #6 above when answering the question.

A. Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program. As democracy in the United States and Europe is experiencing more serious problems, the question of the relationship between those problems and the issues facing democracy in the rest of the world is gaining attention. Are the problems that democracy is facing in the United States and Europe largely similar to or fundamentally different from those plaguing democracy in other regions such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East?

B. American Statecraft Program. America’s role in the world is changing, whether it likes it or not. What are the 3-5 most important factors that will shape the context in which America conducts its foreign policy in the next two decades?

C. Nuclear Policy Program. Which state without nuclear weapons do you believe is most likely to acquire them?

D. Technology and International Affairs Program (Please respond to just ONE of the two following questions). What technology issue will have the greatest impact on international stability in the coming decade, and why? OR What factors explain why the cybersecurity environment has continued to deteriorate in recent years?

E. Middle East Program. The Middle East region is going through a huge, agonizing and protracted transformation characterized by dwindling oil revenues, rising populations, failing governance structures and government services, rising extremism and sectarianism, and high youth unemployment. The current situation has enabled regional powers to intervene in each other’s affairs as well as non-state actors such as the self-proclaimed Islamic State to emerge and spread new toxic ideologies. What do you see as one of the most difficult threats facing the region today and the underlying drivers of turmoil? Discuss the impact this has had on two countries in the region and strategies that will help move these countries toward a better future.

F. International Security and Political Economy [to work with the International Security and South Asia Programs] (Please respond to just ONE of the two following questions) What factors explain why, in many democracies, poor people continue to receive poor public services, despite accounting for a large share of the population? OR Should the United States end its ambiguity over defending Taiwan?

G. Asia Program (China). Many observers argue that the longstanding US policy of engagement and hedging toward China has failed. As proof, they point to Beijing’s failure to significantly liberalize politically, to open up its markets sufficiently to foreign competition, and to promote the norms that the United States and its democratic partners prefer in its approach to international order. Instead, these observers argue, China has only become more oppressive domestically, pursuing predatory economic policies overseas, failing to move on needed economic reforms at home, threatening its neighbors, establishing competitor international institutions, and trying to undermine the U.S. and push it out of Asia. Has U.S. policy failed, and what are the right yardsticks for assessing Chinese conduct in international relations?

H. Asia Program (Japan). Japan is watching the emerging U.S.-China strategic competition carefully, clearly supporting its ally on various fronts in order to balance against China and bolster its own standing as efficiently and effectively as possible. However, as U.S. policy towards China becomes more aggressive (in terms of protectionist measures, stricter export controls, and trying to form coalitions to isolate China and its companies), Japan is placed in the uncomfortable position of trying to balance its own desire to pressure China and promote more open rules-based economic and diplomatic behavior on the one hand, while on the other hand wanting to maximize economic opportunity for Japanese firms with China and avoid being dragged into the middle of a more intense U.S.-China competition. Provide your own brief assessment of what is at stake for Japan amid growing U.S.-China friction and how you evaluate the steps it is taking to maximize Japan’s national interest. What are the near-term prospects for Japan and for the U.S.-Japan alliance?

I. Asia Program (Economics). China’s economic rise has created tensions with the US. America is accusing China of unfair trade and foreign investment practices. But China sees its actions as necessary to become more technologically advanced to escape the middle income trap. What are merits of the respective arguments?

J. Russia and Eurasia Program. The U.S.-Russia relationship has plummeted to unprecedented post-Cold War lows. Can this downward trajectory be arrested? What are the key dangers in the current situation and how might the White House seek to prevent things from getting out of hand?

K. Africa Program. Narratives about Sub-Saharan Africa’s future often oscillate between unrealistic optimism and blanket pessimism. Clearly the truth lies in a more nuanced middle. Compare and contrast the recent trajectories of two African countries—including both their economic and political dimensions—to help illuminate a nuanced picture of Africa’s current direction.