In October 2022, the Cato Institute will host our fifth annual Junior Scholars Symposium (JSS), a paper workshop for graduate students on topics broadly related to international security and national security policy. JSS provides participants a unique opportunity to receive feedback on their research in progress from other graduate students and Cato scholars.

Paper topics may include but are not limited to U.S. foreign policy, grand strategy, civil-military relations, alliances and security institutions, diplomatic history, emerging technology, arms control, and nuclear deterrence. Papers that link national security to global health, trade, political economy or immigration are also welcome.

Participants will be expected to produce an original paper of journal-article length; the workshop will focus on paper presentations, discussion and suggestions for improvement, with the expectation that authors will go on to seek publication in external journals or build upon this research as they move towards the dissertation phase of their studies.

Participants are particularly expected to highlight the policy relevance of their work. In keeping with the Cato Institute’s commitment to moving U.S. foreign policy towards prudence and restraint, the policy implications of papers should be broadly compatible with a pragmatic realist approach to foreign policy.

We are planning on holding the 2022 workshop at the Cato Institute building in Washington, D.C. If the COVID-19 pandemic outlook worsens significantly there is a potential that the workshop will take place virtually. We will give participants at least 30 days notice if the format changes to virtual instead of in-person. If the event is held in-person, COVID-19 related protocols may apply. Participants will receive a stipend of $500, and if the workshop is held in-person, will have reasonable travel and accommodation costs covered.

The symposium will take place on October 21^st and 22^nd. To apply, submit an abstract of no more than 500 words to juniorscholars@​cato.​org by April 22^nd. The abstract should detail your proposed research project and be accompanied by a CV. Candidates should have a background in political science, history, public policy, or a related field, and must have completed at least one year of graduate study in a PhD program by the time of the workshop. All candidates will be notified of the status of their application by May 20^th, and their papers will be due on September 30^th.