In October 2023, the Cato Institute will host our sixth annual Junior Scholars Symposium (JSS), a paper workshop for graduate students on policy‐relevant topics broadly related to international security and national security policy. In keeping with a U.S. foreign policy of restraint, the policy implications of papers should identify flaws in the U.S. approach to the world and recommend ways for improving it.
JSS provides participants a unique opportunity to receive feedback on their research in progress from other graduate students and Cato scholars. Papers should be of journal article length; the workshop will focus on providing substantive criticism and strategies for getting the work published.
Paper topics may include, but are not limited to, U.S. foreign policy, grand strategy, civil‐military relations, alliances and security institutions, and diplomatic history. Candidates should have a background in political science, history, or a related field, and must have completed at least one year of study in a PhD program by the time of the workshop.
The 2023 workshop will be held at the Cato Institute building in Washington, D.C. Participants will receive a stipend of $500 and Cato will pay for their travel to and from Washington, as well as a working dinner and accommodations.
The symposium will take place on October 27th and 28th. To apply, submit an abstract of no more than 500 words and a CV to juniorscholars@cato.org by April 21st. All candidates will be notified of the status of their application by May 26th, and finalist papers will be due on September 29th.
