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.
