The Carnegie Endowment for Peace Junior Fellows Program
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States. As one of the world’s leading think tanks specializing in international affairs, the Endowment conducts programs of research, discussion, publication and education. The Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Approximately 8-10 students will be hired to work at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington, DC on a full-time basis for a period of one year.
ASSIGNMENTS: Junior Fellows provide research assistance to scholars working on the Carnegie Endowment's projects: nuclear policy, democracy building, energy and climate issues, international economics, international security, Middle East studies, South Asian politics, Southeast Asian politics, Asia and China-related issues, and Russian and Eurasian affairs. Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for books, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony and organize briefings attended by scholars, activists, journalists and government officials.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applications are accepted only from graduating college seniors or individuals who have graduated within the past academic year. No one will be considered who has started graduate studies (except those who have recently completed a joint bachelor’s/master’s degree program). Applicants should have completed a significant amount of course work related to their discipline of interest. Language and other skills may also be required for certain assignments. The selection process for the Junior Fellows Program is very competitive. Accordingly, applicants should be of high academic quality.
DURATION: All fellowships begin on August 1, 2013. Junior Fellows are hired for a period of approximately one year.
SALARY AND HOUSING: The monthly salary is $3,000.00 (equivalent to $36,000 annually) subject to federal, state and local taxes. A generous benefits package is provided, including medical, dental and life insurance as well as vacation leave. Junior Fellows are responsible for their own housing arrangements.
William & Mary may nominate up to two candidates, and the nomination process is coordinated by Director of Fellowships [[lmgrim, Lisa Grimes]]. The campus application deadline is 12 p.m. on Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES: All of the following must be received in the Charles Center no later than 12 noon on Wednesday December 5:
* One copy of the completed and signed application form (available after October 15);
* One copy of an essay of one page or less, double-spaced on why the student would like to become a Junior Fellow;
* One copy of a 1-2 page resume;
* Two recommendations from faculty members, at least one of whom can address the candidate's research skills;
* One copy of an unofficial transcript that includes fall 2012 course registration;
* One copy of an essay of no more than three (3) typewritten, double-spaced pages on one of the following topics (available after October 15). These topics are intended to test skills in analysis, logic, and written expression. The essays should be 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.
Applicants
must respond to the question pertaining to the program to which they are applying.
A. Democracy Program (Political Science background preferred): The United States and Europe have so many problems making their own democracies work that they no longer have credibility to promote democracy in other parts of the world. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
B. Nuclear Policy: By the year 2015 do you think there will be more than the current nine countries with nuclear weapons? If so, which ones, and why? If not, why are people who fear this wrong?
C. Energy & Climate Program: With climate change an increasingly present reality, the need to reduce carbon emissions also mounts. One obvious strategy is to price carbon emissions at their externalized marginal cost to society. Yet, with a cap-and-trade bill politically off the table and anti-tax sentiment in the nation's capital running high, new taxes that increase consumer tax obligations are also not in favor. What are some optons for moving foward with a domestic carbon pricing given these constraints, and how could they be structured to make them more acceptable across the political spectrum?
D. Economics Program (Economic background required): China and many of the other countries in East Asia are now experiencing a slowdown in their economic growth. Is this likely to persist and what are the policy implications? [*Applicants interested in the International Economics Program ar the Asia Program with a focus in economics should respond to this question.*]
E. Middle East Program (Native or near-native fluency in Arabic essential): In the aftermath of the Arab uprisings, some of the Middle East countries have entered a period of transition, while others still appear stuck in the old patter. First, discuss breifly which countries have definitely entered a period of transition. Secondly, select two countries in transition and discuss the salient factors influencing their transformation and what they suggest about the possibility of a democratic outcome.
F. South Asia Program: What major consequences and reprucussions will the rise of India have for regional security?
G. Asia Program: Relations between China and Japan, between China and certain nations in Southeast Asia, and even between some ASEAN nations, have grown tense over the past year. Is this a long term trend of strategic and economic significance, given their interlinked economies, or is it a temporary phenomenon? [*Applicants interested in China, Japan, or Southeast Asia studies should respond to this question (G). Those with a special interest in Economics should respond to question D.*]
H. Russian/Eurasian Program (Excellent Russian language skills required): Both Moscow and Washington have elevated their focus on the Asia Pacific region in recent years. Taking into account the mixed record of cooperation and tension between the U.S. and Russia since the 2009 "reset" and considering the interests of other regional actors, such as China, how best might the U.S. craft a policy toward Russia in what has been called the "Pacific Century"?
The campus nomination committee will choose up to 2 nominees. All applicants will be notified of their status by email as soon as the selections are made. The decisions of the committee are final. Nominees may fine tune their applications but must submit final versions to the Charles Center by noon on January 14, 2013. Nominees must also request official transcripts, including Fall 2012 grades, to be picked up by the Charles Center staff no later than January 11, 2013. Questions? Contact Director of Fellowships [[lmgrim, Lisa Grimes]].