Justin Horowitz '25 is awarded Fulbright to study in Sri Lanka
Congratulations to Justin Horowitz who received a Fulbright for the 2025-2026 academic year to study in Sri Lanka! Justin, who will be graduating this year with a B. A. Government, was attracted to William & Mary for the strong department and its faculty. His continuing interest in South and Southeast Asia politics influenced his research trajectory.
This past spring, Justin completed an honors thesis on the role of ethnoreligious nationalism in the 2021 military coup of Myanmar. The thesis examined the historical collaboration between Buddhist extremist organizations and the Burmese military, and how the actions of Myanmar’s democratically elected government sought to limit the rhetoric and activities of these organizations between 2015 and 2021. His research found a strong relationship between the Burmese military and Buddhist extremist organizations. These close ties led the democratically elected government to place restrictions on these organizations which influenced the military to depose the government in 2021. Justin’s thesis was selected for the Warner Moss Award which recognizes outstanding undergraduate research.
In Sri Lanka, Justin plans on researching largescale Buddhist nationalism. He intends to study the history of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist nationalist movement, and how this movement exported its ideology throughout South and Southeast Asia. Building on the work of his honors thesis, Justin also will examine the collaborations of Sri Lankan Buddhist organizations and those in neighboring countries such as Myanmar and their continuing influence on the governments of their respective countries. Upon completion of his Fulbright, Jason plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science.
A Pasadena, California native, Justin will miss the fall colors of W&M and Colonial Williamsburg. Some of his fondest college memories include showing friends from home the campus. He also will never forget the endless hours crammed in a friend’s dorm room watching the 2022 World Cup. Jason, the Government department wishes you all the best and come see us at Homecoming.