Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a unique global network of policy research centers in Russia, China, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Their mission, dating back more than a century, is to advance the cause of peace through analysis and development of fresh policy ideas and direct engagement and collaboration with decision-makers in government, business and civil society. Working together, their centers bring the inestimable benefit of multiple national viewpoints to bilateral, regional and global issues.

Each year, the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace holds a rigorous national competition to select approximately 12-14 graduating seniors to serve as research assistants. They are matched with senior fellows – academics, former government officials, lawyers and journalists from around the world – to work on a variety of international affairs issues. Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for Carnegie publications, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony
and organize briefings attended by scholars, journalists and government officials.

Junior Fellows spend one year at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington, DC., beginning on August. Positions are full-time and include a salary and a benefits package.

The application process is highly competitive. Applications from nominees are evaluated based on the quality of the written essay, related academic study and/or work experience, academic performance, letters of recommendation, and personal interviews.

Qualifications & Eligibility

Open to ALL majors at UCSD.
Applicants must be nominated by an official of their university or institution who has been designated for this purpose (usually the career placement officer, fellowship advisor or an academic department chairperson). A listing of participating institutions and nominating officials may be found at http://carnegieendowment.org/about/jr-fellows. 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 coursework related to their discipline of interest. Language and other skills may also be required for certain assignments. The selection process for the program is very competitive. Accordingly, applicants should be of high academic quality.
Qualifications for Gaither Junior Fellows may vary by program. Please review the bulletin for program requirements and more information on what each program is looking for.

Application

Application packet must be recieved by the International Studies Advising Office

Application Deadline: Applications will need to be received by isp@ucsd.edu no later than January 5th, 2021.

Application Packet: Carnegie Endowment James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program Application Materials

Application Form
Essay #1:
- One page or less, double spaced on why you would like to become a junior fellow.
Resume/CV (preferably 1-2 pages)
2 Letters of Recommendation
- Can come from anyone the student feels can best speak to their abilities as a potential Gaither Junior Fellow
Transcript (unofficial transcript accepted)
Essay #2:
- An essay of no more than three (3) typewritten, double-spaced pages on one of the following topics (see programs below). These topics are intended to test skills in analysis, logic, and written expression. The essays should be analytical thought pieces, not research papers. Students should submit an essay related to their primary research program interests, although the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program may ultimately select an applicant for a program outside of his/her designated primary interest or make an assignment to more than one program

Programs: Applicants must respond to the question pertaining to the program to which they are applying.

Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program. As democracy in the United States and Europe is
experiencing more serious problems, the question of the relationship between those problems and the
issues facing democracy in the rest of the world is gaining attention. Are the problems that democracy is
facing in the United States and Europe largely similar to or fundamentally different from those plaguing
democracy in other regions such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East?
U.S. Foreign Policy and Diplomacy. The Obama Administration looked to re-set relations with
Russia, recast America’s role in the Middle East, and rebalance its posture toward the Asia-Pacific. The
Trump Administration has pursued its own policy pivots in each of these areas. Compare and contrast
the aims and policy records of the Obama and Trump administrations in one of these foreign policy
areas, and draw out lessons from the experience of both administrations that ought to inform American
diplomacy in the years ahead.
Nuclear Policy Program. Which state without nuclear weapons do you believe is at most risk of
acquiring them?
Technology and International Affairs Program (including the Cyber Policy Initiative). (Please
respond to just ONE of the two following questions). What technology issue will have the greatest
impact on international stability in the coming decade, and why? OR What factors explain why the
cybersecurity environment has continued to deteriorate in recent years?
Middle East Program. The Middle East region is going through a huge, agonizing and protracted
transformation characterized by dwindling oil revenues, rising populations, failing governance structures
and government services, rising extremism and sectarianism, and high youth unemployment. The
current situation has enabled regional powers to intervene in each other’s affairs as well as non-state
actors such as the self-proclaimed Islamic State to emerge and spread new toxic ideologies. What do you
see as one of the most difficult threats facing the region today and the underlying drivers of turmoil?
Discuss the impact this has had on two countries in the region and strategies that will help move these
countries toward a better future.
South Asia Program. (Please respond to just ONE of the two following questions). What factors
explain why, in many democracies, poor people continue to receive poor public services, despite
accounting for a large share of the population? OR Under what conditions is a military response an
effective solution to transnational terrorism?
Asia Program (China). Many observers argue that the longstanding US policy of engagement and
hedging toward China has failed. As proof, they point to Beijing’s failure to significantly liberalize
politically, to open up its markets sufficiently to foreign competition, and to promote the norms that the
United States and its democratic partners prefer in its approach to international order. Instead, these
observers argue, China has only become more oppressive domestically, pursuing predatory economic
policies overseas, failing to move on needed economic reforms at home, threatening its neighbors,
establishing competitor international institutions, and trying to undermine the U.S. and push it out of
Asia. Has U.S. policy failed, and what are the right yardsticks for assessing Chinese conduct in
international relations?
Asia Program (Japan). Japan is watching the emerging U.S.-China strategic competition carefully,
clearly supporting its ally on various fronts in order to balance against China and bolster its own standing
as efficiently and effectively as possible. However, as U.S. policy towards China becomes more
aggressive (in terms of protectionist measures, stricter export controls, and trying to form coalitions to
isolate China and its companies), Japan is placed in the uncomfortable position of trying to balance its
own desire to pressure China and promote more open rules-based economic and diplomatic behavior on
the one hand, while on the other hand wanting to maximize economic opportunity for Japanese firms
with China and avoid being dragged into the middle of a more intense U.S.-China competition. Provide
your own brief assessment of what is at stake for Japan amid growing U.S.-China friction and how you
evaluate the steps it is taking to maximize Japan’s national interest. What are the near-term prospects for
Japan and for the U.S.-Japan alliance?
Asia Program (Economics). China’s economic rise has created tensions with the US. America is
accusing China of unfair trade and foreign investment practices. But China sees its actions as necessary
to become more technologically advanced to escape the middle income trap. What are merits of the
respective arguments?
Russia and Eurasia Program. The U.S.-Russia relationship has plummeted to unprecedented postCold War lows. Can this downward trajectory be arrested? What are the key dangers in the current
situation and how might the White House seek to prevent things from getting out of hand?
Africa Program. Narratives about Sub-Saharan Africa’s future often oscillate between unrealistic
optimism and blanket pessimism. Clearly the truth lies in a more nuanced middle. Compare and contrast
the recent trajectories of two African countries—including both their economic and political
dimensions—to help illuminate a nuanced picture of Africa’s current direction.

Nomination: All applications must be forwarded to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace by the International Studies Program.

Nomination & Contact Information

The International Studies Program is the administrative home of the Carnegie Endowment James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program nomination process at UCSD.

ALL applications must be submitted to the International Studies Advising Office by the deadline provided on this page. Applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of faculty members from different departments across campus.

If you have any questions, please contact:

International Studies Program Advisors
E-mail: isp@ucsd.edu
Phone: 858-822-5299
Location: Robinson Building Complex, Building 3

Current Projects: 2021-22

Each year, the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace holds a rigorous national competition to select approximately 12-14 graduating
seniors to serve as research assistants. They are matched with senior fellows – academics, former
government officials, lawyers and journalists from around the world – to work on a variety of
international affairs issues. Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for Carnegie
publications, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony
and organize briefings attended by scholars, journalists and government officials.

James C. Gaither Junior Fellows spend one year (beginning August 1st) at Carnegie in Washington,
DC. Positions are full-time and include a salary and benefits package.

We encourage you to review our website (http://carnegieendowment.org/) for more information on
each program/project listed below.

2021-2022 Projects

Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
U.S. Foreign Policy and Diplomacy – The Junior Fellow will support Carnegie Endowment President
Ambassador William J. Burns on research and writing that seeks to shape American diplomacy.
Applicants should have coursework in U.S. foreign policy, broad-gauged regional lens, an interest in
policy analysis and formulation, and superb writing skills.
Nuclear Policy
Technology and International Affairs (including the Cyber Policy Initiative)
Middle East – Strong reading fluency and the ability to perform academic as well as on-line research in
Arabic essential. Strong background in Middle East politics and/or history is a huge plus.
South Asia – A strong academic background in international relations theory, political theory, or
international political economy is essential, along with an interest in military issues. The ability to
perform quantitative data manipulation is required and a strong mathematical background is a plus.
Asia Program (China) – Mandarin Chinese reading skills required.
Asia Program (Japan) – Japanese reading skills required.
Asia Program (Economics) – Mandarin Chinese reading skills a huge plus. Strong background in
economics essential.

Please note: Applicants for the Asia program with skills in two or more of the above
areas (Chinese language skills, Japanese language skills, strong economics
background) will be at an advantage when applying, regardless of their essay selection.

Russia and Eurasia – Excellent Russian reading skills required.
Africa Program (NEW) - The Africa Program examines the economic, social, political, and external
factors shaping Africa today, with the aim of helping regional and international policy actors strengthen
their contributions to a better African future.

2019-2020 Projects

Each year, the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace holds a rigorous national competition to select approximately 12-14 graduating
seniors to serve as research assistants. They are matched with senior fellows – academics, former
government officials, lawyers and journalists from around the world – to work on a variety of
international affairs issues. Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for Carnegie
publications, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony
and organize briefings attended by scholars, journalists and government officials.

James C. Gaither Junior Fellows spend one year (beginning August 1st) at Carnegie in Washington,
DC. Positions are full-time and include a salary and benefits package.

We encourage you to review our website (http://carnegieendowment.org/) for more information on
each program/project listed below.

2019-2020 Junior Fellows Projects

Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
U.S. Foreign Policy and Diplomacy – The Junior Fellow will support Carnegie Endowment President Ambassador William J. Burns on research and writing that seeks to shape American diplomacy. Applicants should have coursework in U.S. foreign policy, broad-gauged regional lens, an interest in policy analysis and formulation, and superb writing skills.
Nuclear Policy
Technology and International Affairs/Cyber Policy
Middle East – Strong reading fluency and the ability to perform academic as well as on-line research in Arabic essential. Strong background in Middle East politics and/or history is a huge plus.
South Asia – A strong academic background in international relations theory, political theory, or international political economy is essential, along with an interest in military issues. The ability to perform quantitative data manipulation is required and a strong mathematical background is a plus.
China (Asia Program) – Mandarin Chinese reading skills a huge plus.
Japan (Asia Program) – Japanese reading skills required.
Economics (Asia Program) – Mandarin Chinese reading skills a huge plus. Strong background in economics essential.
Russia and Eurasia – Excellent Russian reading skills required.
Geoeconomics and Strategy

2018-19 Projects

Each year, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace holds a rigorous national competition to select approximately 10-12 graduating seniors to serve as research assistants. They are matched with senior associates -- academics, former government officials, lawyers and journalists from around the world - to work on a variety of international affairs issues. Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for publications, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony and organize briefings attended by scholars, journalists and government officials.