February 2, 2026 11:32AM # Call for Proposals: Junior Scholars Symposium 2026 By [Jon Hoffman](https://www.cato.org/people/jon-hoffman) --- SHARE Listen to this article Generated with [ ElevenLabs](https://elevenlabs.io/) AI technology. Loading the [Elevenlabs Text to Speech](https://elevenlabs.io/text-to-speech) AudioNative Player... ![Junior Scholars Symposium Logo](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2022-01/JSS%20Logo%20JPEG_0.jpg?itok=j47Eosqt) In 2026, the Cato Institute will host its ninth annual Junior Scholars Symposium (JSS), a paper workshop for graduate students on policy-relevant topics related to international security and national security policy. The Cato Institute works to promote a [**US foreign policy of restraint**](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy). Accordingly, the most promising papers will clearly identify flaws in US approaches to international relations and offer recommendations for improving US foreign policy. The JSS provides participants a unique opportunity to receive feedback on research in progress from their peers 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, US 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 2026 workshop will be held at the Cato Institute building in Washington, DC. Participants will receive a $500 stipend, and Cato will pay for travel to and from Washington, hotel accommodations, and a working dinner. The symposium will take place on **October 15 and 16**. To apply, submit an abstract of no more than 500 words and a CV to [**Jmitchell@​cato.​org**](mailto:Jmitchell@cato.org) by **April 25**. All candidates will be notified of the status of their application by **May 26**, and finalists must submit their papers by **September 26**. ##### Related Tags [Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy) [![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).