Proposal Guidelines for Scholarly Track

Your project proposal is the most important part of your fellowship application. It should be clear, concise, and comprehensible to individuals outside your own field or concentration. As you look through the questions that follow, please note the word counts provided as guidelines for the length of your response to each question.

A scholarly proposal will be stronger if it exhibits the following characteristics:

  • articulates a clear, original hypothesis and outlines a suitable methodology
  • explains how the research results may contribute to the existing literature on democracy
  • offers comparative potential with other countries or regions
  • has practical or policy relevance in the field of democracy promotion
  • contains a realistic work schedule

Project proposals must be the applicants' own original work and not someone else's. The program maintains zero tolerance for plagiarism of any kind. Applicants are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in the submission of their written materials, including scrupulous regard for copyright and intellectual property rights. 

Through the Online Application System, please be prepared to address the following questions:

1) Fellowship Project Title

Provide a title for your proposed fellowship project.

2) Fellowship Project Proposal

In approximately 2,000 words, describe what issue related to the theory or practice of democracy you propose to research and why this issue is important. What methodology do you plan to use in conducting your research? How does this research contribute to the existing literature in your field? How would a fellowship at the International Forum for Democratic Studies facilitate your research?

3) Fellowship Product

In approximately 250 words, indicate what scholarly product(s) will result from your research (article, essay, book manuscript, etc.)? How will these results be disseminated (journal or newspaper publication, electronic media, blog, etc.) and in what language(s)? In addition, please provide a detailed outline of your proposed written product(s).

4) Fellowship Impact

In approximately 250 words, tell us how the results of your research may contribute to the practice and promotion of democracy and human rights. Will your findings have implications beyond the scholarly realm? Are there other ways in which your project may have an impact on your field of interest or on your own professional development?

5) Personal Background and Professional Experience

In approximately 250 to 500 words, provide a narrative description of your personal and professional accomplishments as they relate to the theory and practice of democracy and human rights.

6) Outreach

With which academic institutions, think tanks, and other organizations do you hope to interact, and why? You are encouraged to list specific names of colleagues or counterparts with whom you would like to meet in the scholarly, media, NGO, or policy communities.

7) International Exchange

Through its calendar of seminars, roundtable discussions, field trips, presentations, and other opportunities for international exchange, the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program encourages an active and ongoing dialogue among fellows on matters of mutual concern. In approximately 75 words, provide a description of how you see yourself contributing to and benefiting from the collegial life of the program.

8) Bibliography

This is an optional field in the event you wish to upload a bibliography of works cited in your project proposal.