Utah students are invited to submit entries for a chance to participate in a two-week study tour of Azerbaijan!

The Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, along with The World Affairs Councils of America, is pleased to announce a National High School essay contest for the 2011-2012 academic year. Ten students will be selected to participate in a two week Study Tour of Azerbaijan in the latter part of June 2012. The Essay Contest is open to all high-school students.

About Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a country at the nexus point of the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Historically, the country has always been a middleman for the East and West-- in ancient and medieval times it was a central point along the Silk Road and today its strategic placement keeps it a focal point for commercial and energy policies and regional and global geopolitics. The World Affairs Councils of America conducted a Leadership Mission to Azerbaijan in spring 2011.

Essay Topic 


Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has planned an official visit to Azerbaijan. You are Secretary Clinton's Foreign Policy Advisor responsible for Azerbaijan and have been tasked to write the briefing materials for her trip. The briefing materials can be no longer than 1000 words maximum. The materials must be succinct and to the point. They must include: 1. An assessment of whether/how the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic of 1918-1920 influences Azerbaijan today in terms of democracy, rights of women, and foreign policy; 2. A discussion of how Azerbaijan's geographic location has influenced the country's security and economic policies; 3. An explanation of where the strategic interests of the U.S. and Azerbaijan converge and diverge; 4. A summary of perspectives for extending Azerbaijan's geopolitical influence beyond the South Caucasus in light of its leading regional position and its socio-economic development; and 5. The top 3 most important issues in US-Azeri relations and your recommendations for US policy on the trip.

Due

March 1, 2012

To Apply 


Submit your essay to the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy by emailing it in a .doc attachment to dcaldwell@utahdiplomacy.org. Three regional winners will be selected and will be eligible to win one of the ten spots on the Study Tour to Azerbaijan.