Programs
New Voices 4 Global Solutions Essay Contest
Overview
CGS is excited to announce the launch of the 2025 New Voices 4 Global Solutions Essay Contest!
The 2025 New Voices 4 Global Solutions Essay Contest invites young people aged 18 to 26 across the United States to submit thoughtful, well-argued submissions that offer compelling ideas to revitalize international cooperation and reinforce global institutions.
Compelling essays will be published in our flagship journal, Mondial, and the contest winner will win an expenses-paid trip to attend the 2025 Ventotene International Seminar (August 31 – September 5) on the island of Ventotene, Italy!
The 2025 essay theme is “Multilateralism under threat: challenges and solutions for global governance in an age of isolationism”.
Essay submissions should respond to each of the following questions:
- In an era marked by rising unilateralism and isolationism, how can we reimagine and strengthen global governance to address today’s most pressing transnational challenges?
- What innovations —whether institutional, legal, diplomatic, or civic—can revitalize international cooperation in the face of growing isolationism?
- At a time when global crises such as climate change, migration, and armed conflict demand coordinated international responses, are there solutions to be found in the democratic world federalist concept?
Essays should be submitted with contact details in Word format to outreach@globalsolutions.org by July 11, 2025, at midnight PT.
Learn More by Registering for the Online Workshop
To learn more about our advocacy initiatives, get inspiration for an essay topic, and guidance on submitting essays, please join us for an online workshop on June 25 at 12:00 PM EST.
Eligibility Criteria & Guidelines
Eligibility
United States residents aged 18-26.
Deadline
July 11, 2025, midnight Pacific Time (PT).
Essay Length and Style
Up to 2,000 words.
Authors should adhere to the APA style guidelines to the extent possible for formatting, citations, and referencing as much as possible.
Submission
By email to outreach@globalsolutions.org (subject line “New Voices 4 Global Solutions Essay Contest Submission: [YOUR NAME]”). Please submit your essay as a Word document.
Authorship
Essays (or parts of essays) by the author that have already been submitted for a class or course are eligible for the contest. In such cases, it should be clearly indicated that part or all of the essay has already been submitted elsewhere. In all cases essays submitted to the New Voices 4 Global Solutions Essay Contest must be written entirely by the submitting author.
Publication Rights
Authors grant the Citizens for Global Solutions the right to publish and distribute their work in Mondial, CGS’s flagship publication, and the CGS website and related platforms. In the case that an essay is chosen for publication, authors are expected to maintain an open and cooperative stance towards feedback and proposed revisions required for publication.
Non-political and Non-promotional
Submissions must refrain from advocating for specific political parties, individuals, or commercial interests.
Ethical Considerations
Authors must strictly adhere to ethical standards, giving due credit to sources and avoiding any form of plagiarism. Using Generative AI tools will result in disqualification.
Prize Award & Conditions
Prize
The contest (first place) prize is a place at the 2025 Ventotene International Seminar (typically the first week of September). The seminar, organized annually on the island of Ventotene, Italy, by the Altiero Spinelli Institute for Federalist Studies, gathers young federalists and leading experts from the European and World Federalist Movement to explore federalist thinking on European and global issues.
Costs Covered
Costs to attend the seminar (travel from the US to Italy and within Italy to Ventotene, and accommodation at Ventotene for the duration of the seminar, as well as a stipend for meals) will be covered by CGS.
Contingency
Should circumstances preclude the winning author from traveling to Ventotene at this time, a conference of similar prestige and value can be substituted in consultation with the winning author.
Disclaimer
Please note that if no essay is submitted meeting the contest eligibility and submission rules, the prize may not be awarded.
Judging Criteria
Essays will be judged according to the specified criteria:
Responsiveness to the theme
In accordance with this year’s theme, “Multilateralism under threat: challenges and solutions for global governance in an age of isolationism,” essay submissions should respond to all three of the following questions:
- In an era marked by rising unilateralism and isolationism, how can we reimagine and strengthen global governance to address today’s most pressing transnational challenges?
- What innovations —whether institutional, legal, diplomatic, or civic—can revitalize international cooperation in the face of growing isolationism?
- At a time when global crises such as climate change, migration, and armed conflict demand coordinated international responses, are there solutions to be found in the democratic world federalist concept?
In-depth analysis
Submissions are expected to provide comprehensive analysis and well-substantiated arguments pertaining to the chosen subject matter.
Originality and uniqueness
Authors are encouraged to offer original insights, unique perspectives or creative solutions on topics pertinent to global governance.
Clarity and writing style
Submissions should be clear and engaging. Authors should strive for a polished and accessible writing style.
Use of credible sources
Authors are required to employ reputable and verifiable sources to corroborate their arguments and assertions.
Respect for diverse perspectives
Authors should exemplify inclusivity and respect for various viewpoints, fostering constructive and insightful discourse.
Questions?
Please use the form below to ask further questions. Alternatively, you can email to outreach@globalsolutions.org (subject line “New Voices 4 Global Solutions Essay Contest Submission”).