About the Program

The world is moving fast to a more plural distribution of power. Non-Western powers are increasingly bringing their perspectives into the global policy-making process, challenging European and other Western powers. They contribute their own interpretations of global norms to the discussion based on different interests and historical and cultural trajectories. As a result, policy-making on key global challenges ranging from security to humanitarian assistance to human rights to Internet governance becomes more contested.

There is a need for better academic understanding of the workings of multilateralism in an increasingly “post-Western” world. European scholars and policymakers alike stand to profit from deeper familiarity with the traditions, motivations, and worldviews of powers not traditionally regarded as part of “the West.” Conversely, scholars and policy makers from outside Europe are often not fully immersed into the diverse set of influences on Europe’s multilateral policies. In other words, there is a need for mutual learning and exchange. One way of achieving this is for European scholars to forge closer ties with researchers from countries not traditionally part of the West.

The aim of the Global Challenges Fellowship Program (GCFP) is to invite researchers and practitioners from nine emerging countries to the School of Public Policy at Central European University (SPP) and the Central European University Institute for Advanced Study (CEU IAS) in Budapest, Hungary and the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin, Germany to foster new forms of collaboration. This serves the ultimate purpose of forging closer ties between Western and non-Western researchers and policy makers, offering fresh perspectives on some of the world’s most pressing public policy challenges, challenges which can only be resolved together.

The fellows spend a total of approximately 7-8 months as Global Challenges Fellows (GCF) doing analytical and empirical work in Budapest, and engaging with policy practitioners at GPPi in Berlin. While the exact timetable depends on the specifications of each research project, the majority of time (about 75%) is spent in Budapest.

The program supports up to two junior and two senior Fellows per year. During their fellowship, they publish journal articles and/or policy papers and participate in a series of small working group-style discussions and seminars. Fellows’ work is situated within one of the following focal research areas:

• Development and governance
• Internet Governance
• Changing global institutions

The Global Challenges Fellowship Program is implemented with generous support from the Volkswagen Foundation.

Meet Current Fellows

Medha Chaturvedi is focusing on left-wing extremism and political participation in India. Hear about how her research can contribute to improved policy-making in India.