The Václav Havel Emerging Voices in Democracy Writing Competition

"Keep the company of those who seek the truth—run from those who have found it."
— Václav Havel

The Security and Democracy Forum is proud to launch the Václav Havel Emerging Voices in Democracy Prize, an annual writing competition designed to elevate outstanding student voices at the intersection of national security and democratic governance.

At a time when global security challenges are growing more complex and democratic institutions face increasing strain, new ideas and principled leadership are urgently needed. This prize aims to identify and promote thoughtful, policy-relevant analysis from the next generation of national security thinkers and practitioners.

The winning author will receive a $500 prize and have their work published by the Security and Democracy Forum. Selected finalists may also receive publication opportunities or editorial feedback.

Who Should Apply

We invite submissions from current students, including:

Undergraduate students
Graduate students (MA, MS, MPP, JD, MBA, PhD)
Professional military education students
Service academy students

Recent graduates may be considered if they completed their degree within the last six months.

What to Submit

Applicants should submit an original, unpublished op-ed that explores a real-world security challenge through the lens of democratic governance.

Submissions should:

Present a clear thesis and policy argument
Be evidence-based with credible sourcing
Address a practical policy problem
Be written for an informed public audience

Entries must follow the Security and Democracy Forum op-ed submission guidelines and must not be under review or published elsewhere.

Submissions should also include:

A short author bio (2–3 sentences)
School affiliation
Confirmation that the work is original and unpublished

Optional (encouraged):

A 1–2 sentence pitch summary
A proposed headline and two alternate titles

Possible Topics

Submissions may explore a wide range of issues related to security and democratic resilience, including:

Civil-military relations and democratic legitimacy
Oversight, transparency, and accountability in security institutions
Disinformation, elections, and democratic resilience
Strategic competition and democratic advantage
Corruption, state capture, and national security risk
Defense innovation and procurement reform
Energy, climate, and security governance
Intelligence, secrecy, and public trust

Students are encouraged to focus on original insights and practical policy implications, rather than purely academic analysis.

Selection Criteria

Entries will be evaluated based on:

Strength and clarity of argument
Originality and insight
Quality of evidence and reasoning
Policy relevance and practical implications
Writing quality and readability
Fit with the Security and Democracy Forum mission

Prize and Recognition

The competition winner will receive:

$500 stipend pool for top entries
Publication on the Security and Democracy Forum website
Promotion through SDF’s newsletter and social media channels

Finalists may also receive publication opportunities or editorial feedback.

Timeline

Competition announcement: Late April
Submission window closes: June 30th.
Finalist review: 3-4 weeks
Winner announcement: Early August
Publication: Within two weeks of final edits

Submit Your Entry

Please send your submission as a Word document or Google Doc link (with sharing enabled) to:📧 submissions@securityanddemocracy.org

Who Was Václav Havel?

Václav Havel (1936–2011) was a playwright, dissident, and statesman who helped lead the peaceful democratic transformation of Czechoslovakia after the Cold War. Before entering politics, Havel spent decades speaking out against authoritarian rule, using essays, plays, and public letters to challenge censorship, corruption, and the abuse of power.

In 1977 he became one of the principal authors of Charter 77, a manifesto demanding that the communist government respect the human rights commitments it had already signed. For his activism, Havel was repeatedly harassed, surveilled, and imprisoned. Yet he continued to write and advocate for democratic accountability, insisting that individuals must “live in truth” even under oppressive systems.

When the Velvet Revolution of 1989 brought an end to communist rule in Czechoslovakia, Havel emerged as a unifying moral voice and was elected the country’s president. He later served as the first president of the Czech Republic after the peaceful division of the country in 1993. Throughout his political career, Havel emphasized human rights, democratic legitimacy, and the responsibility of institutions to remain accountable to the people they serve.

Why the Prize Bears His Name

The Václav Havel Emerging Voices in Democracy Prize reflects the same principles that defined Havel’s life and work.

Havel believed that ideas matter, that individuals can challenge entrenched systems, and that principled voices often begin outside established institutions. His writings helped shape public debate long before he held political office, demonstrating how thoughtful analysis and moral clarity can influence the course of history.

The Security and Democracy Forum created this prize to encourage students to contribute to that same tradition. By elevating new writers who engage seriously with the challenges facing democratic societies, the competition honors Havel’s belief that truthful ideas, clearly expressed, remain one of the most powerful tools for strengthening free institutions.