Intern, Foreign Policy and Democracy
The Democracy & Foreign Policy intern will work with supervisors from our Transatlantic Democracy and Foreign and Security Policy programs.
The Transatlantic Democracy program brings together US and German policymakers, activists, experts, civil society organizations and community leaders to explore issues that challenge our democracies. The program’s current activities focus on civil rights, domestic policy issues, democratic resilience as well as reconciliation with the past.
The Foreign and Security Policy program addresses issues of global peace & security, democracy, and human rights from a global perspective. Currently, many activities focus on the transatlantic relationship, the war in Ukraine, and the future of the multilateral order. Typical program formats for both programs include panel discussions, publications of policy briefs and articles, study tours, and delegation visits.
This internship is best suited for students with a background in international relations, public policy, history, or German and European politics. Applicants should have a good grasp of the American and German political landscape and an interest in pressing policy challenges for both program areas. We are especially interested in applicants who want to contribute to our global dialog formats (public events, workshops, study tours etc.) and want to pursue their own research and analysis on issues that are relevant for our program areas.
We will evaluate applications on a rolling basis and therefore recommend submitting an application as early as possible. The earliest start date for the internship will be March 2023.
Basic Requirements
- experience in at least one of our program areas
- a genuine interest in the values and mission of the foundation
- competent command of English (German is not a requirement)
- a full-time commitment of 40 hours per week for 3 to 6 months (part-time only on a case-by-case basis)
- at least 2 years of university-level experience
- currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program OR recent (< 1 year) Bachelor's degree recipients
Applications from mid-career professionals or applicants who have already completed a Master's degree or Ph.D. will not be accepted.
Benefits
- a monthly stipend of $700 for full-time positions and proportionally less for part-time
- 5 paid vacation days per 3 month period for full-time internships
- most of the costs associated with a visa application can be covered by the foundation
NOTE: Washington, DC is an expensive city. We encourage serious applicants to apply for external funding and scholarships if necessary.
Administrative Responsibilities
- provide logistical support for preparation and implementation of visitor programs and events
- manage front desk duties (i.e. answer telephones, respond to information inquiries)
- manage contact and program-specific databases
Communications
- develop social media content and communications strategies
- update content on our website and blogs
Research
- conduct background research on topical issues and current events
- prepare research for upcoming events, tours, and speaker's series
Capstone Project
In addition to routine tasks, interns are required to complete a capstone project on a topic of their choosing. Capstones can be one extensive piece or a combination of the following:
- 5-10 page policy paper (see an example paper here).
- interview with a policy expert (either article or video)
- script for a 2-3 min explanatory video
- series of short blog pieces or op-eds