The Institute of World Politics Internship offers a unique opportunity for students interested in national security, diplomacy, or public service to fully embrace everything that Washington, D.C. offers. Visiting think tanks, touring government facilities, and exploring countless embassies expose an intern to a variety of opportunities that best suit their interests. These visits included conversations and discussions with active practitioners in the field, allowing me and other interns to hear personal testimonies about the daily operations of government facilities and organizations. My internship experience granted me the opportunity to solidify my interest in foreign policy while fully revealing the wide breadth of career choices.
During my time at IWP, I took classes in various subjects, ranging from philosophy courses on “American Political Thought” with Dr. James Robbins and “Ideas and Values in International Politics” with Dr. Tim McCranor. Throughout my undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame, I have catered my classes to align with my interest in Foreign Policy and National Security. However, taking graduate philosophy classes with the IWP and engaging in discussions with graduate students offered me new perspectives on human nature and the creation of successful states. I also took an International Relations, Statecraft, and Integrated Strategy course with Dr. John Callahan. In this course, we applied international relations theory to pressing and contemporary issues, ranging from Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons or scoping America’s foreign policy objectives. The IWP is a school of practitioners, and taking classes with current and future practitioners offers a unique opportunity to learn and grow outside of the classroom.
I was also privileged to conduct research with IWP Director of Media Development & Production Sebastian Smeureanu. Working alongside a professional who has a vision for a podcast and magazine project, I was able to learn how to properly research and interpret the implications of biases that might be associated with sourcing and research. Spending time studying the political ramifications of the Abraham Accords, Mr. Smeureanu encouraged me to get creative in my approach to understanding the Middle East while offering outside-of-the-box policy recommendations pertaining to the Accords. I will be continuing my research after I leave the internship and will work to craft it into a senior thesis.
The experiences offered by the IWP, coupled with the professors and fellow interns, have guided me to continue my passion for international security.
Will Calder
IWP National Security and International Affairs Research Intern, Summer 2024
From the University of Notre Dame
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Will Calder with fellow IWP interns