Jack Miller Center supports Civic Thought and Statecraft Seminar at IWP

For the second year in a row, the Jack Miller Center has awarded IWP funds to offer the Civic Thought and Statecraft Seminar as a part of our National Security Internship Program.

Led by IWP’s Dean of Academics, Dr. Timothy McCranor, this seminar is designed to advance IWP’s broader mission of cultivating informed patriotism, moral leadership, civic virtue, and a principled understanding of the ethical use of national power.

Created in connection with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the seminar explores the moral legitimacy of the American Revolution and the founding principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence.

Blaise Kern, an IWP National Security Research Intern during summer 2026, pointed to the Civic Thought and Statecraft Seminar as one of the highlights of the internship. “I enjoyed studying the intersection of Western philosophy, international relations, and the history of the American Revolution,” he said.

As part of the seminar this summer, the interns divided themselves into three teams: the Patriots, the Loyalists, and the British. The seminar culminated in a debate among these teams about whether the Patriots possessed a just cause for armed rebellion in accordance with the just war tradition.

The debate was moderated by Mike Watson, Executive Director of the Alexander Hamilton Society. Interns presented opening arguments, challenged opposing positions, and defended their side through rebuttals and questioning. After a close debate, the Loyalists were named the winners.

IWP is grateful to the Jack Miller Center for its continued support of this seminar at IWP.