Call for Applications

THE TOPIC

The last decade has brought major geopolitical changes in and to the Middle East. After the so-called Arab Spring in 2011 and the increased withdrawal of the USA and Europe from the region, China intensified its engagement in the region and was able to position itself as a new global power. Nevertheless, Unlike Russia’s clear growing influence in the region, China’s involvement is somewhat more obscure. Multiple MENA states, including Israel, have signed bilateral trade agreements with China. The Middle East is of great geostrategic relevance for the realisation of the Belt and Road initiative as a connection between Asia, Africa and Europe. Through its involvement in the region, China is on the one hand seeking to secure energy and resources, expanding trade routes and sales markets. On the other hand, its political and military strategic interests cannot be ignored.

China's role in the Middle East has so far been underrepresented both in the German and the Israeli discourse. We would like to change that!

Therefore, the Sylke Tempel Fellowship Program 2022 will focus on Chinese influence in the Middle East and in Israel in particular. We aim to cast important spotlights, from Various angles and opinions, on a topic that will shape not only the development of the Middle East, but also the foreign policy of the USA and Germany with relation to the region in the future.

In cooperation with our partner organizations - the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the European Leadership Network (ELNET), the foreign policy journal “Internationale Politik” (IP), Women in International Security Germany (WIIS.de) and the Bar-Ilan University – the German-Israeli Future Forum Foundation awards fellowship grants to the amount of 3,000 Euro each to young people from Germany and Israel.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for young journalists, authors, bloggers, podcasters, Youtubers and other media creatives as well as students from Israel and Germany, who are passionate to write about foreign policy. This year, we focus specifically on China's influence on Israel and the Middle East. We aim to cast important spotlights, from Various angles, on a topic that will shape not only the developement of the Middle East, but also the foreign policy of the USA and Germany with relation to the region in the future.

The program:
The fellows are chosen in April and will be asked to submit their finished contribution by August 19, 2022 - with workshops prior to it. The written contributions will be published by year’s end in a special edition of the foreign policy journal IP (Internationale Politik) in German and English.
The fellowship includes a trip to Israel later this year and the presentation of the research results in a concluding conference in Berlin in December 2022.
In addition to the fellowship grant of 3,000 Euro, travel and accommodation costs for the trip in Israel and the conference in Berlin will be covered.

Download the full call for application for details on the program, this year's topic and the application process.

Please send your application by March 20, 2022.

You can find more information about the Sylke Tempel Fellowship Program, former fellows and recent publications on our website.