The Blue Center for Global Strategic Assessment is pleased to announce funding for faculty research initiatives in its areas of scholarly focus—interdisciplinary work related to advancing national defense, diplomacy, intelligence, and international economic relations. This call for proposals is an opportunity to participate in the inaugural round of funding for a newly established center for the study of statecraft at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs.

The Blue Center’s interest is in statecraft as practiced by any state. Statecraft involves the competitive and cooperative interactions between states, rather than studies addressed purely to the domestic politics or functioning of a single state. The center’s interest in statecraft also encompasses the workings of international organizations, multilateral bodies, and other non-state actors, particularly insofar as they are composed of, mediate between, or otherwise interact with states.

Priority will be given to proposals that articulate clear deliverables. Deliverables can take the form of substantial policy papers, research papers, or new technologies. Such deliverables may be developed in collaboration with governments or other outside organizations. However, in each case, it should be clear from the proposal how the initiative intends to contribute to the strategic exercise of statecraft.

The Blue Center encourages proposals that demonstrate both disciplinary expertise and engagement across multiple disciplines. Applications that entail interdisciplinary teams are also welcome.

Applicants must be Yale-affiliated faculty. The center will give priority to proposals from Jackson School faculty members, but will consider proposals from any Yale faculty members so long as their Yale affiliation covers the entire duration of their proposed period of research. All eligible candidates are encouraged to apply.

Selected projects will receive a maximum of $30,000 per year for two years, with the possibility of renewal. Funding may also be awarded in lesser amounts or for shorter time periods.

Because this is the inaugural round of funding, applicants should clearly specify their period of research, noting whether they intend funding for their initiative to commence at the start of the spring semester for academic year 2024-25 or at the start of the fall semester 2025-26. Applicants who apply for funding commencing in spring 2025 are more likely to be funded for a one-semester period or a three-semester period. Applicants should note that a second call for proposals will occur during April 2025 for funding that will commence at the start of fall semester 2025-26, and subsequent calls will follow this annual pattern.

All inquiries and proposal submissions should be emailed to the Blue Center Research Initiatives inbox at bluecenter.research@yale.edu.

The deadline for proposals is October 16, 2024. Decisions will be communicated to applicants by November 22, 2024.

Proposals must include:

Title Page

• Faculty Lead name
• Yale school and department
• Email/phone number
• Project title
• List of key personnel (if applicable)
• Period of research (i.e., a start and end date for the initiative)

CVs for the Faculty Lead and any key personnel

Research (1000-word max)

• Research goals and methods
• Anticipated outcomes and contribution to strategic exercise of statecraft

Budget Justification (750-word max)

• Brief summary of proposed expenses for the period of research
• Description of any additional or matching funding, noting whether that funding has been applied for or received

Budget

• Submit as Excel file.
• Please use the template found here, but feel free to adjust the categories on the template as necessary given the specifics of your funding needs. Many projects will not involve travel, for example. In which case, the travel line items and worksheet can be deleted.
• Must not exceed $30,000 per year for a two-year duration