Fulbright New Century Scholars PRogram

for more information see:

http://www.cies.org/cies/NCS/text_NCS.htm
October 1, 2002 Application Deadline

2002-2003 New Century Scholars Program "Addressing Sectarian, Ethnic and
Cultural Conflict within and across National Borders."

Program Description



 Research Theme
 Program Activities
 Distinguished Leader
 Orientation
 Eligibility
 Benefits
 Timeline
  Mid-term Meeting
 Final Plenary Seminar
 International Research Visit
 General Selection Criteria
 Privacy Act
 Contact Information
 Application Materials and Guidelines





 Research Theme: "Addressing Sectarian, Ethnic and Cultural Conflict within
and across National Borders"

Numerous intrastate and interstate locales can be identified around the
world where sectarianism, ethnicity and culture have, wittingly or
unwittingly, played a major role in violence, riots, civil war, and the
attendant disruption of society and displacement of populations. Such areas
fall on the high end of the continuum of ethnic conflict. In other locales,
however, where similar factors have created tensions, even violence in the
recent past, the current situation appears to have settled, or is in the
process of being settled. At the low end of the continuum there are still
other places where similar factors have produced a stable environment in
terms of ethnic relations.

The aim of the New Century Scholars Program (NCS) for 2002-2003, is to
identify those settings that might provide cases for intensive study along
the lines of this tripartite differentiation. Particular emphasis will be on
isolating the historical and contemporary factors which in their interaction
result in a country or region occupying one or the other extreme of the
continuum or cause it to fluctuate in one direction or the other. While the
specific selection of areas to be studied is open and will be determined
once the NCS Fellows have been selected, attention will be paid to ensuring
broad geographical representation: Europe, NIS, Western Hemisphere, Middle
East, Africa, East Asia, South Asia and the Pacific.


NCS will encourage much needed innovative theoretical, conceptual and
empirical comparative work to examine the religious, cultural and ethnic
dimensions of conflict. To understand and assess how these components
interact with each other to generate or to reduce serious conflicts, within
or between societies and regions, calls for considerable collaborative
effort. Ultimately we hope that the New Century Scholars Program and its
collaborative research will provide informed assessments that will elucidate
key factors leading to conflict and those which might also reconstruct a
viable civil peace.

NCS will provide a unique research opportunity for scholars selected from
the U.S. and abroad to pursue individual research objectives as well as to
engage in ongoing collaboration and interaction focusing on the NCS research
theme.

Prospective applicants are invited to submit research proposals which
reflect ongoing research addressing issues relevant to the NCS theme.
Possible topics might include, but are not limited to:

cross-border ethnic identity and diaspora
stateless nations
religious nationalism and religious pluralism
the role of clergy in ethnic mobilization
clashing values of tradition and modernity
reconstruction of civil society
community development and reconstruction
innovative governance in multiethnic states
new initiatives for resolution of ethnic conflicts
democratic solutions to long-standing conflicts
third party intervention/mediation in ethnic conflicts
emigration and immigration as factors in multiculturalism
effects of refugee resettlement on the creation of new civil societies
women's groups in processes of reconciliation
others

Proposals in any area of the social sciences, history, public
administration/policy, law, media, and comparative religious studies will be
considered. Interdisciplinary proposals are especially welcome.

 Program Activities

Approximately 25-30 leading scholars and professionals representing a
variety of disciplines from the U.S. and abroad will be selected as NCS
Fellows.

Approximately one-third of the NCS Fellows will be U.S. scholars
Remaining NCS Fellows will be visiting scholars from outside the U.S.
NCS Fellows will pursue individual research objectives as well as contribute
to the proposed NCS study under the leadership of the Distinguished Scholar
Leader, Edward Tiryakian, Professor Sociology, Duke University. While
interacting with one another during the program year to share information,
bibliography and research perspectives, NCS fellows will also undertake the
group objective of producing a working paper as the basis of ongoing
collaboration and ultimately of a volume dedicated to the NCS theme.

NCS Fellows will be expected to pursue research activities related to the
NCS research theme throughout the program year; to maintain contact with one
another as a means to expanding their own research directions and
accomplishing NCS group objectives; and to participate in all activities of
the program, including:

Orientation and Goal Setting Session
Mid-term Meeting
Final Plenary Seminar
International research visit of three-six months
Ongoing communication and interaction with NCS Distinguished Scholar Leader
and other NCS Fellows throughout program year
Orientation and Goal Setting

A virtual or in-person orientation will occur in January/February 2003, to
launch the program and encourage early interaction among NCS Fellows. The
orientation, lead by the NCS Distinguished Scholar Leader, will allow the
multinational and multidisciplinary Fellows to introduce themselves to one
another and share their various approaches to the program's research theme.
The orientation will also provide an overall framework for Program
objectives, help participants develop a common vocabulary, and set the stage
for future sustained interaction and ongoing collaboration.

The orientation for 2001-2002 NCS Fellows took place at the Rockefeller
Conference and Study Center in Bellagio, Italy, thanks to the generous
support of the Rockefeller Foundation. Depending on availability of funding
and dates, the orientation may be at Bellagio or another locale, and
prospective applicants should take note of the proposed January/February
2003 date for the meeting. The exact location and dates will be posted on
the CIES web site when available.

All NCS Fellows are expected to participate in the orientation, whether
virtual or in-person.


 Mid-term Seminar

At the mid-term of the program year - July/August 2003 - the Distinguished
Scholar Leader will convene the NCS Fellows once again, either
electronically or in person, to report interactively on the progress of
accomplishing individual and group goals established at the orientation
session. The mid-term meeting will ensure the input of all NCS Fellows on
all proposals and products of the Program and ensure joint planning of the
final plenary seminar in November 2003. Fellows will have the opportunity to
become more familiar with each other's work as an impetus to continuing
communication and the cross fertilization of ideas.

The mid-term seminar for 2001-2002 NCS Fellows was hosted by the Hungarian
Fulbright Commission and took place in Eger, Hungary, with the continued
support of the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs of the State Department. While an in-person mid-term
meeting is envisioned for the 2002-2003 Fellows, its implementation will
depend on the availability of funding. Prospective applicants should take
note of the proposed July/August 2003 date for the meeting.

All NCS Fellows are expected to participate in the mid-term meeting, whether
virtual or in-person.


 New Century Scholar Final Plenary Seminar

The final plenary seminar will take place towards the end of the program
year, in November 2003, in the Washington, D.C. area. At the final plenary
seminar, which represents the culminating activity of the Program, the
Distinguished Scholar Leader will convene the multinational group of NCS
Fellows for one-two weeks to share the results of their research and to
report on the accomplishment of group objectives, including plans for the
publication of a paper or monograph.

NCS Fellows will also interact with and engage in dialogue with other
specialists, policymakers and international experts to compare and contrast
their findings and to examine the most important national and transnational
issues facing issues of ethnic and sectarian conflict in the new century.
NCS Fellows will have the opportunity to explore new avenues of inquiry and
collaboration and to making recommendations for framing policy discussions
at both the national and international levels.

Resource experts representing government agencies, NGOs, and other
interested national and international organizations will be invited to
attend the seminar and to take an active role in the proceedings.

The reports and recommendations resulting from the final plenary seminar,
with an introduction and summary by the Distinguished Scholar Leader, will
be published and distributed in a print edition.


 International Research Visit

The international research visit is an important component of the Program
and all NCS Fellows are expected to make one of three-six months during the
course of the program year. Visits may begin at any time after the
orientation in January/February and must be completed by December 31, 2003.
Scholars are encouraged to plan their international research visits around
the final plenary seminar held in November 2003 to facilitate travel
arrangements to the seminar.

U.S. applicants may propose visits to any country in which there is an
operating Fulbright scholar program; non-U.S. applicants will propose their
research visits for the United States. All applicants are responsible for
prearranging and confirming their own affiliations, as well as making any
housing and other arrangements related to carrying out their research
activities at the host institution and in the host country.


 Eligibility Requirements

Leading scholars and professionals in any area of the social sciences,
history, law, public policy/administration, media and comparative religious
studies. Successful candidates will be active in the academic, public or
private sector and will demonstrate outstanding qualifications and a
distinguished record of experience, research and accomplishment in an area
clearly related to the NCS theme. Applicants must be conducting current
research relevant to the program's theme and objectives and be open to
exploring and incorporating comparative, interdisciplinary approaches in
their investigations.


For academic applicants, a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant
field.
For applicants in the professional fields, the appropriate terminal degree
in a relevant field.
U.S. applicants must have U.S. citizenship and permanent residency in the
U.S.
Non-U.S. applicants must be citizens of and residing in the country from
which they are applying at the time of application. Non-U.S. applications
must be submitted through a participating Fulbright Commission or Public
Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in the home country. Please contact the
relevant office to determine whether or not it is participating in the
program before you submit an application.

Fluency in English.

 Benefits

Individual awards in the amount of $41,500
Travel and per diem, where applicable, for Program seminars
All NCS Fellows will receive grants in the amount of $41,500 to cover
expenses related to participation in the NCS Program, including:
international travel and maintenance; domestic travel and per diem; books,
supplies, and other materials or items necessary for completion of proposed
research; research assistance; partial salary/benefits. The grant also
includes an allowance to cover Fellow's air travel to the final plenary
seminar. Travel and per diem connected with tentative in-person orientation
at the beginning of the Program and the mid-term meeting will be covered
separately. Dependent support is not covered by the grant.


 Timeline


 March 2002   Program announced & application materials available
October 1, 2002   Deadline for submission of application materials
January 2003   2003 NCS Fellows announced
January/February 2003   Orientation and Goal Setting
March-December 2003    International Research Visits
July/August 2003   Mid-term Meeting
November 2003   Final Plenary Seminar




 General Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed and NCS Fellows selected on the basis of the
following criteria:

Qualifications of the applicant, including academic degrees, training, rank
and position; national/international reputation in his/her field; quality of
professional accomplishments as demonstrated through publications, research
grants, other professional achievements
Potential of the applicant to contribute to an interdisciplinary discussion
and treatment of the NCS research theme
Merits of the research proposal, including its significance, methodology,
feasibility and relevance to the New Century Scholars research theme
Potential of the applicant's proposed research to develop or add new
approaches or perspectives to the New Century Scholar research topic
Potential of the proposed research to contribute to a better understanding
of the research topic at the national and international level
Justification for the proposed international research visit and its
significance for advancing the proposed research, especially in terms of
adding a comparative or international dimension
Significance and relevance of applicant's research and other professional
accomplishments to the objectives of the NCS Program
Ability of the applicant to carry out the project
Final selection will be based on the referenced criteria as well as on the
need for a diversity of projects, disciplinary fields and geographic areas
represented in the program