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The Harvard Political Review is a student-run journal of politics, policy, and culture. The HPR is written and published entirely by Harvard undergraduates and is housed at the Institute of Politics.
The HPR was founded in 1969 by a group of Harvard College undergraduates. The founders envisioned a publication that allowed students to research, write, and edit incisive reportage and commentary in a thoughtful, non-partisan forum. To this day, the HPR does not take publication-wide editorial positions. While individual articles have distinct viewpoints, the publication as a whole does not represent any ideology or party.
Over the past generation, the HPR has incubated some of the best political minds in America. Among the magazine’s alumni are Al Gore, Jr. (former United States Vice President and Nobel Laureate), E.J. Dionne, Jr. (Washington Post columnist), Jonathan Alter (former Newsweek Senior Editor and columnist), and Jeffrey Sachs (Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University).
The Harvard Political Review Essay Competition challenges you to engage with critical social and political issues that define our world today.
This isn’t just an essay competition—it’s an opportunity to explore global political dynamics, the influence of international institutions, local community challenges, the power of youth activism, and the role of technology in shaping politics. Dive into these thought-provoking topics, sharpen your analytical skills, and contribute your insights to the ongoing conversation about our shared future.
Whether you’re passionate about global change, local impact, or the intersection of technology and politics, this is your chance to make your voice heard and inspire meaningful dialogue. Don’t miss this opportunity to amplify your ideas and leave your mark as a young thought leader!
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Distinguish yourself from your peers by participating in a renowned competition that showcases your analytical and writing skills—boosting your profile for university applications and future endeavors
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Collaborate with peers who are passionate about politics, society, and change, and establish yourself as an emerging voice in vital global dialogues.
The HPR will feature the work of global champions, 1st runners-up, and 2nd runners-up on its website, providing a platform to share your insights with the global audience
Each participant will submit an essay in response to 1 of the prompts.
Middle School Category
Grade: 6-8 (Year 7-9)
High School Category
Grade: 9-12 (Year 10-13)
Each team member select a distinct prompt. The number of prompts a team will tackle corresponds to its size.
For example, a team with 2 members will choose 2 different prompts, a team with 3 members will choose 3 different prompts, and so on, up to teams with 5 members selecting 5 distinct prompts.
Middle School Category
Grade: 6-8 (Year 7-9)
High School Category
Grade: 9-12 (Year 10-13)
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Participants will engage in exclusive training led by members of the Harvard Political Review, centered on the theme: "What Makes a Story Powerful and Responsible?". Moving beyond standard writing techniques, these workshops are designed to help students balance persuasion with integrity, refine their arguments, and construct compelling submissions. Participants will gain direct insights from experienced editors, enhancing their storytelling craft, analytical thinking, and public speaking abilities.
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Over the past year, institutions of higher education such as Harvard have experienced growing public distrust and clashes with the Trump administration over a number of issues, including federal research funding, ideology and academic freedom, affirmative action, and rising international student enrollments. Identify a specific issue or news headline related to higher education (in the United States or elsewhere) and make an original argument about how it shapes (and/or ought to shape) the approaches of the government, academic institutions themselves, and/or students.
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As political strategist James Carville has famously remarked when describing American elections, “It’s the economy, stupid.” As the United States approaches its 2026 midterm elections, and as many countries ranging from Brazil to Ethiopia to Hungary will hold crucial elections in 2026, economic issues will only rise in importance over the next year. Identify a country and a key economic issue (i.e. inflation, trade policy challenges, tax policy, etc.) and make an original argument about the relationship between the economic issue and the country’s political future.
Many readers criticize the journalism industry for focusing only on the problems and tragedies of the world, even as many positive developments occur every day. In the spirit of sharing good news, highlight a success story from the past year and make an argument about its broader implications. This success story could be a political development, policy reform, legal victory, triumph of a person or community over an obstacle, or any other positive event(s). Why can it be considered a success, and how does it contribute to readers’ understanding of politics and its role in their daily lives? What is the role of stories of success in the journalism industry as a whole, and how are they intertwined with or opposed to an ideal of journalism as a free, relevant, and accessible medium for conveying information and catalyzing political discourse?
On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary (since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776). As the U.S. approaches this milestone in its history, what should be on the minds of Americans? In what ways has the nation upheld its founding ideals, improved upon them, or departed from them? Whether from the perspective of an American or a global citizen, write about where America stands in its 250th year or how its condition parallels that of another country on a particular issue or founding ideal.
Example: What is the state of America’s ideal of “the pursuit of happiness?” In terms of economic opportunity, is the so-called American Dream still alive today? Using evidence about economic mobility, public opinion on the economy, and policy approaches, argue the extent to which the American Dream has expanded or contracted over time.
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The phrase “power in numbers” is traditionally used to describe the strength in collaboration, unity, and collective mobilizations toward achieving a particular purpose. Yet perhaps it can also be taken to point to another type of power: the potential of resilience and repeated action that refuses to back down and maintains momentum despite seemingly unyielding pushback in pursuit of a greater good. Discuss a movement in which this sustained tenacity led to lasting and unexpected social, economic, or political strides. When is persistence justified, and at what point does it become harmful or ineffective? How do individuals or groups sustain this resolve over time, and how can it be curated into a source of power in and of itself?
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This competition is more than just a challenge—it’s your pathway to making an impact on the social and political issues that matter most to you.
Register now to embark on a journey of critical thinking, writing and presentation. Delve into the topics you’re passionate about, refine your research and analytical skills, and present your insights. This is your chance to contribute your voice and ideas like the next generation of leaders.
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