Once again Divergent Options has enlisted Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute, Wayne Hugar of the National Intelligence University, and Ali Wyne of EurasiaGroup’s Global Macro-Geopolitics practice to be the judges for a writing contest which this time around we are calling The Taiwan Offensive.
What: A 1,000 word Options Paper or Assessment Paper looking at an offensive of some kind related to Taiwan.
Context: This contest is purposely broad and depending on the writers to establish the offensive.
Is China conducting an offense against Taiwan? If so, what can Taiwan do to defend itself? Writers can discuss what Taiwan would do at the time of China’s offensive, or what Taiwan must do now to prepare itself.
Where and how does the offensive occur? Is the offensive on land, sea, air, space, cyberspace, or a combination? While an offensive may traditionally imply military actions, what would a diplomatic, informational, or economic offensive look like? Does the offensive occur during peacetime, crisis, conflict, or war?
Are other countries conducting an offensive against China in response to Chinese aggression against Taiwan? Are non-state actors involved in the offensive?
Are China’s Belt and Road Initiative and emerging Global Development Initiative efforts now potential hostages? Did China stretch itself out so far globally that it is unable to dominate locally?
When: Submit your 1,000 word Options Paper or Assessment Paper between March 1, 2023 and July 31, 2023 to submissions@divergentoptions.org.
Why: To refine your thoughts on national security situations related to Taiwan. Writers will have a chance to win $500 for 1st Place, $300 for 2nd Place, $100 for 3rd Place, or be one of three Honorable Mentions who receives $50.
How: Submissions will be judged by strength of argument, relevance, uniqueness, adherence to format, adherence to length, and grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Submissions will be published during and after the contest closes. Submissions will be judged during August 2023 and winners announced during September 2023.
Other Comments: For the purposes of this contest we encourage writers to think in an unconstrained manner and to not worry about what authority or what organization would be used to execute a given option.
