Special: Discussing John Quincy Adams' Marcellus Essays

In this special episode of Security Dilemma, we discussed the Marcellus essays penned by a young John Quincy Adams, in which he argued the fledgling United States should maintain neutrality in the war between France and Great Britain. President George Washington sought to uncover the identity of “Marcellus.” A year later, Washington appointed Adams U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands. Adams’ thought in these essays and elsewhere would have a lasting impact on U.S. foreign policy.

The foundations laid in these essays inspired the Society to name its fellowship program for students and young professionals the Marcellus Policy Fellowship. By combining knowledge of foreign policy, the craft of effective policy writing, and the ability to publicize his ideas, Adams launched a career shaping U.S. statecraft. The Marcellus Policy Fellowship does the same, helping our fellows develop the ideas and skills necessary to guide American foreign policy in the twenty-first century. Over the course of several months, Marcellus Policy Fellows wrestle with ideas that can animate a prudent foreign policy. They hone their writing skills under expert guidance, crafting a detailed policy paper and a related policy memorandum and op-ed. All this strengthens their candidacy for roles in an increasingly competitive foreign policy career space. If you're interested in applying for the next cohort of Marcellus Fellows, you can learn more on our website.

Listener Questions:

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Upcoming recordings include:

America's Uniquely Counterproductive Middle East Policy with Jon Hoffman

How the China Consensus Came to Be and What It Misses with Jake Werner

Can Realism Be Ethical? with John Hulsman and Anatol Lieven