Apply Now: Fung Global Fellows Program

Deadline: 16-Nov-2026

The Fung Global Fellows Program offers early-career scholars from around the world an opportunity to undertake research and participate in academic dialogue at Princeton University. For the 2027–28 academic year, the program focuses on the theme “Democracy in Crisis?”, inviting scholars to examine the challenges facing democratic governance and the factors that enable democratic systems to remain resilient. Hosted by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), the residential fellowship brings together scholars from diverse academic and geographic backgrounds to explore pressing global issues through comparative and interdisciplinary research. Applications for the 2027–28 program must be submitted online by November 16, 2026.

About the Fung Global Fellows Program

The Fung Global Fellows Program at PIIRS is designed to bring early-career scholars together for research, discussion, and intellectual exchange around major global issues. The program provides a residential academic environment in which fellows can develop their research while engaging with scholars from different disciplines and regions. For 2027–28, the selected theme is “Democracy in Crisis?”. The theme provides a broad framework for examining how democratic institutions respond to political, social, technological, and economic pressures.

2027–28 Research Theme: Democracy in Crisis?

The 2027–28 fellowship invites scholars to investigate the condition of democracy around the world and explore whether democratic systems are experiencing a period of crisis, transformation, or renewal. Applicants may examine a wide variety of questions related to democratic governance, including: - The rise of populist movements. - Declining public trust in institutions. - Political polarization. - Disinformation and misinformation. - Democratic backsliding. - The resilience of democratic institutions. - The conceptual foundations of democracy. - The role of media and technology. - Economic inequality and democratic governance. - Citizen participation and political engagement. - Strategies for defending or renewing democratic practices. - Mechanisms that allow democratic systems to endure or fail. The broad theme allows scholars to approach democracy from political, social, economic, historical, technological, or interdisciplinary perspectives. Comparative and Interdisciplinary Research The program encourages comparative and interdisciplinary approaches. Researchers may compare democratic experiences across countries or regions, examine developments across different historical periods, or combine perspectives from multiple academic disciplines. Applicants are not restricted to a particular geographical area. Research may focus on any region or historical period, provided the proposed work meaningfully engages with the broader theme of democracy in crisis. Who Can Apply? The Fung Global Fellows Program is intended for early-career scholars employed outside the United States.

Applicants must:

- Be employed outside the United States. - Hold a faculty or professional research appointment. - Have received a Ph.D. or equivalent degree generally after September 1, 2017. - Be able to undertake the proposed research during the fellowship period. - Be expected to return to their home institution after completing the fellowship year. The program is therefore aimed at researchers who have already completed their doctoral training and are developing their academic or research careers. Who Is Not Eligible? Certain categories of researchers are specifically excluded. The following applicants are not eligible: - Scholars currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program. - Individuals employed as postdoctoral researchers. - Candidates who do not meet the program’s early-career and employment requirements. - Scholars employed in the United States, based on the stated eligibility requirement. Applicants should carefully assess their academic appointment and doctoral completion date before applying. Ph.D. Eligibility Requirement Applicants must have received a Ph.D. or equivalent degree generally after September 1, 2017. This requirement is intended to identify scholars who are relatively early in their academic careers. Applicants should provide accurate information about their doctoral degree and ensure that their academic history satisfies the program’s stated requirements. Home Institution Requirement Fellows are expected to return to their home institutions after the fellowship year. Successful candidates will also be required to provide an official letter from their employer confirming that they have been granted leave for the fellowship period. This requirement ensures that fellows have institutional support for participating in the residential program. What Research Projects Can Be Proposed? Applicants can develop research proposals addressing different dimensions of the “Democracy in Crisis?” theme.

Possible areas include:

- Democratic institutional resilience. - Political polarization and social division. - Populism and changing political movements. - Public trust in government and institutions. - Digital media and democratic participation. - Disinformation and political communication. - Technology’s influence on democratic systems. - Inequality and political representation. - Democratic decline and backsliding. - Citizen movements defending democratic practices. - Historical experiences of democratic crisis. - Comparative studies of democratic systems. These examples are not restrictive. Scholars may develop other research questions that directly engage with the fellowship’s central theme. Application Deadline The application deadline for the 2027–28 Fung Global Fellows Program is November 16, 2026. Applicants should submit their materials online by the stated deadline. Referees must also submit their recommendation letters by the deadline, so applicants should contact their referees well in advance. What Documents