08/31/2026
It's time for the 2026 Cold War Essay Contest! We invite innovative, unpublished, primary source-based scholarship from rising scholars (i.e. Ph.D. candidates to assistant professors with up to three years in their positions). Papers should be between 5,000 and 8,000 words in length, have a clearly identifiable thesis, and demonstrate the historical significance of the thesis. Papers on any aspect of Cold War military history (1945-1991) are welcome, including military strategy, plans, and operations; the relationship between the armed forces and society; international security affairs; Cold War alliances; and the connections between Cold War military history and contemporary geopolitical challenges; essays may embrace a U.S. or global focus.
First prize will earn a cash award of $2,000, a plaque, and publication in the Journal of Military History; second prize, $1,000 and a plaque; and third prize, $500 and a plaque.
Submissions are due electronically to [email protected] by Friday, Dec. 04, 2026. Please include a 200-word bio with your electronic submission and format your paper in accordance with the following guidelines:
- Submit your paper as a Microsoft Word document.
- Notes, charts, tables, and bibliography do not count toward the word limit.
- Footnotes should be numbered consecutively from the beginning using Arabic numerals.
We will announce the winners in early February 2027.
Questions? Contact Dr. Jochen S. Arndt, Professor and Deputy Director: [email protected]
