The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
The Recanati-Kaplan Foundation Fellows Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs educates the next generation of thought leaders in national and international intelligence and supports their research to develop policy-relevant knowledge for the most pressing security issues.
Fellow candidates are from the senior or emerging leader ranks of their organization, including officials from both the analytical and operational fields, who will be required to help form policy responses in crises situations. Candidates should have at least a university degree, be fluent in English and, should be moving into, or already in, a leadership position within their organization.
The fellowship is a one-year research program, from September to June, and does not result in a degree. Fellows audit courses at the Kennedy School and neighboring institutions, execute independent research projects, and benefit from the rich community of practitioners and scholars associated with Harvard University and the Belfer Center. Fellows enjoy special discussions with the high-level intelligence officials who visit Belfer Center throughout the year.
The fellowship is made possible by the generous support of the Recanati-Kaplan Foundation.
How to Apply
Recommendations for fellowship participants must come from agency heads and not individuals, and should be submitted to the Intelligence Project in the spring preceding the desired year of study.
