Mission & History
Foundational Mission Statement
Our mission statement:
The Global Affairs Program is the first and only program in the Harvard Institute of Politics focused exclusively on global affairs. Situated on its twin foundational pillars of intellectual inquiry and pre-professional support, GAP seeks to prepare and give voice to the next generation of diplomats and global leaders.
GAP is founded on the belief that students are indispensable voices in shaping both the present and future of global affairs. In a world marked by rapid change and enduring challenges, young perspectives are more vital than ever.
How GAP Was Founded
The story of the Global Affairs Program began with a coffee shared by two college roommates in a café in Istanbul. Of the many things the two friends discussed that day, one stood out as something that would change the rest of their Harvard experience: the need for a program within the IOP dedicated solely to international relations and global affairs. With this goal, GAP was founded in 2024, and over the first three semesters of its existence, it grew from a small coalition into an official IOP program.
Today GAP hosts a mentorship program, a weekly newsletter with 2,500+ subscribers, and nearly 20 academic and pre-professional events per semester, all of which are fully organized by a team of 40 passionate students from around the world.
Our Pillars & Community
Pillars: Intellectual Inquiry & Pre-professional Support. Goal: Prepare and give voice to the next generation of global leaders. Our motto: By and for students (ab et pro studentibus).
Intellectual Inquiry includes writing and publishing papers, planning, participating in, and moderating events—Diplomatic Dialogues and The World Stage.
Pre-professional support includes career events, mentorship, dinners, professional travels, and workshops.
GAP is built around a strong community. We welcome students from all over the world and view diversity in thought and background as key to the program's success. GAP seeks to attract students who would otherwise not have engaged with the IOP. GAP provides a platform for 50 carefully selected students to share their ideas and grow together.
Speaker Series & Programming
GAP is centered around its two speaker series: Diplomatic Dialogues, which brings together former and current ambassadors and diplomats in high-level discussions to share their experiences and insights on current politics; and The World Stage, which connects students with regional experts through informal roundtable conversations to broaden perspectives and discuss recent developments in global affairs.
As part of the World Stage series, each regional team also produces a comprehensive, accessible White Paper published through GAP and partnering centers.
Careers & Member Experience
Committed to helping students navigate careers in diplomacy and international relations, GAP hosts career events, workshops, and travels with consulates and embassies, while connecting members with experts through our Mentorship Program and offering internship opportunities with partnering organizations through our Internship Initiative.
Members work in small teams led by student directors to plan events, moderate discussions, and write in-depth papers, all while gaining invaluable mentorship from and access to leaders in global affairs. Whether you want to organize speaker events, research foreign policy issues alongside experts, or improve our communications, there's a place for you in GAP.
GAP by the Numbers
White Paper Series
The Global Affairs Program is founded on the belief that students are indispensable voices in shaping both the present and future of global affairs. In a world marked by rapid change and enduring challenges, their perspectives are more vital than ever.
Through its biannual White Paper Series, GAP provides students with a semester-long opportunity to research a regional issue of their choice and produce a comprehensive, accessible report. Along the way, members receive structured support through discussion events, skill-building workshops, and weekly check-ins that foster both intellectual growth and collaboration.
The program culminates each semester in the GAP Colloquium, where students present their work to fellow program members and partnering Centers, engage with leading scholars, and build meaningful professional connections. Each paper is also published in our end-of-semester Global Affairs Review and through partnering centers. By uniting rigorous inquiry with public engagement, GAP empowers students not only to deepen their academic expertise but also to influence conversations and solutions that extend well beyond the campus.
Yearly UN Trip
As part of our pre-professional pillar, GAP organizes a yearly trip to the United Nations, giving members the opportunity to engage with international institutions and broaden their understanding of global governance and diplomacy.
Milestones
First GAP Colloquium
We concluded this semester with our first-ever GAP Colloquium. During a lovely December evening, our six regional teams presented their white paper research to mentors and partnering centers.
