Competition Overview

At the Harvard Political Review, we work under the mantra “timely, but timeless,” and asked submissions to strive toward this goal as well. While the Harvard Political Review is a non-partisan publication, we encouraged participants to take ownership of their opinions, conduct rigorous and thorough research, and demand attention from their audience through captivating writing. Authors were asked to respond to one of the five following prompts:

1. Across the world, cities serve as the lifeblood of their countries: hubs of innovation, culture, and entertainment. Yet, many cities today face major challenges, including traffic congestion, pollution, rising housing costs, gentrification, and growing unhoused populations. Choose one issue facing a city and propose a solution. Your essay should explain why this issue matters, analyze its causes and consequences, and offer a clear, actionable plan for how to address it.
2. The items we touch, the food we consume, the activities and hobbies we engage in: all of these objects, commodities, and concepts are subject to politicization. From Shein t-shirts to gendered bathrooms to Tesla Cybertrucks, seemingly neutral objects can quickly become politically charged. Pick an object and investigate the implications of its political associations. Take a position on whether politicizing daily life is an effective means of achieving political change.
3. Physical and mental health around the world are suffering as a consequence of the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of doomscrolling, and increasing sedentary lifestyles. Analyze a health-related issue, predict whether its effects will worsen or improve in the near future, and decide if policymakers are doing enough to combat it.
4. In 2024, many voters cited the rising cost of living as a reason for voting incumbent parties out of power around the world. Identify a driver of the global affordability crisis. Are current efforts to address this challenge effective? What further action should be taken to limit rising costs in the long term?
5. In 1917, Marcel Duchamp shocked art critics and the general public when he submitted a porcelain urinal with the name “R. Mutt” scrawled across it to a prestigious art exhibition at Grand Central Palace in New York. For many, he had pushed the boundaries of modern art well past their limits, while others called him a genius. Today, new mediums such as AI image generators and NFTs are pushing us to once again consider the opportunities, and possible limitations, for artistic expression. Consider a controversial work created in the past 50 years and take a position on its cultural, political, and/or economic ramifications.

Summer 2025 Global High School Competition Winners

Champion: “Stained Threads: The Global Blueprint in Amritsar’s Polluted Waters” by Abana Dhillon (India).

1st Runner Up: “Wide Awake: How Modern Life Is Stealing Our Sleep” by Christina Chen (China).

2nd Runner Up: “Cuppertino Housing Laws” by Krisha Umashankar (United States)