Two Perse students are recognised in politics essay competitions

Two Upper Sixth students, John and William, were recently recognised in Cambridge Journal of Political Affairs 2025 and the Financial Times’ X Crimson Global Foundation Essay competitions respectively. Both of these were open to secondary school aged students internationally.

John’s essay, entitled ‘Why are some democracies more resilient to democratic backsliding than others?’ won joint first place selected from what the organisers described as a “high number of entries from 11 countries.” His essay argued that resilience to democratic backsliding depends largely on the psychological wellbeing of a country’s citizens. His essay will be published on the Cambridge Journal of Political Affairs website in the near future.

He said, “I am applying for Politics and International Relations at university, so it felt really great to have won.”

Also hoping to continue with politics alongside philosophy and economics after leaving the Perse, William’s essay discussed instances of governments dismissing their own laws, with a large focus on America as well as Egypt and Hungary.

After choosing the theme of geopolitical conflict, William’s essay was shortlisted and eventually came in third place with the criteria for recognition being innovation, argument, research, and communication.

We congratulate both students and wish them the very best as they continue their journey studying politics both at The Perse and beyond.