<p>A short-form article-writing competition run by the Harvard International Review since 2020 for middle and high school students worldwide. Entrants write on a current international-affairs theme; the strongest submissions are invited to present and orally defend their arguments at a virtual HIR Defense Day.</p><ul><li>Junior division for grades 7–8, senior division for grades 9–12 (new for Spring 2026); open to students in the US and internationally</li><li>Senior entrants pick one of three themes (Global Culture in the Digital Era; Security in a Multipolar World; Technology, Innovation and Power) and write 800–1,200 words in AP Style</li><li>Three submission cycles in 2026: Spring (deadline 31 May 2026), Summer (deadline 31 Aug 2026), and Fall/Winter (deadline 2 Jan 2027)</li><li>Finalists deliver a 15-minute virtual presentation and Q&A to HIR judges</li><li>All submitters receive a certificate of completion; top scorers earn Gold (global top 3%), Silver (top 10%) and Bronze (top 20%) medals, with names listed on the HIR website</li><li>Strict anti-AI policy — AI-generated content is disqualified</li></ul><p>Register and pay on the HIR contest page to become eligible to submit your article.</p>