The Global Policy Institute is a multidisciplinary research and community education institute at the University of Southern California. We focus on university programs that involve faculty, students, policymakers and members of the public.
Alex von Thaden
Programming Director
“I love that GPI serves as a place for both students and faculty to strengthen USC’s International Relations community on and beyond campus.”
Gohar Dzhulakyan
Editorial Director
“GPI provides a space for like-minded people to explore many common interests and make great connections.”
Shiza Khan
Executive Director
“Through GPI, students don’t just study foreign policy — they engage directly with diplomats and policy experts, gaining insights that shape how they see the world and their role in it.”
About Us
Our institute focuses on global issues and hosts programs that involve faculty, graduate and undergrad students, policy-makers and members of the public.
Meet the Fellows
Our fellows are students passionate about international relations. Fellows have studied and worked all over the world and come from diverse backgrounds.
Student Resources
GPI has compiled resources that can aid students interested in international relations and foreign affairs in their professional and academic development.
Recent Editorial Work
Global Policy Institute fellows draft articles each week on global issues and challenges. Fellows choose topics of interest to them related to traditional and human security, economics, the environment, technology, international organizations and global institutions.
Read more of our work here.
If the U.S. Department of State Wants to Counter Terrorism, It Shouldn’t Get Rid of USAID
Over the past couple of weeks, mass disarray has erupted in vulnerable communities across the world with the dismantling of USAID, leaving them in dire conditions and…
Hegemony vs. Justice: The US’s Selective Support for the ICC and Global Accountability
In the wake of Israel’s intensified ethnic cleansing in Gaza, many have looked to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a key arbiter to navigate this conflict.…
Pakistan’s Mass Expulsion of Afghans Will See Thousands of Girls Lose a Chance at Education
Pakistan is risking the lives of hundreds of thousands of women and over a million Afghans to send a message to the Taliban, an act the international…
The US Must Lift Its Sanctions on Cuba
On November 2, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly once again voted overwhelmingly for the United States to lift its economic and trade embargo on Cuba. Since…
Examining China’s Infamous “Bamboo Network”
Southeast Asia is home to an interesting anomaly: one where indigenous ethnic majorities are not the most prosperous ethnic group in the country. In Malaysia, the Bumiputera…
Israel’s Relationship With Turkey and Azerbaijan and What This Means for Armenia and Palestine
In the 1990s, Israel and Azerbaijan began kindling their diplomatic, economic, and military relationship. The same cannot be said for Azerbaijan’s brother state, Turkey, who has had…
Gabon Now: A Recovering Post-Coup Nation
Gabon is in the midst of significant changes, the likes of which the country has not seen in decades. Now, the Central African country is working to…
Football, Nationalism and the Israel-Hamas War
The atrocities experienced by both Israelis and Gazans in the aftermath of the Hamas attack of Oct. 7 have been horrific and roundly condemned. Amidst the surge…
Learn about how to submit your work to GPI or other undergraduate research journals and outlets
Interested in writing about foreign affairs or publishing your research? We’ve compiled a list of publishing opportunities at USC and other universities across the U.S. You can also review GPI’s submission instructions.
Looking for ways to get involved?
We recruit a new class of fellows at the start of each semester. Our spring 2026 semester application is not yet live. However, you can find more information about our application process on our instagram.
Contact Us
Join Our Mailing List
Join our mailing list in order to stay up to date on all of GPI’s events, programs, announcements and editorial content.