Global Essay Competition 2021- John Locke Institute

Submissions are now open for 2021 Global Essay Competition organised by The John Locke Institute! Apply now!

The John Locke Institute encourages young people to cultivate the characteristics that turn good students into great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis and persuasive style. The Essay Competition invites students to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the confines of the school curriculum. Entering an essay in the competition can build knowledge, and refine skills of argumentation. It also gives students the chance to have their work assessed by experts. All of the essay prizes are judged by senior academics from the University of Oxford. The judges will choose their favourite essay from each subject category and an overall ‘best essay’ across seven subjects: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law.

• Philosophy-
  • Q1. Are there some subjects about which we should not even ask questions?
  • Q2. What is slavery? Is jury duty? Is conscription? Is income tax?
  • Q3. Are you more moral than most people you know? How do you know? Should you strive to be more moral? Why or why not?
• Politics-
  • Q1. Discrimination on the basis of race is widely condemned, but on the basis of nationality it is widely accepted. Is it not odd that you may not discriminate against me for where my great-great-grandparents were born, but you may discriminate against me for where my parents were born?
  • Q2. Should the John Locke Institute change its name?
  • Q3. Do we need Greta?

Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.

• Economics-
  • Q1. How would the education sector change if governments were no longer involved?
  • Q2. There is considerable excess demand for undergraduate places at Oxford. The admissions process rations supply by favouring cleverer students at the expense of others. Is this fair? Does it exacerbate inequality? What is the University’s optimal response to this scarcity?
  • Q3. Should we abolish the minimum wage?
• History-
  • Q1. Should we judge those from the past by the standards of today? How will historians in the future judge us?
  • Q2. Has the ‘construct of gender’ been more beneficial or more harmful to humanity throughout history?
  • Q3. ‘More history has happened in Oxford, per square foot, than any other place in the world.’ Discuss.
• Psychology-
  • Q1. Do we do everything we do to maximise own utility?
  • Q2. ‘The function of religions and cults, including the political or ideological ones, is to short-circuit the normal ‘common sense’ process of doubt, investigation, further doubt, further investigation… a belief system only requires a rule book (sacred scripture, Das Kapital, or whatever) and a good memory.’ Is this true? Does it matter?
  • Q3. Who is responsible for my mental health?
• Theology-
  • Q1. Is Christianity a religion of peace?
  • Q2. Why did Jesus of Nazareth reserve his strongest condemnation for the self-righteous?
  • Q3. Did God create coronavirus?
• Law-
  • Q1. Should ‘innocent until proven guilty’ apply not only to courts of law, but also to public censure?
  • Q2. To what extent does a codified constitution help or hinder liberty?
  • Q3. When should force of law prevent a transaction, entered into freely between two competent, consenting adults?
• JUNIOR prize-
  • Q1. Should we raise the voting age to 25?
  • Q2. Should the John Locke Institute change its name?
  • Q3. Is Oxford overrated?
  • Q4. Just because you’re a millionaire doesn’t mean you should get better healthcare than the rest of us, does it?
  • Q5. What should we do to improve the lives of poor people?
  • Q6. Have things improved?
  • Q7. Before a certain time almost everybody would have held some belief which we now find repugnant. Does this mean we cannot admire or commemorate the people who helped to shape the modern world?
  • Q8. Should the law ever prevent people from freely making self-harming decisions? If so, what should and shouldn’t be forbidden – and according to which principles?

​Criteria: Essays will be judged on the level of knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, the quality of argumentation, the structure, writing style and persuasive force. Candidates are advised to answer the question as precisely and directly as possible.