This exciting new competition established jointly by RUSI and The Brenthurst Foundation, a
Johannesburg-based think tank devoted to strengthening Africa’s economic performance, with the generous support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, aims to encourage fresh and innovative perspectives on African security and development. Entries are invited to address this critical relationship between security and development in the context of a trans-national theme or issue in Africa, or a single country case-study.

The Nelson Mandela International Essay Competition is open to professionals writing in the field, academics, government and armed forces' personnel, and new writers seeking to contribute to the debate. Entries need not be members of RUSI. The winning entry will receive an award of £1500 and a year's membership to RUSI, and two runners-up will also each receive a year's membership. All three winning entries will (subject to Editorial Board approval) be published in the RUSI Journal.

Authors of any nationality are eligible, but their work must be presented in English
Essays must not be less than 3,000 words and not more than 3,500 words in length
Closing date for entries to the competition is 31 March 2006. Entries are preferred by e-mail but will be accepted on paper by post and fax. Please do not send floppy disks.
An international panel of eminent judges selected by RUSI will assess the entries. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence on the nature of assessment or the results will be entered into.

Please supply your name, a one-paragraph biography and current affiliation, address and e-mail on the first page of the essay.

E-mail applications
Please use ‘Nelson Mandela International Essay Competition 2006’ as the message title and address to journal@rusi.org
For paper applications
Please send your essay to:
Dr Terence McNamee, Director of Publications
RUSI
Whitehall
London SW1A 2ET
United Kingdom
Or fax completed entry form and essay to: +44 (0)20 7747 2647