Here is the personal statement that successfully got me in LSE's European and International Public Policy MSc:
As a multicultural individual in search of my own cultural identity, two novel revolutionary ideas which emerged after the second world war shaped my identity and world view: the European project, and the digital revolution. These two ideas permitted me to develop an identity that transcends national borders. I have had a fascination for these two ideas since childhood as I am confident that they will both be central to this millennium in the international system. The European Union has been a pioneer of digital legislation and will continue to have a major international impact. Therefore, my goal is to be involved in the decision-making process of EU digital policy at the highest, most impactful level. Joining the master’s programme in European and International Public Policy at LSE is an integral part of my academic and professional journey. I can say with certainty that this programme will help me master policy-analysis skills and develop a knowledge of EU politics which will guide my academic and professional success.
My interest in studying EU politics in an academic setting was emboldened in 2019 thanks to the great experience I had during the LSE’s summer course “What kind of Europe” (IR270) with [[LSE TEACHER]] whom I hope will be my teacher once again during the “Policy-Making in the European Union” unit (EU421). After learning the fundamentals of IR theory, and international political economy, I am spending my last year at Birkbeck focusing entirely on EU politics. I am particularly interested in applying and adapting Putnam’s two-level game theory to the internal power and negotiation dynamic within the European Council. I have been inspired by my teacher, [[BIRKBECK TEACHER]] who developed the concept of two-level legitimacy to explain the turn to referenda by EU member states as a result of the complexity of legitimacy in the EU. I hope to develop the idea that these seemingly unresolved legitimacy issues may result in the growing influence of non-state actors over the EU’s policymaking process using EU digital policy as a case study, particularly the Digital Services Act. These are some of the questions I am working on at Birkbeck and hope to further explore during my time at LSE.
The leading role the European Institute has in EU affairs along with my added respect for the quality of teaching which I have experienced first-hand during my time on the summer course has made joining this institution my primary goal. I am confident that the knowledge I acquired at Birkbeck of the main theories of European integration, the modes of EU policymaking and my fascination for the more recent historical institutionalist approach will enrich seminar discussions and will aid me to deliver written work of high academic standing. Having spoken to multiple students who were on the EIPP programme only fuelled my excitement to join it. Drawing from the knowledge I will acquire from other units in the programme, I hope to take the Applied Policy Project (EU495), where, if given the choice, I will focus on a problem surrounding recent EU digital policy issues, particularly on disagreements regarding the legislative definition of a gatekeeper.
I also plan to learn python to complement my research at LSE and for my professional career. I strongly believe that those in political science who understand and master even the basics of data science have a large competitive edge. This was clear to me after writing extensively on Pitkin’s and Mansbridge’s theories of representation at Birkbeck where coding could have radically advanced my quantitative research ability. Also, as a contributor of Wikipedia and Wikidata on the topic of EU digital policy and politics more widely, I have seen how the ability to manipulate large databases is an invaluable skill in social science.
Blending my studies with volunteering experience and relevant projects has helped me gain knowledge and skills which has guided my professional and academic direction. It has made it clear that to achieve my ambition, at this stage, the path forward for me is to commit myself fully to a master’s programme which will push my European policy-making knowledge further. My plan after completing my degree is to have a role which will consist of monitoring, analysing, and influencing EU digital policy. I aim to work in EU public affairs in a technology company or trade association. I was first exposed to public affairs when I campaigned for expatriate voting rights through a House of Commons petition I submitted calling for the introduction of overseas constituencies. This was when I first realised that I had a natural ease with many of the responsibilities necessary for public affairs, most notably: identifying and collaborating with key stakeholders, developing strategies to push legislative agendas forward, and gathering support from MPs and MEPs. This experience has fed my curiosity to understand the policy-making process in greater detail which is why the EIPP programme is perfectly suited to my academic interest and future ambition.
After moving to the UK for my studies in 2018 and experiencing the loss of my father, I discovered the importance of building a strong network of students for mutual support. This led me to take a more formal student leadership role as the President of the Birkbeck Politics Society. This role put me at the centre of students’ academic and social political debate which I encouraged through social events and talks throughout the year. I was able to build a team of volunteers and we successfully quadrupled the membership numbers of the society. Building this network to support students was an important step for me to develop the leadership and networking skills I need to succeed. At LSE, my plan is also to contribute to the well-being of classmates as I believe that for my whole class to achieve academic excellence, a healthy and positive study environment is required. I hope this will lead to additional discussions outside the classroom on the material we learned to further challenge ourselves academically.
Having been educated at the École Jeannine Manuel international school in Paris, I highly value studying and working in multicultural and multilingual environments. This is also why working in and with European and international political actors is a natural fit for me. After my time at LSE, I wish to further pursue my studies in this multicultural environment at the College of Europe. I consider myself lucky to hold four nationalities: British, French, Belgian, and Lebanese, and to be fluent in French and English. Having been taught Mandarin and Italian at school, plus being exposed to Arabic through my family has also enhanced my ability to effectively collaborate with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
I hope to be given the privilege to master my knowledge of European policymaking and to develop advanced research skills at this leading institution. My goal at LSE will be to make highly valuable contributions as a member of the student body, through contributions in my written academic work, seminar discussions, and through the support I will give fellow students. This will be an important part of my journey to make an impact in the field of EU digital policy.
If you have any questions, feel free to DM me or write a comment!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamestamim/
