A budding politician has won first and runner-up prizes in two prestigious University of Oxford essay competitions.
Daniel McClean from Knaresborough beat hundreds of entrants from all over the country to win the highly competitive St Hugh’s College Kavita Singh politics essay prize.
The 17-year-old was also runner-up in Brasnose College’s Massolit video essay competition and was invited to attend two separate glittering awards ceremonies at the world-famous seat of learning.
Judges told him that the St Hugh’s politics tutor was very impressed with his essay, titled ‘Democracy will not help us solve the issues facing the world today’.
Daniel, interested in a career in politics, argued that democracy in its current form was impotent to help us solve the issues facing the world today, arguing that a form of ‘global administration’ was needed to deliver a legitimate consensus that was binding upon all nations.
Studying maths, economics and politics at A-level, Daniel , who hopes to study politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford, received a £100 prize, which he plans to spend on books.
He chose to explore the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, for his ‘talking head’ style ten-minute video lecture topic in the Massolit competition, which was entered by more than 200 students from across the UK.
He said:
“I discussed how his legacy had changed over generational and geographical contexts.
"It allowed me an outlet for an interest I have had in Turkey dating back to when I first went there with family, and some reading I did during lockdown, and it was rewarding to finally get to put my knowledge together.”
Reviewed by a panel of distinguished judges, including Brasnose academics, this was the fourth annual Massolit competition.
A volunteer campaigner for a local political party, Daniel explained:
"My interest in politics dates back years, to before I was a founding member of the Harrogate Youth Council in 2021. But my study of politics at school has helped that interest crystallise.
“I was interested from the beginning of sixth form in doing some essay competitions, and what I learnt about essay writing in lessons helped me to feel ready to take on the challenge of doing a competitive essay.”
He said:
“I’m delighted to have received these awards and look forward to the next steps in applying to Oxford – what felt like a dream when I was younger now seems possible and within reach, and I’m excited to get to work.
“Both award ceremonies were insightful, allowing me an insight into the two colleges and the wider Oxford system as a whole.
“I had a fascinating time talking to Oxford professors, tutors and other competitors. Both ceremonies have confirmed for me that Oxford is the right choice for me, and I will continue to work hard towards the best application I can make.”
A qualified glider pilot and Air Cadet instructor, Daniel founded the student Aviation Society at RGS.
The teenager, who has been playing drums for 11 years, is also a member of the band Yellow Number Five and has also been active in the Scout movement, having been awarded a commendation by the County Commissioner for his work at the World Scout Jamboree in 2023.
You can read Daniel’s prize-winning politics essay here.
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