The Chase Peace Prize was established by Edward M. Chase, a native of Lithuania who emigrated to the United States, settling in Manchester, NH, until his death in 1939. A philanthropist of many causes, Mr. Chase established the prize to encourage careful reflection on the causes of war and the prospects for peace in the world. It is given out annually by the Davidson Institute for Global Security at the Dickey Center for International Understanding.
The 2026 recipients are:
Daphna Cohen ’26
Department of Government
For the thesis, Sovereignty for Sale: Commercial Military Actors and Civil War Outcomes.
Daphna graduated with majors in Government and French Studies. Passionate about international security and conflict resolution, Daphna engaged with several Dickey Center programs, including as a War & Peace Fellow, Global Health Fellow, and as a Senior Editor for the World Outlook Journal of International Affairs. She has also interned with the U.S. Naval War College as part of the Davidson Institute’s partnership program. Her Government Honors thesis examines the relationship between commercial military actors, also called private contractors, and the duration and outcome of civil wars. Outside of Government research, she enjoys studying French philosophy and art. She looks forward to her tenure as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Brussels, Belgium for the 2026-2027 school year.
John Coleman ’26
Department of History
For the thesis, The Appearance of the Confederate Flag in These Seas: The CSS Sumter, Neutrality, and the International Dimensions of the American Civil War.
John is currently in his first year as a JD candidate at Harvard Law School. At Dartmouth, he majored in history and government modified with economics, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He pursued research with Professor Robert Bonner in the Department of History, writing a thesis and publishing work on the international dimensions of the American Civil War and the Confederate Navy. He was also involved with the Dartmouth Political Union, Dartmouth Conservatives, Class Council, Aquinas House, and Phi Delta Alpha fraternity. He currently serves as the alumni president of the Class of 2026 and resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Joseph Hirsh ’26
Department of Government
For the thesis, Division of Defense Labor and Its Discontents: How Political Ideology Shapes Complementary Procurement in Alliances.
Joseph graduated from Dartmouth College with a double major in government and computer science. He is fascinated by international relations and the ways that digital technology can advance national security. His research posits a novel theory about the relationship between right-left political ideology and armament procurement in military alliances. He currently works as a software engineer, specializing in data integration, data modeling, and data operationalization, to strengthen our nation’s critical systems.
Learn more about the Chase Peace Prize here.
