Clara Marina O'Donnell - 10 year anniversary and her fellowship programme

On January 16th 2024 we mark the 10th anniversary of our losing our dear friend and colleague, Clara Marina O'Donnell, at the age of 30. Clara came to the CER as a defence analyst in 2007, having previously worked at NATO and at Chatham House. Brought up in Brussels, with Spanish and Anglo-Irish parents, Clara was a true European. She spoke Dutch, French, Italian and Spanish, as well as English.

She thought it obvious that European countries could achieve more by working together, and applied that principle with rigour to the field of EU defence co-operation. She advocated not only the pooling and sharing of defence capabilities, but also the forging of a single market for defence equipment. She refused to be downcast that the EU had achieved less in defence than some had expected; she saw the glass as half full, pointing to the many examples of progress. Thus in 'The trials and tribulations of European defence co-operation', a fine paper that we published in July 2013, Clara analysed the obstacles that prevent EU governments working together; but she also highlighted cases of successful collaboration, including the Franco-British arrangements, as well as suggesting other areas where co-operation would makes sense, such as a European drone programme.

In her early years at the CER, Clara travelled extensively in the Middle East, becoming a strong advocate of rights for Palestinians. In one notable paper, 'The EU, Israel and Hamas', published in April 2008, Clara argued that there could never be peace in the Middle East unless Hamas was brought into the negotiations. She also called for the EU to play a bigger role, both in persuading Hamas to renounce violence and accept a two-state solution, and in urging the US and Israel to talk to Hamas.

In addition to the many thoughtful and original pieces that she wrote for the CER, she contributed articles and papers to other journals and think-tanks, such as International Affairs, Europe's World, Jane's Defence Weekly, European Voice, the EU Institute for Security Studies and the Brookings Institution. Clara also proved to be a skilful editor: she was particularly good at spotting how the structure of her colleagues’ pieces could be improved. She was enthusiastic about working with people in other think-tanks: in recent years she helped to manage the 'FR-UK Defence Forum', a venture that we, two French think-tanks (IFRI and the FRS) and two British think-tanks (RUSI and Chatham House) established to work on Franco-British defence co-operation. She was also active in Young Professionals in Foreign Policy.

Clara was ambitious, without having sharp elbows. In the defence world, Washington DC is the place to be, and Clara was keen to spend some time there. She got her chance in the summer of 2011, when she won a Fulbright fellowship. She moved to Washington, where our friends at the Brookings Institution's Centre on the United States and Europe hosted Clara. She stayed on in Washington when the fellowship ended, as the CER's US representative and as a senior research fellow. Clara proved a great hit in the US, dazzling people with her knowledge, public-speaking skills and charm.

In August 2013 she was diagnosed with an incurable illness, and she moved back to London. She was adamant that she wanted to keep on working. During Clara's final months we learned new things about her, notably her astonishing bravery. She never complained about her predicament or felt sorry for herself. Her philosophical approach was extraordinary for such a young woman. She was keen to lead as normal a life as possible, given the constraints of her health, and went on working until Christmas. We will never forget Clara's passionate belief in the European cause, sharp intelligence, cheerfulness, strength of character, determination and courage. Our thoughts are with Clara's parents, her two brothers and her many friends.

Charles Grant

Clara's publications

The Clara Marina O'Donnell fellowship

The Clara Marina O’Donnell fellowship was established in memory of Clara. 

The fellowship programme is managed by the Brookings Institution (the Centre for the United States and Europe, where Clara was based for part of her time with the CER); Cambridge University (the Department of Politics and International Studies, where she took a Masters in International Relations); King’s College London (the Department of European & International Studies, where she was an undergraduate) and the CER.

We will shortly open recruitment for the 2024-2025 fellowship. These are the views of the ten researchers who have held it so far.

Yehuda Ben-Hur Levy, 2014-15
My time at the CER as the first Clara Marina O’Donnell Fellow was one of the most stimulating and challenging experiences of my career. The CER has a unique nature, which stems from the intellectual freedom it provides to its researchers, together with the high standards of research and fact checking CER colleagues demand from each other. Thanks to this formula and the guidance from brilliant colleagues, I was able to learn in less than six months how to write for a think-tank and present a persuasive argument to policy makers. These are precious tools that will be of use for the rest of my professional career. 

Sophia Besch, 2015-16
The fellowship for me was a great opportunity to learn about the work of think-tanks through events, travel and most importantly the day-to-day work of researching and writing. The CER is also uniquely placed to work on the UK- EU relationship, and every fellow will get the chance to be a part of the debate currently ongoing about the future of the EU.

Luigi Scazzieri, 2016-17
The fellowship is an immensely enjoyable and enriching opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a leading European think-tank. I was able to carry out my own research and also had the opportunity to give talks, publish in newspapers and appear on radio and TV. Being able to spend time in Brussels and DC was also eye opening, and allowed me to gain an insight into policy-making on both sides of the Atlantic. Above all perhaps, it was fascinating to immerse myself in a whole range of policy debates on Europe’s future.

Noah Gordon, 2017-18
The Clara Marina O’Donnell Fellowship is a great opportunity for a young person interested in policy. While it was wonderful to attend the CER’s high-level conferences and have my work published by international media outlets, the most important thing for me was how the CER approaches writing. There is a uniquely collegial atmosphere at the think-tank: a fellow will not only read and edit the work of all their senior colleagues, but also go through an exacting editing process that brings their own work up to CER standards. It can be tough, but it’s an invaluable experience, wherever you go in your later career.

Leonard Schuette, 2018-19
As a Clara Marina O’Donnell Fellow, you can have your cake and eat it. The fellowship combines the best of both academia and journalism, by offering an intellectually stimulating environment to conduct independent research, opportunities to travel to Brussels and Washington, and the possibility of providing comments to the media on topical foreign policy issues. I particularly enjoyed having access to decision-makers and thus getting the sense that my work was having a real impact.

Khrystyna Parandii, 2019-20:
The fellowship gave me a unique experience, working alongside a stellar team of researchers in one of Europe’s leading think-tanks. I learned a lot from the CER’s rigorous editing process, built up my foreign policy expertise and expanded my professional network among London’s dynamic political and think-tank community. My week-long visit to Brookings provided me with policy insights from another side of the Atlantic, and I used my time at the CER’s Brussels office to meet EU officials and immerse myself in the EU expert community.

Katherine Pye, 2020-21:
Despite working from home for the duration of my fellowship, my time at the CER was exceptionally rewarding. Clara Marina O’Donnell fellows are given considerable freedom to choose their own research topics and can draw on the vast expertise of the CER’s researchers and their networks. Though I was unable to go to Washington DC, I frequently connected online with fellows at Brookings and many of them put me in touch with their professional networks in the US. The opportunity to have original research published and experience with the CER’s rigorous editorial process is invaluable for any aspiring policy analyst.

Megan Ferrando, 2021-22:
As for my predecessors, being a Clara Marina O’Donnell fellow was an immensely rewarding experience. Thanks to incredible colleagues, all experts in their field, I learned the ways of working of a leading think-tank while growing both within and outside my areas of expertise. Importantly, the fellowship opened all the doors I sought to open: I discussed my research with analysts and policymakers in London, Washington and Brussels, and had the opportunity to present my research at leading UK universities and in media outlets. Being a Clara fellow gives you an invaluable network and skills for the rest of your career.  

Helmi Pillai, 2022-23:
The Clara Marina O’Donnell fellowship has been truly an incredible experience. It has allowed me to work with experts in a leading think-tank. The fellowship has also given me the opportunity to travel to Brussels and Washington DC and attend fascinating events with world-class speakers. Most importantly, I have been able to research and write about the topics I am most interested in. Working for the CER has been a fantastic start to my career, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to work in foreign policy.

Christina Keßler, 2023-24:
As a Clara Marina O'Donnell fellow, I could dive head-first into the topics that interest me, supported by an incredibly competent team. Thanks to the fellowship, I sharpened my writing and editing skills, got the chance to speak at roundtables and conferences about my research and connected with experts and policy-makers who otherwise would have been inaccessible to me at this point of my professional journey. The fellowship is a truly unique opportunity, and I am very grateful for all the doors it has opened for me. 

If you want to know more about Clara's legacy and the impact that the Clara Marina O'Donnell fellowship has had on the ten people who have held it so far, Clara's familiy have put together a publication to mark the 10th anniversary of the fellowship.