Stephen M. Walt

Stephen M. Walt is a columnist at Foreign Policy and the Robert and Renée Belfer professor of international relations at Harvard University.

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Articles by Stephen M. Walt
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Roman Voskoboynikov, who is originally from Ukraine, after a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony inside the Robert N.C. Nix Federal Courthouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Roman Voskoboynikov, who is originally from Ukraine, after a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony inside the Robert N.C. Nix Federal Courthouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Biden Administration Is Addicted to Partnerships

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on prior a meeting with European Union leaders in Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv, on June 16, 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on prior a meeting with European Union leaders in Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv, on June 16, 2022.

The Morality of Ukraine’s War Is Very Murky

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
A view of a sign for the Harvard Kennedy School of Government on July 08, 2020 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
A view of a sign for the Harvard Kennedy School of Government on July 08, 2020 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Do Policy Schools Still Have a Point?

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
US entrepreneur and 2024 Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy raps after doing a Fair Side Chat with Governor Kim Reynolds, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 12, 2023.
US entrepreneur and 2024 Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy raps after doing a Fair Side Chat with Governor Kim Reynolds, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 12, 2023.

The Con-Man Realism of Vivek Ramaswamy

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
A giant panda cub is seen at China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on Sept. 19, 2007 in Chengdu, China.
A giant panda cub is seen at China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on Sept. 19, 2007 in Chengdu, China.

Here’s How Scared of China You Should Be

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
The Hollywood sign in Los Angeles on Nov. 16, 2005.
The Hollywood sign in Los Angeles on Nov. 16, 2005.

Hollywood Runs—and Ruins—U.S. Foreign Policy

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Vladimir Putin, then Russia's prime minister, looks at mirrors inside an X-ray telescope during his visit to the Russian Federal Nuclear Center.
Vladimir Putin, then Russia's prime minister, looks at mirrors inside an X-ray telescope during his visit to the Russian Federal Nuclear Center.

You See What You Want to See in Russia

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden pauses while speaking at the SEIU Unions for All Summit in Los Angeles.
U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden pauses while speaking at the SEIU Unions for All Summit in Los Angeles.

Cluster Bombs and the Contradictions of Liberalism

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Flags of Saudi Arabia and Israel stand together in a kitchen staging area as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds meetings at the State Department in Washington.
Flags of Saudi Arabia and Israel stand together in a kitchen staging area as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds meetings at the State Department in Washington.

A Saudi-Israeli Peace Deal Isn’t Worth It

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Abraham Ancer of Mexico looks on during Day Four of the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on February 05, 2023 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia.
Abraham Ancer of Mexico looks on during Day Four of the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on February 05, 2023 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia.

The International Relations of Saudi Arabia’s Golf Empire

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger cleans his glasses while preparing to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger cleans his glasses while preparing to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Solving the Mystery of Henry Kissinger’s Reputation

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Stephen M. Walt
A visitor looks at a lighted map of Chinese pipelines at the China International Energy Saving, Emissions Reduction, and New Energy Science & Technology Expo in Beijing.
A visitor looks at a lighted map of Chinese pipelines at the China International Energy Saving, Emissions Reduction, and New Energy Science & Technology Expo in Beijing.

Stop Worrying About Chinese Hegemony in Asia

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Harvard Kennedy School graduates wearing caps and gowns hold up inflatable globes in celebration during commencement in 2019.
Harvard Kennedy School graduates wearing caps and gowns hold up inflatable globes in celebration during commencement in 2019.

How to Succeed in the Foreign-Policy Blob

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Chris Smith of Mill Hall, Pennsylvania yawns while sitting in the grand stands before his uncle, U.S. Army Spc. Joe Mosser, returned home from Iraq along the 24th Corps Support Group, July 6, 2003 in Ft. Stewart, Georgia.
Chris Smith of Mill Hall, Pennsylvania yawns while sitting in the grand stands before his uncle, U.S. Army Spc. Joe Mosser, returned home from Iraq along the 24th Corps Support Group, July 6, 2003 in Ft. Stewart, Georgia.

U.S. Foreign Policy Is About to Get Boring

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
Flags of the US and China are placed ahead of a meeting between US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and China's Agriculture Minister Han Changfu at the Ministry of Agriculture in Beijing on June 30, 2017.
Flags of the US and China are placed ahead of a meeting between US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and China's Agriculture Minister Han Changfu at the Ministry of Agriculture in Beijing on June 30, 2017.

Ukraine and Russia Need a Great-Power Peace Plan

Argument
Stephen M. Walt
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