Joshua Schwartz of Carnegie Mellon Wins 2026 Emerging Scholars Policy Prize

Perry World House (PWH) at the University of Pennsylvania and Foreign Affairs magazine are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2026 Emerging Scholars Policy Prize is Joshua A. Schwartz of Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Schwartz’s article, “Fighting for Credibility Can Destroy It,” will be published by Foreign Affairs in the coming months.

“Dr. Schwartz’s article was impressive in both its substance and its relevance to his academic research agenda,” said PWH Faculty Director Michael C. Horowitz. “The Emerging Scholars Policy Prize is designed to help identify the next generation of global affairs experts whose work can bridge the gap between academia and policy.”

“Once again, this year’s winning essay is a model of bringing deep academic research into contemporary policy debates,” said Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, editor of Foreign Affairs. “We’re thrilled to be able to publish Dr. Schwartz’s work, as well to have had the chance to read so many other excellent submissions from emerging scholars who are beginning to shape the most important debates about foreign policy and international affairs. I’m grateful as well to Perry World House for its partnership on the prize.”

Since Fall 2019, this prize has encouraged scholars to translate their own academic work to be more accessible to policymakers in positions of influence and to advance policy debates on significant issues in global affairs. The prize recognizes outstanding, original essays on any topic related to international issues that draw on original academic research and intend to influence policy debates

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share the policy implications of my dissertation work with the readers of Foreign Affairs,” said Dr. Schwartz. “The conventional wisdom is that backing down from a conflict always harms a state’s future credibility, but I’m excited to offer the policy community a heterodox take on this topic.” 

The call for the 2027 Emerging Scholars Policy Prize submissions is now open. You can submit your essay here for consideration. The call for essays will close on Saturday, May 8, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET.