Joshua W. Walker
Joshua W. Walker is a Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He is responsible for the Turkey program and Japan portfolio of the Asia program. Active in bridging the academic and policy worlds, Dr. Walker is a Young Society Leader and Top 99 under 33 Foreign Policy Leader who co-founded the Yale Journal of International Affairs, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy in New York, and the Project on Religion, Diplomacy, and International Relations at Princeton. He is also a visiting scholar at George Mason University’s Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies, non-resident fellow at the Crown Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Brandeis University, and a Truman National Security Fellow. Among his many affiliations, he has most recently been a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, Tokyo University, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Transatlantic Academy. He has taught at Istanbul Sehir Merkez, Middle East Technical University, George Mason, Princeton, University of Richmond, and Yale.
He earned his Ph.D. in Politics and Public Policy with a specialization on international relations and security studies at Princeton University. He holds a Master's degree in International Relations from Yale University and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Richmond. He was a Fulbright Fellow in Ankara, Turkey and has worked for the U.S. Embassy and State Department on Turkey.
In addition to his numerous articles, briefs, and book projects (most recent book Turkey and Its Neighbors: Lynne Reinner, 2011) Dr. Walker has written for a variety of outlets including the Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, Foreign Policy, International Affairs, International Herald Tribune, New Republic, Washington Quarterly, and Washington Times. Dr. Walker’s forthcoming book focuses on the role of historical memories in post-imperial successor states, with a particular focus on Japan and Turkey's domestic and foreign policies.
He grew up in Sapporo, Japan where he lived for 15 years and his family still resides.
Blog Contributions
Click here for all of this author's GMF blog posts.
News Articles
Reaffirming Tokyo’s Leader in WashingtonMay 01, 2012Bold and steady political leadership is necessary to set Japan to on the right course and to forge cooperation on key U.S. economic and security interests.
Ignoring North KoreaApril 19, 2012
Turkey’s Vision for 2012 and Beyond: Davutoglu’s Washington VisitFebruary 17, 2012Davutoğlu's 2012 visit to Washington once again showcased Turkey's self-confidence as a rising regional power and vision for its neighborhood.
Turkish Foreign Minister Dr. Davutoğlu Comes to WashingtonFebruary 08, 2012Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's visit to Washington this week comes at a pivotal time in U.S.-Turkish relations.
Turkey’s Bold About-Face on SyriaNovember 03, 2011Turkey's support for Syrian insurgents reverses detente with Damascus. Its about-face can reinforce an Arab League agreement with Syria to end violence, and reassure the West of its commitment to NATO values. But is the break an exception, or a broad change in foreign policy?...
Turkey’s Global StrategyJune 07, 2011After nearly a decade in power, Turkey's Justice and Development Party (AKP) has grown increasingly confident in its foreign policy, prompting observers to wondered aloud whether the country might be leaving "the West," forcing that group to confront the question "who lost Turkey?"
Will Turkey remain an American ally?December 14, 2010The headline stories from WikiLeaks of the last few days have focused attention on American foreign policy, with a particular focus on the strains within and with historic allies. The central role of Turkey in these revelations has caused further apprehension in U.S.-Turkish relations at an already tense moment in the alliance.
The United States and Turkey: Can They Agree to Disagree?November 16, 2010Given the headline-grabbing actions of Turkey this summer with regard to both Israel and Iran, a powerful narrative has emerged in which the West has "lost" Turkey. But this narrative ignores the process of democratization in Turkey and the domestic pressures facing a populist Justice and Development Party (AKP) government.
America’s Silence By DefaultOctober 28, 2010As an American who has just returned from a series of discussions on international relations and America’s role in the Levant and the South Caucuses, I’m left with a sinking feeling. It was eye-opening to see the discrepancy between America’s vibrant debates at home over the upcoming mid-term elections and virtual silence on U.S. foreign policy priorities in this region of the world.
Publications
Eerie Silence about the Euro Zone CrisisAugust 02, 2012This policy brief argues that at its peril, Turkey is ignoring the European Fall in favor of the Arab Spring.
Stuck between the “Rest” and the “West:” Turkey at the CrossroadsJune 14, 2012This policy brief examines Turkey's current geopolitical placement.
What Next for NATOMay 23, 2012This policy brief looks at current and future challenges for NATO from a variety of perspectives.
The Missing Transatlantic Link: Trilateral Cooperation in the Post-Ottoman SpaceMay 17, 2012This policy brief argues for trilateral cooperation between the EU, the U.S., and Turkey.
Eurasia’s Hinge: It’s More than just EnergyMay 11, 2012This policy brief looks at Azerbaijan's global strategic importance.
Staying Above the Middle Eastern Fray: Turkey’s Sectarian TemptationsMarch 30, 2012This policy brief asks if Turkey will be able to avoid the sectarianism taking place in neighboring Middle Eastern countries.
The Shifting Tectonics of Japan One Year After March 11, 2011March 08, 2012The danger for Japan is that after the one-year anniversary of 3/11 passes, complacency and depression will replace the resolve and national unity pledged in the immediate aftermath of the crisis. The political incentives to become further insulated and isolated run in the opposite direction of Japan’s national interest. Growth through closer ties with the developing world and greater competition at home offer the best future for Japan. Political leadership is necessary to pursue this path, but without it, Japan risks another decade of relative decline even without another tragedy.
U.S.-Turkish Relations: Modesty and RevitalizationDecember 15, 2011This policy brief encourages a strengthening of U.S.-Turkish relations....
Turkey’s Emergence as a Middle Eastern Stakeholder and What this Means for the WestOctober 10, 2011
The Interlinking of Turkey’s Domestic and Foreign Policy in the AKP’s Third TermAugust 10, 2011This policy brief argues that Turkey now must prove it is able to transcend its long tradition of "democracy without democrats" both internally and externally.
Competitive and Democratic Depth: Keys for Success in Turkish Football and PoliticsJuly 22, 2011This policy brief draws parallels between the current Turkish football match-fixing scandal and Turkish politics....
Why Principles – and not Players – Should Determine the Nature of the Emerging International OrderMarch 01, 2011This Brussels Forum Brief says that the arrival of new global powers presents the West with a dilemma: whether to prioritize players or principles in creating a new international architecture that contributes to the continuity and efficacy of international norms.
After WikiLeaks, U.S.-Turkish Relations in Need of Catharsis not RecriminationsDecember 15, 2010This policy brief examines the fallout of the Wikileaks release on U.S.-Turkey relations.
A Neighborhood RediscoveredMarch 22, 2010Transatlantic Academy authors Kemal Kirisci, Nathalie Tocci, and Joshua Walker explore Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East. They contend that Turkey is not “lost,” but can play a positive role in the region as long as it conducts a norm-based foreign policy based on continuing democratization.
