January 23, 2026
SIU’s Paul Simon Institute discussion to focus on U.S. foreign policy
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center — a Washington, D.C. think tank — will join Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on Tuesday, Jan. 27, for a virtual discussion on the future of American foreign policy.
Ashford will join John Shaw, institute director, in discussing the nation’s foreign policy and her 2025 book, “First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World.” The free, public discussion via Zoom begins at 10 a.m.; registration at paulsimoninstitute.org/events is required to view the conversation. The event is part of the institute’s “Understanding Our New World” discussion series.
“Emma Ashford is an impressive analyst of American foreign policy,” Shaw said. “Her book, ‘First Among Equals,’ offers a careful assessment of U.S. foreign policy over recent decades and outlines a thoughtful and thought-provoking alternative to American foreign policy called ‘Realist Internationalism,’ that we are eager to learn more about.
“Given the swirl of recent events and the growing tension between the United States and Europe, this is an excellent opportunity for us to hear from an impressive scholar.”
A nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank, the Stimson Center “promotes international security and shared prosperity through applied research and independent analysis, global engagement, and policy innovation.”
In addition to Ashford’s work at the Stimson Center, she is a non-resident fellow at the Modern War Institute at West Point and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She was a fellow at the Atlantic Council’s New American Engagement Initiative, which focused on challenging the prevailing assumptions governing U.S. foreign policy. She has also been a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the Cato Institute.
Ashford has a master’s degree in international relations from American University and a doctorate in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. She writes a biweekly column for Foreign Policy magazine and other long-form essays for leading national security journals. She also hosts a podcast on international affairs.
Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for Ashford on the registration form or email questions to paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu.
More information, including a list of the institute’s upcoming events and past speakers and events, is available.