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Thu, Sep 24, 2026 12:54 AM All times are UTC

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Christopher Featherstone

Associate Lecturer, Department of Politics, University of York
My research focuses on US and UK foreign policy, and foreign policy decision-making. In my teaching at the University of York, I teach on Policy-making and US Foreign Policy.

My PhD was on the US and UK decision-making processes that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. While international factors contributed to the decision to invade Iraq, to truly understand how these two governments made it, it is necessary to examine the individuals who made the decision. Theoretically, this research responds to the challenges laid down for FPA: to establish links between theoretical models, to compare national contexts, and to speak to policy practitioners. Empirically, this research contributes a rich analysis of both decision-making processes that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, using recently declassified documentary materials and interviews with decision-makers involved. This research forms the basis for a book proposal that is under review with Manchester University Press.

I have also co-authored two academic articles on the Trump administration's foreign policy, conceptualizing and explaining President Trump's leadership style in his foreign policy-making. In the first article, co-authored with Asaf Siniver, we argued that Trump’s plutocratic worldview means that he is transactional and money-first in his approach. Whilst this is a significant break from previous US Presidents, it provides much of the consistency within the Trump presidency. In the second article with Oz Hassan, we argue that whilst many think the Trump doctrine is a doctrine of unpredictability, Trump is in fact predictable in the light of his leadership style. These can be found at:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23340460.2020.1734953?journalCode=rgaf20
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09557571.2020.1853054?journalCode=ccam20

Trump 2.0: what we learned from the 47th US president’s first day in office

Jan 22, 2025 05:07 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Donald Trump said hed be a dictator for a day when he returned to the Oval Office for a second term. And he certainly hit the ground running, signing scores of executive orders within hours of being inaugurated. One of the...

With Biden gone, Trump will need a new attack plan for the younger Kamala Harris

Jul 23, 2024 05:58 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

When Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential election race he changed the nature of the campaign. In the three weeks following the notorious presidential debate, Bidens withdrawal came to be seen as a matter of when, not...

The UK’s new prime minister Keir Starmer – hoping for a Democrat in the White House, preparing for Trump

Jul 08, 2024 09:19 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Keir Starmer, the UKs new prime minister, was quiet on the question of relations with the US prior to his election, choosing to avoid, in particular, talk of how he would manage a second Donald Trump presidency. Starmer...

Jill Biden: the woman with the US president’s ear as he doubles down on staying in the race

Jul 03, 2024 14:07 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The overwhelming majority of people who watched the first US presidential debate between incumbent Joe Biden and challengers Donald Trump concluded that it was a disastrous night for the 46th US president. Bidens voice was...

Economy

Russian Envoy Dmitriev Heads to US for Ukraine Talks

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev is traveling to the United States for talks with Trump administration representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as Washington and Moscow continue diplomatic...

U.S. 10-Year Treasury Yield Hits 2007 High as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise

U.S. Treasury yields surged Wednesday as stronger economic data, renewed inflation concerns and hawkish Federal Reserve comments triggered a sharp bond sell-off. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield climbed to its highest...

US, China Extend Trade Truce to Jan. 10 Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

The United States and China have agreed to extend their trade truce, known as the Busan Agreement, until Jan. 10, giving the worlds two largest economies additional time to negotiate a broader economic agreement. U.S....

Wall Street Falls as Treasury Yields Surge, Oil Rebounds on Iran Tensions

Wall Street ended sharply lower Wednesday as surging U.S. Treasury yields pressured technology stocks, while investors monitored renewed U.S.-Iran tensions and Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to Washington. The SP 500...

Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Diplomacy Hopes Fade

Oil prices rebounded sharply on Wednesday, snapping a five-session losing streak as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran reduced expectations for a diplomatic breakthrough. Brent crude futures for November...

Politics

US Officials Split Over Response to Israeli West Bank Settlements

A proposed U.S. statement criticizing the UK, France and Canada over restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank was ultimately shelved amid disagreements within the Trump administration,...

Europe Warns Russia Is Escalating Hybrid Attacks Across NATO

European officials have warned that Russia is intensifying hybrid attacks across Europe, including cyberattacks, sabotage and airspace violations, in an effort to weaken Western support for Ukraine. Speaking during the UN...

Gaza Faces Evacuation Crisis as War-Damaged Buildings Risk Collapse

Gaza authorities are struggling to evacuate residents from hundreds of war-damaged buildings at risk of collapse, citing shortages of heavy equipment, funding and safe land for displaced families. The danger intensified on...

Trump Administration Plans Faster FDA Reviews for Smoke-Free Nicotine Products

The Trump administration is preparing to overhaul the U.S. regulatory process for smoke-free nicotine products, potentially creating a faster route to market for vapes and nicotine pouches, according to The Wall Street...

Venezuela Promises Elections as Delcy Rodriguez Pledges Democratic Transition

Venezuela will hold elections as part of a transition toward what interim President Delcy Rodriguez described as full democracy, although she did not provide a specific date for the vote. Speaking at the United Nations...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Meta Connect Spotlights Camera-Free Smart Glasses Amid Privacy Concerns

Meta Platforms opened its annual Connect conference on Wednesday, with the technology giant expected to introduce new smart glasses as it seeks to expand its lead in AI-powered wearable devices while addressing mounting...

Anthropic’s Claude Discovers CRISPR-Like Enzyme System

Anthropic has launched a new life sciences research group and laboratory focused on fundamental biology, with its Claude AI model already contributing to the discovery of a previously unknown enzyme system that shares...

Microsoft Stock Upgraded as Stifel Sees Stronger Azure Growth

Stifel upgraded Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) to Buy from Hold and lifted its price target to $575 from $530, citing stronger confidence in the technology giants ability to maintain mid-to-upper-teens revenue growth. Analysts...

Scott Bessent Eyed as Trump’s New AI Czar

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is under consideration to become President Donald Trumps new artificial intelligence czar as Washington intensifies its focus on AI development, safety and national security. A source...

China Reviews Broadcom Switch Use in State Data Centres

China is reviewing the use of Broadcom switches in state-backed data centres as Beijing intensifies efforts to reduce dependence on foreign technology and promote domestic semiconductor and networking equipment suppliers,...