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Christopher Featherstone

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...

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Economy

Japan, U.S. to Leave Forex Policy to Finance Ministers, Says PM Ishiba

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba confirmed that Japan and the U.S. will delegate foreign exchange-rate matters to their finance ministers, aligning with the policy from U.S. President Donald Trumps first term....

Gold Prices Near Record Highs as Safe-Haven Demand Rises

Gold prices climbed in Asian trade on Friday, nearing record highs as investors sought safe-haven assets amid economic uncertainty. The metal is poised for strong weekly gains, driven by renewed U.S.-China trade tensions...

China's Tariffs on U.S. Oil and LNG Could Disrupt Trade, Prompt Waiver Requests

Chinas planned tariffs on U.S. crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), set to take effect on February 10, are expected to prompt traders to seek waivers, trade sources said. Beijing announced a 15% levy on U.S. LNG and...

Yen Hits Nine-Week High as Rate Hike Bets Rise; Dollar Awaits U.S. Jobs Data

The Japanese yen surged to a nine-week high as investors bet on further interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan (BOJ), while the U.S. dollar held steady ahead of key payroll data. The dollar slid 0.25% to 151.09 yen,...

Domino’s Australia Stock Soars 24% After Announcing Store Closures and Profitability Boost

Shares of Dominos Pizza Enterprises (NYSE: DPZ) surged 23.8% to A$36.68 on Friday, marking their largest intraday gain ever. The rally follows the companys announcement to close 205 underperforming stores, aiming to...

Politics

China-Linked WeChat Accounts Target Chrystia Freeland in Canadian Election Interference

A Canadian task force reported that malicious news articles originating from Chinese social media attempted to discredit former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, a candidate to succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party...

Trump Delays De Minimis Repeal, E-Commerce Disruptions Continue

U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily halted his administrations repeal of duty-free treatment for low-cost packages from China, allowing the Commerce Department time to refine the order. The abrupt change disrupted...

22 States Urge Court to Enforce Block on Trump Administration’s Funding Freeze

Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and Washington, D.C., have asked a federal judge to enforce his order blocking the Trump administration from freezing billions in federal grants and loans. Their emergency motion...

Elon Musk Discusses Government Restructuring at JPMorgan Event

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, tasked by President Donald Trump with overhauling the federal government, spoke at a private JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) conference in Miami. The event, hosted by JPMorgans asset and wealth management...

New York AG Sues Trump Administration Over Alleged Data Access to Musk and DOGE

New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with 18 state attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging a policy that allegedly grants Elon Musk and the Department of Government...

Science

South African telescope discovers a giant galaxy that’s 32 times bigger than Earth’s

Inkathazos glowing plasma jets are shown in red and yellow. The starlight from other surrounding galaxies can be seen in the background. K.K.L Charlton (UCT), MeerKAT, HSC, CARTA, IDIA, CC BY You may not know it, but right...

It’s science, not fiction: high-tech drones may soon be fighting bushfires in Australia

Picture this. Its a summer evening in Australia. A dry lightning storm is about to sweep across remote, tinder-dry bushland. The next day is forecast to be hot and windy. A lightning strike tonight could spark a fire that...

Earth is bombarded with rocks from space – but who gets to keep these ultimate antiques?

Every day, about 48.5 tonnes of space rock hurtle towards Earth. Meteorites that fall into the ocean are never recovered. But the ones that crash on land can spark debates about legal ownership. Globally, meteorite hunting...

Most of us trust scientists, shows a survey of nearly 72,000 people worldwide

Public trust in scientists is vital. It can help us with personal decisions on matters like health and provide evidence-based policymaking to assist governments with crises such as the COVID pandemic or climate change. In...

Astronauts on NASA’s Artemis mission to the Moon will need better boots − here’s why

The U.S.s return to the Moon with NASAs Artemis program will not be a mere stroll in the park. Instead it will be a perilous journey to a lunar location representing one of the most extreme environments in the solar...

Technology

BYD Stock Near Record High as It Teases Autonomous Vehicle Plans

BYD shares surged Friday, nearing record highs, after the Chinese EV giant announced plans to unveil its autonomous driving strategy. The companys Hong Kong-listed stock (HK:1211) jumped 4.8% to HK$332.40, while its...

Trump Assigns VP Vance, Adviser Waltz to Oversee Possible TikTok Sale

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Vice President JD Vance and national security adviser Michael Waltz to lead discussions on a potential sale of TikTok, according to a report by Punchbowl News. The move...

Xiaomi Hits Record High as China’s Subsidy Program Boosts EV and Tech Stocks

Xiaomi Corp (OTC: XIACF, HK: 1810) shares surged to an all-time high on Friday, fueled by investor optimism over Chinas nationwide subsidy program aimed at boosting sales of electric vehicles (EVs) and smartphones. The...

OpenAI’s Stargate AI Data Centers Face Global AI Competition from China’s DeepSeek

OpenAI is actively evaluating U.S. states for its massive Stargate AI data center initiative, aiming to secure Americas lead in artificial intelligence against China. Chris Lehane, OpenAIs chief global affairs officer,...

Tesla Raises Model X Prices by $5,000 in the U.S.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has increased the prices of its Model X vehicles in the United States by $5,000, according to an update on its official website. The price hike applies to both variants of the electric SUV, reflecting...
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