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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

Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid U.S. Tariff Moves and Strong Singapore, China Data

Asian currencies were mostly flat on Monday after a week of losses, as investors remained cautious amid fresh U.S. tariff threats and mixed signals from global trade data. The U.S. Dollar Index edged up 0.1% during Asian...

China’s June Export Rebound Highlights Fragile U.S. Trade Truce

Chinas exports gained momentum in June, rising 5.8% year-on-year, beating expectations and Mays 4.8% increase, as businesses accelerated shipments ahead of an August 12 tariff truce deadline with the U.S. Imports also...

BOJ May Raise Inflation Forecast Amid Rising Food Prices, Holds Off on Rate Hikes

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is likely to revise its inflation forecast upward for the current fiscal year due to persistent food price increases, especially rice, according to sources familiar with the matter. However, the...

Albanese Urges China Collaboration on Global Steel Overcapacity During Shanghai Visit

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need for joint action with China to tackle global steel overcapacity during a high-level meeting with business leaders in Shanghai. Speaking on Monday, Albanese...

Japan’s Core Machinery Orders Beat Forecasts with Annual Growth

Japans core machinery orders dipped 0.6% in May from the previous month, according to data released by the Cabinet Office on Monday. While the month-on-month figure marked a decline, it was better than the 1.5% drop...

Politics

Trump Addresses Epstein Probe Fallout, Backs FBI Deputy Bongino

President Donald Trump said Sunday he had spoken with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino to address tensions surrounding the Justice Departments handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Speaking to reporters, Trump...

Israeli Airstrikes Kill Children in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Stall

At least eight Palestinians, including six children, were killed Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on a water collection point in Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza. According to local officials, the victims were gathering...

Trump to Send Patriot Missiles to Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he plans to send Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, signaling continued support for the war-torn nation amid its conflict with Russia. Speaking to reporters at Joint...

Noem Defends FEMA Amid Texas Flood Response Criticism

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended FEMAs response to the devastating Texas floods that killed over 120 people and left 160 missing. In an interview on NBCs Meet the Press, Noem claimed her agency acted within...

Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Dies at 82 in London

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerias former president who served from 2015 to 2023 and was the first to defeat an incumbent through democratic elections, died in London on Sunday at age 82 after a prolonged illness, according to a...

Science

FDA Lifts REMS Requirement for CAR-T Cell Cancer Therapies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) requirement for all currently approved CAR-T cell therapies, a move expected to improve patient access to these...

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Surges on U.S. Patent Win for Rare Disorder Drug

Shares of Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:NEU) jumped over 10% on Thursday after the company announced a key development in its rare disease pipeline. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has approved Neurens patent...

CDC Vaccine Review Sparks Controversy Over Thimerosal Study Citation

A presentation on thimerosal, a mercury-based vaccine preservative, set to be delivered to the CDCs advisory committee has come under scrutiny for referencing a non-existent study. The report, Thimerosal as a Vaccine...

SpaceX Starship Explodes in Texas During Test, Citing Nitrogen Tank Failure

SpaceXs Starship spacecraft exploded in a dramatic fireball during a late-night test at the companys Starbase facility in Brownsville, Texas, on June 18, 2025. The 400-foot Mars-bound rocket, a key part of Elon Musks...

NASA Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Recover After Boeing Starliner Delay

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are steadily recovering after spending nine unexpected months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to issues with Boeings Starliner capsule. Initially intended...

Technology

Stifel Lowers HubSpot Price Target to $700, Maintains Buy Ahead of Q2 Earnings

Stifel analysts have revised their price target on HubSpot Inc. (NYSE:HUBS), lowering it from $750 to $700, while reiterating a Buy rating ahead of the companys upcoming Q2 earnings report. Despite the reduced target,...

Elon Musk Proposes Tesla Shareholder Vote on xAI Investment

Elon Musk has announced that Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) will hold a shareholder vote on whether the electric vehicle giant should invest in his artificial intelligence startup, xAI. Responding to a question on social media, Musk...

J.P. Morgan: Generative AI Must Boost IT Workloads by 55% to Offset Cost Deflation

Generative AI is reshaping IT services, but it must drive over 55% more workload to offset significant cost deflation, according to a recent J.P. Morgan report. The brokerage estimates that large language models (LLMs) can...

Google Hires Windsurf AI Talent After OpenAI Acquisition Talks Falter

Google has hired key personnel from AI code-generation startup Windsurf, following failed acquisition talks between Windsurf and rival OpenAI. According to a Google spokesperson, Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder...

UN Urges Global Action to Combat Deepfakes and Misinformation Risks

The United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has called for urgent global action to fight deepfakes and misinformation, citing growing threats of election interference and financial fraud. In a report...