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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

Australia Unveils $627M Incentive to Boost Construction Apprenticeships Ahead of Election

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a A$10,000 ($6,281) cash incentive for construction apprentices to address labor shortages in the overstretched industry. The program, costing A$627 million over...

Venture Global LNG Raises $1.75 Billion in IPO Amid Adjusted Valuation

Venture Global LNG has successfully raised $1.75 billion through its U.S. IPO after pricing 70 million shares at $25 each. The offering was adjusted from an initial plan of 50 million shares priced at $40 to $46 to a...

Japanese Manufacturing PMI Drops Sharply in January, Services Sector Gains Momentum

Japans manufacturing activity contracted for the seventh consecutive month in January, according to preliminary au Jibun Bank data, as the purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 48.8 from Decembers 49.6. The reading,...

Trump Demands Global Rate Cuts, Pressures OPEC on Oil Prices

U.S. President Donald Trump called for OPEC to lower oil prices and demanded global interest rate cuts during his address to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump warned that countries manufacturing products outside the...

China's Central Bank Keeps MLF Loan Rate Steady at 2.00%

Chinas central bank, the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC), conducted a medium-term lending facility (MLF) operation on Friday, offering 200 billion yuan ($27.46 billion) in one-year loans to financial institutions. The...

Politics

Trump Optimistic About Trade Deal After Talk with China's Xi

Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching a trade agreement with China after a recent phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In an interview with Fox News, Trump described the conversation...

Trump Launches Crypto Overhaul with National Stockpile Plan

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order establishing a cryptocurrency working group to propose new regulations and explore a national cryptocurrency stockpile. This move underscores his promise to...

Trump Seeks Immediate Meeting with Putin to End Ukraine War

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a strong desire to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, prioritizing saving lives over economic considerations. Speaking via video at the World...

Trump Administration Ends Diversity Programs, Reshapes Federal Workforce

The Trump administration, under its broader agenda to overhaul federal bureaucracy, has dismantled diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across government agencies. In a speech to the World Economic Forum,...

Trump Issues Order to Solidify U.S. Dominance in AI Innovation

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to reinforce the United States as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). The directive aims to advance innovation by removing regulatory barriers while...

Science

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...

Why Africa’s young scientists should help check the quality of climate change research

Scientific research is essential for addressing the climate crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body, assesses the science on climate change through its regular assessment...

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy provides in-house science advice for the president

Presidents need science advice. From climate change and pandemics to the governance of AI and the countrys nuclear arsenal, science sits at the center of a range of foreign and domestic policy challenges that reach the...

Double Moonshot: Japan’s ispace and Firefly Launch Lunar Missions

In a significant stride for lunar exploration, Japanese company ispace and U.S.-based Firefly Aerospace launched moon landers aboard a SpaceX rocket from Florida. This rare double mission highlights the growing competition...

Technology

Rivian to Revolutionize Driving with 2025 Hands-Free Tech

Electric vehicle maker Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) plans to roll out advanced hands-free driver assistance systems in 2025 and eyes-off technology in 2026, CEO RJ Scaringe announced. These innovations aim to provide significant...

OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle Unite for Exclusive AI Data Centers in the U.S.

Stargate, a groundbreaking joint venture by OpenAI, SoftBank (TYO:9984), and Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), is set to transform the artificial intelligence landscape with exclusive data centers in the U.S. These centers will solely...

Tesla Unveils Revamped Model Y with March Deliveries

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has introduced an updated version of its popular Model Y, starting at $59,990. The revamped Model Y long-range variant promises enhanced features and performance, with deliveries scheduled to begin in...

Elon Musk Criticizes President Trump’s $500B Stargate AI Project

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has voiced doubts over the financial feasibility of President Donald Trumps $500 billion Stargate project, unveiled Tuesday. The initiative aims to establish an advanced artificial intelligence (AI)...

Tesla to Raise Car Prices in Canada Starting February 1

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is set to increase prices for all its vehicles in Canada beginning February 1, as per updates on its Canadian website. The price adjustments will affect the popular Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model...