The legacy of the Iraq war in the US-Iran conflict - British Politics and Policy at LSE The recent bombing of Iran by the US brought to the surface questions that echo the Iraq war: the politicisation of intelligence, the UK-US "special relationship", and the limits of international law.

My new piece for @LSEpoliticsblog Looking at the legacy of Iraq in the current US-Iran conflict and the UK approach to the conflict
@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social @lseusablog.bsky.social @york.ac.uk
#Trump #IranlsraelConflict #Iraq

blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

After years of calling for an end to forever wars, Trump’s Iran strikes are splitting his supporters over America’s role in the world | USAPP Trump’s strikes are a challenge for his administration’s foreign policy narratives.

Trump's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and apparent willingness to get even more involved in the Middle East has started a split in the MAGA-verse. Here's my take on why this is emerging and what it means #Trump #Iran
#IranlsraelConflict

blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Very happy to see my book "The Road to War in lraq: Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis" on show at the @mybisa.bsky.social #bisa2025

Great to speak to the #BISA2025 Teaching and Learning cafe about the research project we are planning with the @aspirenetwork.bsky.social network, thanks @mybisa.bsky.social

I also really want to thank all of the @aspirenetwork.bsky.social board @mlebourdon.bsky.social @jeremymoulton.bsky.social @louisepears.bsky.social @annaplunkett.bsky.social @jillterry.bsky.social
It was a pleasure to work with you all organising this event!

All topped off with a great drinks reception where we could all chat and get to know everyone in @aspirenetwork.bsky.social

And this was followed by the brilliant @teachpolitics.bsky.social giving us a history of teaching politics in the UK, using this to inspire all of us as we look forward to teaching in the future

Myself and @jeremymoulton.bsky.social shared some SoTL abstracts, exploring how everyone in attendance understands "good" SoTL work

We had an amazing and inspiring keynote speech from @profcathyelliott.bsky.social on the joys of the Teaching track

We had a brilliant #aspirelaunch
today, Teaching track academics from across the UK came together to discuss how we can work together and innovate in this space
We began with a roundtable with the @aspirenetwork.bsky.social board, sharing our vision and the motivation behind the network

It was great to speak to the @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social about the Trump administration's use of disinformation and the impact this has on American demand, political opposition, and the wider world

Great day at the CPP-TPTN conference at UCL today, fascinating presentations and invigorating discussions! Thanks @uclcpp.bsky.social

Three weeks until our launch! Have you signed up yet?!

CfP: Join us for "Al Pedagogies: Practice, Prompts and Problems in Contemporary Higher Education" a workshop exploring how Al is
reshaping pedagogy and higher education. Co-convened by Hilary Briffa and me for the ISA/BISA workshop
https: //www.isanet.org|Conferences /BISA-1SA-Newcastle -2025/Call

Check out the @aspirenetwork.bsky.social launch event! We're an organisation that advocates for Teaching and Scholarship staff in Politics and IR, organising all sorts of events to help our members. Watch this space, hope to see people at the launch!

UKICE Lunch Hour: Regulating after Brexit - UK in a changing Europe Join our expert panel online as they discuss why regulating after Brexit has proved so difficult.

🇪🇺 Brexit gave the UK the freedom to diverge from EU regulations

🤔 But why has regulatory reform proved so difficult?

📺 Find out next week with @jreland.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social sky.social @drsarahhall.bsky.social @dgbailey.bsky.social & Neil Ross👇

The Road to War in Iraq: Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis This book combines three Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) models to explain both how and why the USA and UK decided to invade Iraq in 2003.

@chrisfeathers.bsky.social has published his first book; The Road to War in Iraq: Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis. You can find out more here link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

Great to speak to @france24.com about #Trump and #Meloni meeting to discuss the #TrumpTariffs #Meloni has taken role of EU-US
bridge, and #Trump admin seems receptive, but looks unlikely it will result in anything. She did avoid potential pitfall on Russia Ukraine

Great to see our ✨ ‘Joy of the Teaching Track’ ✨article is now out. Thanks to all co-authors especially @drcathyelliott.bsky.social for inspiring and leading this project. @mlebourdon.bsky.social @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @journalpolitics.bsky.social

For anyone at #psa25 today, if you're a T&S academic interested in teaching and sharing ideas with colleagues, join the @aspirenetwork.bsky.social network today!

www.aspirenetwork.uk

"The Road to War in Iraq" draws heavily on the primary documents used in the decision process and interviews with those in the rooms where the decisions were made to take the reader step by step, showing HOW and WHY they decided to invade #Iraqwar

I test three Foreign Policy Analysis models - leadership style, Groupthink, Analogical Reasoning- showing how they can and should be used alongside each other for a more comprehensive explanation of the invasion

Here, I argue that to understand the decision to invade lraq(2003), we have to look at the personalities involved. Not only do we have to to scrutinize the approaches of Blair&Bush, we have to look at group dynamics in Washington and London, as well as the framing of the invasion.

The Road to War in Iraq: Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis This book combines three Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) models to explain both how and why the USA and UK decided to invade Iraq in 2003.

I'm delighted to announce that my book "The Road to War in Iraq: a Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis" has just been published with @Palgrave - check it out here: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

Britain should welcome the death of the Special Relationship | Chris Featherstone | The Critic Magazine The recent furore surrounding the Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs on over 180 trading partners has reignited the debate over the existence of the so-called “Special Relationship”.

New article by @chrisfeathers.bsky.social on The Critic is out today: thecritic.co.uk/britain-shou...

Britain should welcome the death of the Special Relationship | Chris Featherstone | The Critic Magazine The recent furore surrounding the Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs on over 180 trading partners has reignited the debate over the existence of the so-called “Special Relationship”.

My new piece for @TheCriticMag
argue that the UK has to seize the opportunity to finally put the "Special Relationship" myth to bed, and stop expecting more from our US Allies
thecritic.co.uk/britain-shou...

#Tariffs #TariffWar #TrumpTariffs

The UK managed to avoid more painful #tariffs, but the UK approach to #Trump seems to be focused on future negotiations. Problem is, the #Trump admin has said there won't be more talks, and there's little pressure on them to really talk with the UK

Definitely agree, and shows how crippling shortsighted this announcement is

My new piece for LSE US Politics blog. Looking at the tariff announcement as the epitome of Trump's approach, and how European leaders can deal with him

One thing that really stands out from the 417-page document that the #UKGovt has published on potential targets for UK #tariffs is just how many agricultural products they have identified as targets - well over 30 pages!

(Yes, I am boring enough to have read part of the list)