Stephen Walt: US Foreign Policy in the Trump Age

Welcome to If You Were in Charge, A leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities. A podcast featuring global peace strategist, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. Each week Sanam takes on a major global challenge and hosts leading practitioners and innovators to share their work and their solutions - if they were in charge with the necessary political and financial resources. After each discussion, Sanam is joined by one of her twin daughters, Soleh, to hear her reaction and gain a different generational perspective. In Episode 9, Sanam interviews Stephen Walt, Professor of International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School and noted author, on the dangers of the erosion of academic independence during the Trump administration and the potential implications of the incoming administration’s foreign policy appointments. The conversation delves into the dangers of self-censorship and the influence of political pressure on academic freedom. Walt shares insights from his experience publishing The Israel Lobby, critiques U.S. foreign policy missteps, and emphasizes the need for more diverse voices in government decision-making. Stephen received the International Studies Association’s Distinguished Senior Scholar award in 2014. Walt is the author of The Origins of Alliances (1987), Taming American Power: The Global Response to U.S. Primacy (2005); The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy (2007, with John J. Mearsheimer), The Hell of Good Intentions: America’s Foreign Policy Elite and the Decline of U.S. Primacy (2018), and “The End of Hubris and a New Era of American Restraint,” (Foreign Affairs, May/June 2019). Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: [email protected] Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network You can find out more information or how to get in touch following the link to our homepage -  https://shows.acast.com/if-you-were-in-charge Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is an ADA Productions Chapters 00:00 U.S. Military Assistance and Foreign Policy Critique 03:07 The Role of Academia in Political Discourse 05:53 Concerns Over Self-Censorship in Universities 09:04 The Impact of Political Pressures on Academic Freedom 11:51 Navigating Political Pressures in Academia 15:12 Reflections on the Israel Lobby and Its Influence 18:02 Disappointment in U.S. Foreign Policy Outcomes 21:12 The Need for Diverse Perspectives in Government 24:00 Proposed Changes to U.S. Foreign Policy 26:49 American Values and Global Perception 29:39 The Hypocrisy of U.S. Foreign Policy 34:24 The Role of Wealth in Advocacy and Change 39:59 The Importance of Diplomacy in Foreign Relations 43:03 Hope Amidst Challenges 56:31 The Cost of Speaking Out Keywords U.S. foreign policy, Israel, academia, self-censorship, political discourse, military assistance, academic freedom, Israel lobby, diverse perspectives, American values, U.S. foreign policy, hypocrisy, diplomacy, wealth, advocacy, women's rights, hope, speaking out, institutions, political loyalty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices