At his inauguration more than two years ago, President Biden promised that America was back, ready to resume its leadership role in world affairs. But, as a multitude of crises present increasingly complicated policy problems for world leaders, how can the Biden administration hope to manage these tumultuous international relations? What is the United States trying to accomplish in its foreign policy? And why is it that the world seems so constantly unstable and in flux? Understanding US foreign policy and strategy has never been more important.

To discuss these questions the United States Studies Centre was delighted to host foreign policy expert and esteemed academic, Walter Russell Mead in conversation with USSC Professor of US Politics and US Foreign Relations, Brendon O’Connor.

Walter Russell Mead is the Ravenel B. Curry III distinguished fellow in strategy and statesmanship at Hudson Institute, the James Clarke Chace professor of foreign affairs and humanities at Bard College, and the "Global View" columnist at the Wall Street Journal. From 1997 to 2010, Mr Mead was a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, serving as the Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow for US foreign policy from 2003 until his departure. He is a member of Aspen Institute Italy. Mr Mead writes on a wide variety of subjects ranging from international affairs to religion, politics, culture, education and the media. He has contributed to a wide variety of leading American journals ranging from Mother Jones to GQ and frequently appears on national and international radio and television programs.