James D. Boys
Senior research fellow at UCL and author of the book 'US Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory', providing scholarly analysis of madman theory from Nixon to Trump.
Best podcasts with James D. Boys
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Feb 28, 2026 • 44min
#109 James D. Boys: Trump's Controversial Strategy That Explains His Craziest Foreign Policy Decisions
James D. Boys, a research fellow and author on international strategy, outlines the madman theory and its use by leaders. He traces origins to Nixon and contrasts that with Trump’s long-standing rhetoric. The conversation covers Trump’s threats to North Korea, Iran, NATO and trade. Debate centers on whether Trump’s actions are calculated signaling or genuine impulsivity.
Mar 17, 2026 • 29min
Can anyone beat a madman president?
James D. Boys, senior research fellow at UCL and author of US Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory, gives a crisp scholarly tour of the madman idea from Machiavelli to Nixon and Trump. He traces its intellectual roots, compares Nixon and Trump, explores uses against allies and Iran, and flags the strategy’s limits and risks in great power politics.
