A Historian's Perspective on US Foreign Policy & the State of the International Order

A Historian's Perspective on US Foreign Policy & the State of the International Order

Author: Mark McNamee May 28, 2026 Duration: 0:00
Always honored to have back on the show my professor from graduate school, John Harper. I was fortunate to have his class - one of the best classes I've ever taken - American Foreign Policy since 1945. Considering the historic events going on globally, I wanted to take a step back and take the historical view of things. We discuss Ukraine but more broadly the current state of the international order, US foreign policy, and where things are heading.- What does the failed policy in Iran mean in terms of US global influence looking ahead? How does the US seem to keep getting over its foreign policy failures as in Vietnam and Iraq and maintain an assertive foreign policy? Where is US foreign policy is heading: isolationism/unilateralism/return to western leadership? How will things in Europe develop in the next generation? Is the world moving into a multipolar/spheres of influence direction or continuation of the Western dominant order or something else? About the Guest Professor John Harper is an expert on US Foreign Policy and the Cold War, having written 4 books related to the Cold War and teaches a course titled American Foreign Policy Since World War II at my graduate school, Johns Hopkins SAIS. He Originally from the US, he lives and teaches in Bologna, Italy. To learn more, visit: https://ubn.network/ To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910 Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters: https://missionmatters.com/author/Mark-McNamee/

We are living through events that will define our century, and History in the Making: The War in Ukraine is an attempt to make sense of them as they unfold. Host Mark McNamee brings his deep knowledge of Eastern Europe to the fore, not just to recount headlines, but to untangle the complex historical, cultural, and political threads that led to this moment. This isn't a dry recitation of facts; it's a grounded exploration of how a conflict reshapes a nation's identity and the global order. Each episode moves between the sweeping strategic picture and the intimate, human stories of those living through the war, highlighting a profound resilience. You'll hear analysis that connects past empires to present-day battles, and conversations that reveal the personal cost and extraordinary fortitude within Ukraine. The goal of this podcast is to provide context and clarity, offering a nuanced perspective that goes beyond the news cycle. By focusing on the people, the history, and the on-the-ground reality, Mark creates a vital record of a world changing in real time. Tune in for a thoughtful, comprehensive guide to understanding not just what is happening, but why it matters for all of us.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

History in the Making: The War in Ukraine
Podcast Episodes
Is There a Red Line for Trump Voters? (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
The US has an outsized influence on world events. So much here in Ukraine and elsewhere hinges on the policies of Trump. For that reason, I did this episode to help non-Americans (but I think will be informative for Amer…
Is There a Red Line for Trump Voters? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:00
The US has an outsized influence on world events. So much here in Ukraine and elsewhere hinges on the policies of Trump. For that reason, I did this episode to help non-Americans (but I think will be informative for Amer…
Iran: What comes next and how will it impact Ukraine? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:28
I had the great pleasure in this episode in speaking with a world-renowned expert on Iran and militant Shia groups in the Middle East - and also an old friend from my Washington DC days - Phillip Smyth, to discuss the Wa…
The Real Story of the Front from a War Correspondent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:28
What is the front like these days in this new era of drones? What is the situation around Pokrovsk? Is Ukraine's biggest issue manpower or actually weapons? And did America actually support Russia to defeat the Ukrainian…
Gen. David Petraeus on the War in Ukraine at its 4 year anniversary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:38
Last week marked the 4-year anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. To mark this date, I had the great pleasure to speak with Gen. David Petraeus to do an overview of where the war is…
Kremlin propaganda: Ukrainian Nazis - What's the truth behind it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:28
Does Ukraine have a Nazi problem? How pervasive is far-right nationalism in Ukraine? What is the history of the Kremlin's propaganda campaign about Ukrainian Nazis? Why does Moscow insist on calling Ukrainians all Nazis?…
Another Kremlin Lie - US biolabs in Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:33
We delved into yet another Kremlin lie, this one a recurring theme literally for the past 60 years going back to the Soviet era - US biolabs around the word out to attack Russia. To reveal this lie, I spoke with Dr. Dmyt…
Trump's been in office for a year. Are we any closer to peace? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:21
With peace talks ongoing for the past year Trump has been in office, it's worth asking: where are we with the peace process and where will things go from here? We've hit another inflection point it seems. Trump's White H…
What has happened to the US? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:04
I admit I departed from my usual more detached analytical style, and spoke a bit more from the heart in this one. Too much has happened and for too long to not do a podcast like this. Most of my adult life I have spent i…