The University of West Florida’s Askew Lecture Series presents an in-depth conversation on "Debating American Grand Strategy in the Trump Era," featuring Dr. Ionut Popescu and Dr. Jacob Shively. This critical discussion on U.S. foreign policy in 2025 will take place on Thursday, March 27, at the Museum of Commerce in downtown Pensacola. Event schedule:

• 5:30 p.m. - Public Reception
• 6 p.m. - Lecture
• 7 p.m. - Q&A Session
• 7:30 p.m. - Book Signing

As global tensions rise and American leadership faces new challenges, U.S. foreign policy remains a subject of intense debate. With the transition back to a Trump presidency, policymakers, scholars, and citizens alike are grappling with questions about internationalism, strategic competition, and restraint.

In this engaging discussion, Professors Dr. Ionut Popescu and Dr. Jacob Shively will explore key questions shaping America’s grand strategy:

• Should the U.S. pursue a more aggressive stance in great power competition?
• How should the nation balance international commitments with domestic priorities?
• What lessons can be learned from recent shifts in strategy across the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations?

Dr. Jacob Shively, an associate professor at UWF, specializes in U.S. foreign policy and international relations. His research examines the strategic shifts between presidential administrations, and his books provide crucial insights into the evolving nature of American grand strategy. Dr. Ionut Popescu, an associate professor at Texas State University, brings a dual perspective as both an academic and a U.S. Navy Intelligence officer. His expertise in great power competition, combined with his experience in military intelligence, makes him uniquely positioned to analyze U.S. strategy in a rapidly changing global environment.

Following the lecture and Q&A session, attendees will have the opportunity to meet both scholars during a book signing featuring their most recent works. Dr. Ionut Popescu will sign copies of No Peer Rivals: American Grand Strategy in the Era of Great Power Competition (University of Michigan Press), while Dr. Jacob Shively will be available to sign Make America First Again: Grand Strategy Analysis and the Trump Administration (Cambria Press).

This event is free and open to the public. Whether you are a student, faculty member, or community member interested in foreign policy and international relations, this discussion offers a rare opportunity to engage with leading experts on America’s evolving role in the world. For more information, please RSVP, or contact casshcommunications@uwf.edu.

The Askew Lecture Series is a downtown community talk on current political and public policy issues. The lecture honors the legacy of Governor Reubin O’D. Askew, a leader known for tackling major policy challenges and encouraging civic engagement. Each year, the series brings a distinguished scholar to engage in a public discussion with a UWF faculty member on a contemporary political issue.

*This installment of the Askew Lecture Series is sponsored by the Reubin O’D. Askew Department of Government, the John C. Pace Symposium Series and the Askew Lecture Series.