US Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory: From Nixon to Trump
What happens when a president convinces the world he might just do the unthinkable? In US Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory, James D. Boys argues that projecting calculated irrationality can terrify adversaries into submission, but at enormous risk. From Nixon’s secret Cold War gambits to Trump’s chaotic tweet-driven diplomacy, Boys explores how these two leaders weaponized unpredictability to keep allies guessing and enemies off balance.
On May 12, 2026, the Center for the National Interest hosted author James D. Boys for a discussion of his new book. Dr. Boys is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre on US Politics (CUSP) at University College London.
Andrew Kuchins, a Senior Fellow at the Center for the National Interest, moderated the discussion.