The mad man theory

What if convincing your enemies that you might do something irrational actually gives you the upper hand?

From Richard Nixon to Donald Trump, the “madman theory” has been used to explain one of the strangest ideas in political strategy: that unpredictability can be a source of power.

Historian and political analyst James D. Boys explores where the theory came from, how Nixon used it during the Cold War, and why it has returned to the conversation around Trump and American foreign policy.

Is madness ever good leverage?

Find out more by reading 'US Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory' by James D. Boys.