James Madison Program

The Wilsonian tradition is a school of U.S. foreign policy that focuses on international development and soft power. For decades, it was the often default position of Washington, D.C. Right now, however, it is in shambles as a political force. What happened? Guest Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) explains its decline, among other things, on the latest Madison's Notes episode: apple.co/4w31XyJ

The Riflemen of the Revolution, many figures of the Scots-Irish, General Patton and General MacArthur: why are they all called Jacksonians? This foreign policy tradition, explains guest Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead), is a sleeping giant that, when awoken, goes all-out on war. For his full interview on Madison's Notes with host @Ryanshinkel on American grand strategy since the Declaration of Independence, see here: apple.co/4w31XyJ

How did American Protestant missionaries change the country's foreign policy? What is their impact today on humanitarian outreach and international development? And what does that have to do with Woodrow Wilson? Scholar Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) explains the history of this Wilsonian tradition on Madison's Notes with host @RyanShinkel: apple.co/4w31XyJ

One of our country's anthems is "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." This religious song spoke of the Union's efforts to abolish slavery. Few know its lyrics changed over time, going from "Let us die to make men free" to "Let us live to make men free." How did that reflect changes in larger national attitudes? Scholar Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) talks about this and more on Madison's Notes with host @RyanShinkel: apple.co/4w31XyJ

Although Thomas Jefferson opposed Alexander Hamilton's policies, why did he govern as an expansionist? And why did he come to support the Monroe Doctrine? Scholar Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) explains why this doctrine is so misunderstood, and why Jeffersonians came up with it. For his full Madison's Notes interview with host @RyanShinkel, see here: apple.co/4w31XyJ

What was the foreign policy vision of the Declaration of Independence? Why was it able bring together so many different parties? And how did presidents such as George Washington govern afterwards for the national interest? On Madison's Notes with host @RyanShinkel, guest Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) answers these questions and more about America's founding foreign policy: apple.co/4w31XyJ

What was the political vision of New England Puritans? And what is its strange influence today upon many of our modern, liberal, and secular ideas? Scholar Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) explains all this and more in his interview about the history of American foreign policy on Madison's Notes with host @RyanShinkel: apple.co/4w31XyJ

What did Thomas Jefferson object to in Alexander Hamilton's policies? And why did he fear the government's energetic foreign policy would be corrosive to American liberty? On Madison's Notes, scholar Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) explains to host @RyanShinkel the Jeffersonian tradition on U.S. grand strategy, and more: apple.co/4w31XyJ

How did Alexander Hamilton found the first school of American foreign policy? He wanted to model the U.S. after England with its navy & trade, banks & currency, government support and manufacturing base. Which presidents since then have been Hamiltonians? On Madison's Notes, scholar Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) explains to host @RyanShinkel the Hamiltonian tradition of American grand strategy: apple.co/4w31XyJ

Was the United States simply an isolationist power before the World Wars? Or were different foreign policy visions fighting for control? On a special Fourth of July episode on Madison's Notes, Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) explains the complex story of American grand strategy since the Declaration of Independence. Listen here for his answer, and the full interview with host @RyanShinkel: apple.co/4w31XyJ

German chancellor Otto von Bismark famously said: "God has a special providence for drunks, fools, and the United States of America." Was he right? Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) thought so. He used that line for his 2001 book, Special Providence, about the four schools in American foreign policy—the Hamiltonians, Jeffersonians, Jacksonians, and Wilsonians—arguing for a grand strategy underlying chaotic American politics. How has this thesis held up since publishing? See his Madison's Notes interview with host @RyanShinkel to find out: apple.co/4w31XyJ

How did U.S. foreign policy change before and after World War One and World War Two? Guest Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) explains this and more on Madison's Notes: apple.co/4w31XyJ