David Skidmore

     I've taught international politics at Drake University since 1989. Drake is located in Des Moines, Iowa, where my wife and I have enjoyed raising two daughters and now grandchildren. 

My scholarly interests have centered on the politics of U.S. foreign policy. My early work, including a book on Jimmy Carter's foreign policy, two edited volumes and a later book on unilateralism, focused on the ways that policy-makers respond not only to external threats and opportunities, but also the push and pull of domestic interests. In principle, a foreign policy shaped by America's democratic institutions might be expected to better represent the needs and interests of average people. In practice, the results are often quite the contrary. 

     I have also spent two years living, teaching and working in China and Hong Kong and have visited on many other occasions. In recent years, my research has focused on China's oveseases development finance initiatives, including the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative. 

     Also recently, I have become active in writing short pieces that have appeared in various newspapers, magazines and blog forums. These mostly attempt to apply scholarly analysis to contemporary events in an accessible form for non-specialists.