Diplomacy and Conflict since the Cold War
23 October 2026
11:00am-12:30pm
Online or Rewley House 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA
Event status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online or Rewley House 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA
Dates:
23 October 2026 - 27 November 2026
Study Format:
Online - live
Fees:
From £75.00 to £90.00
This lecture series will evaluate six controversial foreign policy decisions in the period since the end of the Cold War, focusing on the balance between diplomacy and military force. It will challenge the assumption that the 1991 Gulf War was an inevitable projection of US power, instead presenting George H. W. Bush as initially undecided and searching for justification for intervention. It will examine German foreign policy after reunification, including its commitment to European integration and efforts to maintain relations with Russia up to the Ukraine War. The collapse of Yugoslavia is analysed in light of both its complex history and the failures of 1990s diplomacy.
The series will also trace the evolution of US foreign policy from Bush in 2001 to Trump, and assesses Tony Blair’s interventions, including the claim that the 'road to Baghdad ran through Pristina.' Finally, it will evaluate Vladimir Putin’s long-term attempt to revive Russian power and considers its success in the context of the Ukraine conflict.
Register for the whole series or individual lectures
For this lecture series, you can register for the entire series by clicking 'Book Now' on this page or you can register for individual lectures via the links below.
Please note: enrolments for the complete series will close at 23:59 BST on 20 October 2026. Enrolments for each individual lecture will close two days before each lecture.
Book this course
You can opt to attend this teaching event either online (via a livestream) or in person at Rewley House, Oxford. You will be given the option of how you wish to attend during the enrolment process. You can only pick one option. If your preferred attendance format is fully booked, you can email us to be put on the waiting list. For those who wish to attend online, please read the IT requirements below before enrolling.
Accommodation
If you wish to stay with us before and/or after the event, please contact our Residential Centre for availability and discounted rates.
Call +44 (0) 1865 270362 or email res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk
Our accommodation in Wellington Square has been rated as 4-Star Campus Accommodation under Visit England. All bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished with tea/coffee making facilities, Freeview television, private bath/shower rooms and free WiFi. For more details see our accommodation information.
IT requirements
We will be using Zoom for the livestreaming of this lecture series. If you’re attending online, you’ll be able to see and hear the speakers, and to submit questions via the Zoom interface. Joining instructions will be sent out prior to the start date. We recommend that you join the session at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start time – just as you might arrive a bit early at our lecture theatre for an in-person event.
Please note that this series will not be recorded.
Recommended reading
Holmes, Martin, From the Treaty of Versailles to the Treaty of Maastricht: Conflict, Carnage and Co-operation in Europe 1918 – 1993 (Routledge, 2022)
A Seldon, Blair Unbound (Simon & Schuster, 2007 )
Programme details
Lectures take place on Fridays, from 11am-12.30pm
Friday 23 October 2026
George HW Bush and the Gulf War 1991
Proclaiming a ‘New World Order,’ President Bush is often portrayed as seeking a decisive display of US power to consolidate the West’s Cold War victory. However, scholarly accounts suggest a more hesitant beginning. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, Bush was cautious, drawing criticism—even from Margaret Thatcher, who remarked, ‘George, this is no time to go wobbly.’ Congress was divided, and some advocated a diplomatic solution via the Arab League or the United Nations. Over time, Bush’s stance hardened, with critics pointing to domestic pressures, including the oil lobby, as a factor. By January 1991, Operation Desert Shield had become Desert Storm, and military action restored Kuwait’s sovereignty.
Friday 30 October 2026
German foreign Policy since Unification
In Helmut Kohl’s words, ‘We need a Europeanised Germany, not a Germanised Europe.’ To demonstrate this commitment, Germany sacrificed the Deutsche Mark in favour of the—initially unpopular—euro. The Maastricht Treaty further anchored Germany at the heart of European integration, encompassing both monetary and political cooperation. At the same time, Germany cultivated close relations with Russia after the collapse of the USSR. Trade flourished, with Germany importing oil and gas while exporting manufactured goods, particularly cars. Germany also kept some distance from the United States, notably by joining France in opposing the 2003 Iraq War. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marked a turning point, forcing Germany to reverse much of its previous geostrategic approach.
Friday 6 November 2026
The Fall of Yugoslavia
It became fashionable to blame the international community for the break-up of Yugoslavia, but how accurate is this claim? Could anything have been done to prevent its disintegration? Yugoslavia was, after all, an artificial state created at Versailles, partly to advance Woodrow Wilson’s principle of self-determination. During the Second World War, the state effectively collapsed. Although Tito later imposed a communist system, he left internal borders unchanged, and his policy of decentralisation arguably intensified underlying tensions. By the 1990s, hyperinflation and economic collapse accelerated the crisis, as constituent republics moved towards independence. These deep-rooted structural weaknesses made it unlikely that conventional external diplomacy could succeed as war approached.
Friday 13 November 2026
Trends in US foreign policy: From Bush to Trump 2001 – 2027
During the 21st century, US foreign policy has been in a state of flux. The 2003 Iraq War demonstrated American military power with the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, but subsequent nation-building efforts proved elusive. Obama’s more restrained, quasi-isolationist approach reflected public fatigue with costly wars of choice. In his first term, Trump similarly pursued an ‘America First’ agenda, emphasising limited intervention. Biden’s foreign policy was significantly damaged by the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, which undermined US credibility and emboldened rivals such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. In contrast, Trump’s second term marked a shift towards greater interventionism, culminating in joint military action with Israel against Iran in 2026.
Friday 20 November 2026
Tony Blair’s foreign policy adventures
Proclaiming a doctrine of humanitarian intervention in speeches in Warsaw and Chicago, Tony Blair supported military action alongside European and American allies to defeat Serbian forces in the 1999 Kosovo conflict. But did this success lead him to underestimate the risks of intervention in Iraq in 2003? As some biographers argue, ‘the road to Baghdad ran through Pristina.’ Did Blair align too closely with President George W. Bush, subordinating UK interests to those of the United States? Why did he disregard the opposition of France and Germany, who warned against military action over Iraqi WMD? Did Blair genuinely believe such weapons would be found, or did he lead Britain into war on a flawed case built on half-truths and improvisation? Ultimately, Iraq damaged Blair’s career as profoundly as Suez had undermined Eden’s.
Friday 27 November 2026
Making Russia great again? Evaluating Putin’s foreign policy
To misquote the great historian A. J. P. Taylor, there were two Russian problems after the Cold War: up to 2005, the problem was Russian weakness; after 2005, it was Russian strength. Putin’s foreign policy has been central to this transformation. By rebuilding military power and strengthening the military–industrial complex, he has sought to restore the global influence once enjoyed by the Soviet Union. Through closer ties with anti-Western states such as China, Iran, and North Korea, Russia has expanded its strategic partnerships. However, the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have revealed both the reach and the limitations of this revived power.
How and when to watch
Each lecture will last approximately 1 hour, followed by questions.
Please join in good time before each lecture to ensure that you have no connection problems. We recommend joining 10-15 minutes before the start time.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| In-person event fee (includes tea/coffee and a pastry) | £90.00 |
| Virtual event fee | £75.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Payment
Please see the terms and conditions for our open-access courses.
Dr Martin Holmes
Dr Martin Holmes is a member of the Senior Common Room at St Hugh’s College, where he was previously Lecturer in Politics for over 20 years. Additionally, he has been Director of the annual Nebraska at Oxford summer program since 1989. For Oxford Lifelong Learning, he has taught several syllabi on the Foundations of Diplomacy course over the past decade, as well as guest lectures for the Diplomatic Studies Program. A strong supporter of lifelong education, he has also been a regular lecturer for the University of the Third Age (U3A). A specialist in International Relations and European Integration, he is the author of seven books. His latest publication, a diplomatic history of 20th century Europe, was published by Routledge in August: From the Treaty of Versailles to the Treaty of Maastricht: Conflict, carnage and cooperation in Europe 1918 – 93.
Module code: O26P108DSL
Please use the ‘Book’ button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us on events@conted.ox.ac.uk to obtain an application form.
You can also register for individual lectures if you do not wish to attend the whole series.
You can opt to attend this teaching event either online (via a livestream) or in person at Rewley House, Oxford. You will be given the option of how you wish to attend during the enrolment process. You can only pick one option. If your preferred attendance format is fully booked, you can email us to be put on the waiting list. For those who wish to attend online, please read the IT requirements below before enrolling.
