"George Bush as Grand Strategist: How the Gulf War Mattered to American Statecraft" with Spencer Bakich

Overview

President Bush began his Presidency in unprecedented times. With the Soviet Union collapsing and the Cold War ending, and the Berlin Wall crumbling and Germany preparing to reunify, President Bush was uniquely positioned to fashion a new world strategy for international politics and cooperation. The conflict between Iraq and Kuwait, along with the subsequent invasion, gave President Bush an opportunity to test his leadership and his vision for international collaboration and democratization.

In his book, The Gulf War: George H.W. Bush and American Grand Strategy in the Post-Cold War Era (2024), Spencer Bakich discusses President Bush’s transformational politics during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Spencer Bakich is a Professor of International Studies and the Director of the National Security Program at the Virginia Military Institute, and a Senior Fellow at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. His scholarly work includes authoring and editing three books, providing commentary to major publications and interviewing senior policymakers, military officers and Foreign Service officers who served with George H.W. Bush.

This event is being held as a part of our 35 Anniversary of Desert Shield/Desert Storm series, where we will explore various aspects of the conflict throughout the fall of 2025 and the spring of 2026.

Join us on Thursday, October 16, as Spencer Bakich discusses President Bush’s transformational international politics during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Lunch will be provided and seating is limited, so please register your attendance using the RSVP link below.