Askew Lecture Series

The Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government presents the Askew Lecture Series. The Askew Lecture Series is a downtown community talk on current political issues and public policy topics.

March 27, 2025 | Askew Lecture

Debating American Grand Strategy in the Trump Era - Ionut Popescu and Jacob Shively

On March 27, 2025, the University of West Florida’s Askew Lecture Series welcomed more than 70 attendees from both campus and the broader Pensacola community to the Museum of Commerce for a timely and dynamic discussion on Debating American Grand Strategy in the Trump Era.

This year’s event featured Dr. Ionut Popescu, associate professor at Texas State University and U.S. Navy Intelligence officer, and Dr. Jacob Shively, associate professor of political science at UWF. Together, the two scholars explored how the return to a Trump presidency could reshape American foreign policy — raising urgent questions about global power dynamics, realism, and America's role on the world stage.

The evening opened with remarks from Dr. David Earle, Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, followed by a welcome and speaker introductions by Dr. David Ramsey, chair of the Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government.

Drs. Shively and Popescu took the stage at dual podiums for a spirited exchange of perspectives. Dr. Shively examined themes of American internationalism, emphasizing military power, credible threats, trade integration, and the role of democracy versus autocracy. He argued that Trump’s likely approach would lean less on traditional realism and more toward hierarchical and nationalistic strategies — a neo-colonial model of foreign engagement that prioritizes domestic advantage over international cooperation.

Dr. Popescu presented a contrasting perspective grounded in realism, asserting that a more realist orientation would strengthen U.S. foreign policy. Drawing from his recent book No Peer Rivals, Popescu emphasized the importance of strategic focus on China as America's only true near-peer competitor. He argued that the United States should take deliberate steps to maintain its status as the dominant global power. Popescu also highlighted pressing concerns such as immigration, fentanyl trafficking, and the role of China in chemical precursor production, as well as economic perspectives on climate change — advocating for market-based solutions over regulatory measures.

The event concluded with a lively Q&A session and a book signing featuring both scholars’ latest works. Dr. Ionut Popescu signed copies of No Peer Rivals: American Grand Strategy in the Era of Great Power Competition (University of Michigan Press), while Dr. Jacob Shively signed copies of Make America First Again: Grand Strategy Analysis and the Trump Administration (Cambria Press).

This year’s Askew Lecture continued its tradition of fostering civic dialogue on urgent policy issues, honoring the legacy of Governor Reubin O’D. Askew and his commitment to thoughtful leadership and public service.

*This installment of the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series was sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the Reubin O’D. Askew Department of Government, the John C. Pace Symposium Series, the Askew Lecture Series, and the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club.

**The Askew Lecture Series is a downtown community talk on current political issues and public policy topics. The lecture honors the legacy of the late Governor of Florida, Reubin O’D. Askew, the department’s namesake. Governor Askew was a champion of civic engagement known for tackling vital public policy issues of the day.

April 1, 2024 | Askew Lecture

After Liberalism - Patrick J. Deneen

The UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and the Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government hosted an installment of the Askew Lecture Series in conjunction with the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series with Professor Patrick J. Deneen speaking at the Museum of Commerce in downtown Pensacola on April 1, 2024.

The event was a huge success, with attendees from all walks of life engaging in a thought-provoking and timely discussion about the future of political theory. Professor Deneen, a renowned political commentator and author of Why Liberalism Failed and Regime Change, delivered a fascinating lecture on "After Liberalism." He criticized the current political theory that has been the backbone of the international order for the last 500 years and sparked a conversation about what could emerge to take its place.

*This installment of the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series was sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the Reubin O’D. Askew Department of Government, the John C. Pace Symposium Series, the Askew Lecture Series, and the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club.

**The Askew Lecture Series is a downtown community talk on current political issues and public policy topics. The lecture honors the legacy of the late Governor of Florida, Reubin O’D. Askew, the department’s namesake. Governor Askew was a champion of civic engagement known for tackling vital public policy issues of the day.

June 23, 2023 | Askew Lecture

Biased Coins, Cruises and Crashes: A Study of Elections in Four Countries - Alfred Cuzán, Richard J. Heggen and Joseph Colomer

June 23, 2023, the department welcomed Distinguished University Professor Alfred G. Cuzán and two guest scholars to present "Biased Coins, Cruises and Crashes: A Study of Elections in Four Countries."

Using concepts from statistics (the normal curve), physics (exponential decay), and politology (cost of ruling), professors Alfred G. Cuzán and Richard J. Heggen developed models that approximate the results of 2,000 state or provincial elections in Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United States. Professors Cuzán and Heggen have a long history of unusual collaboration across two disciplines, political science and civil engineering, respectively. It began in the 1970s when they taught at universities in New Mexico, Heggen in Albuquerque, and Cuzán in Las Cruces. In nearly half a century, they have made original contributions to the study of socially efficient government, the Nicaraguan Revolution, and U.S. presidential elections (a subject in which professor C. Mike Bundrick of UWF also collaborated). In the last two years, Heggen and Cuzán have turned their attention to “the cost of ruling,” the loss of support that the political party in control of government incurs during its time in office. 

During this talk, they presented partial results of these ongoing investigations. Professor Joseph Colomer of Georgetown University critiqued the presentation in light of his own work.

*This installment of the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series was sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the Reubin O’D. Askew Department of Government, the John C. Pace Symposium Series, the Askew Lecture Series, and the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club.

**The Askew Lecture Series is a downtown community talk on current political issues and public policy topics. The lecture honors the legacy of the late Governor of Florida, Reubin O’D. Askew, the department’s namesake. Governor Askew was a champion of civic engagement known for tackling vital public policy issues of the day.