Axel de Vernou

Axel is an undergraduate in Saybrook College pursuing the combined BA/MA History degree, a BA in Global Affairs, and a Certificate of Advanced Language Study in Russian. His thesis focuses on decision-making during the 19th century Anglo-Russian Great Game. In his graduate classes, he has researched the origins of Sino-Soviet relations, Peter I's military reforms during the Great Northern War, and the Teutonic Order’s expansion in the Northern Crusades. He served as the co-president of Yale's chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society, leading the Spring 2023 cycle of the Nicholas J. Spykman fellowship on geostrategy. Beyond Yale, Axel publishes articles in foreign policy outlets on de-dollarization, U.S. economic policy, and Sino-Russian rapprochement. He speaks French, Russian, and Spanish, and is studying German.

Department: History (BA/MA) and Global Affairs (BA) / Saybrook College